Hermione woke up to the scent of soap and sandalwood. She cracked her eyes open to see Crookshanks bathing himself in the bedroom window. A heavy arm was slung over her, pinning her to the bed.
The hand nearest to her eyes had small black hairs across the back of it, growing thicker as it moved up his arm.
Hermione tried to separate herself by slipping away and out of the bed. When she began to move, Severus groaned in his sleep and drew her closer, spooning her. His morning erection was pressing into her bottom.
'This is not right,' Hermione thought guiltily.
He stirred and one of his hands cupped one of her breasts. Hermione found herself shifting along with him and her breathing grew ragged.
Severus' eyes fluttered open. He was holding Hermione in a most improper manner, not to mention his parts appeared to have taken charge in his sleep and had ideas of their own. He looked at her. Her eyes stayed shut. Probably dreaming of Weasley or another boy her age. She would be a prize no matter who she chose.
He gently relaxed his grip and fell over to his side of the bed to regain his senses.
Hermione crossed her eyes in frustration. She tried to control her breathing. She turned around. His eyes remained shut and his breathing was heavy as he lay on his back.
She sighed and got up. Maybe a long relaxing bath would calm her. She grabbed her blue robe and went to the bathroom.
Severus cracked an eyelid as he listened to the door click shut.
He throbbed and loosened the waistband of his pajamas. He slipped his hand underneath. He heard the water of the bath running in the walls and knew she wouldn't be back soon.
In his vision she bucked against him, demanding and confident. A few quick jerks and it was over.
This was depraved. He tore his pajamas off and waved his wand to clean himself before he went to the cupboard to dress for the day.
0
As Hermione walked back in the bedroom Severus was shirtless and washing his face in a basin on a stand near one of the walls. In the morning light, she saw her room more clearly. Dark grey brocade wallpaper ran over the walls, only interrupted by pewter fixtures and accents.
"I believe Mother and Father will be departing after breakfast," Severus said, wiping his face with a small towel and reaching for a shirt without looking at her.
"What will we do for the rest of the day?" Hermione asked, swallowing hard and fastening the cloak with a pewter broach.
"Mystic Brotherhood," Severus said as he buttoned his cuffs. "They will meet with us here. I hope it's the contact I think they'll use. It'll make things far less complicated."
"They have a sister organization, don't they?" Hermione asked. "I found it difficult to find anything on them."
"The Amazons, but I'd hardly call the relationship warm. There are feminine and masculine forces in some types of magic. They are unpredictable if handled wrong. The last time the Amazons and the Brotherhood were at conflict millions of Muggles were wiped out."
"Merlin's beard," said Hermione, shocked.
"To stave off any stray daughters from performing some pact of vengeance, the libraries for both groups were warded," Severus said calmly, realizing how disheartened she was. "And Polyjuice won't do the job, it was tried. The consequences were—a mess."
"I see," Hermione said, wide-eyed.
"The Amazons library and their historical records go back further and are more detailed than other repositories. You will be going there."
"Excellent."
0
Anastasia Snape downed the contents of a little blue bottle halfway through her morning meal and made a bitter face. A bead on the edge of the bottle shimmered silvery green in the sunshine falling gently through the forest branches in the dining room.
"It's a youth serum Severus came up with while he was in school." Anastasia beamed. "He was such a clever little boy."
"Really, Mother," Severus said embarrassed.
"I just wanted him to create something sensible," Anastasia insisted.
Hermione caught Jacob roll his eyes before his face disappeared behind the Russian language newspaper he was thumbing through.
Hermione couldn't make out the headline, but it looked like Viktor Krum's partner, Tristan had given birth to twins. Tears were openly streaming down his grinning face as he held one of the tiny girls. Tristan looked tired, but she smiled at the camera, holding the other girl.
Anastasia noticed Hermione's gaze.
"You are a fan of Bulgaria?" Anastasia asked.
"She's a friend of Krum's," Snape said taking a sip of his tea.
"Viktor Krum is your friend?" Jacob's interest was suddenly piqued.
"We met during the tri-wizard tournament, and went to the ball together." Hermione explained.
"You're that girl?" Anastasia said amazed and glancing at Severus.
"Mother," Severus said, not troubling to disguise his disappointment. "You've been reading those rags again."
"Well," said Anastasia huffing. "One can't help but hear international news."
"That nasty little story made international news?" Hermione fumed. "I'm going to get that woman back if it takes me my whole life."
Severus and his mother looked impressed. Jacob looked delighted.
Hermione said, remembered herself. "What does the potion do?"
"If you consume them religiously, you can slow down aging," Anastasia replied.
"How does it do that?" Hermione asked.
"It tricks the body into thinking it's still developing. It builds and replenishes new cells at an advanced rate," Severus said. "The original aged cells slough off, so you don't get lumpy with buildup."
"That was a bug that took a while to work out," added Jacob, his shoulders shaking with laughter behind his paper.
"If you were a gentleman, you'd never speak of it again," said Anastasia hotly.
"I'm glad I'm no gentleman," answered Jacob, from behind his paper. Then he belched.
"I cannot eat with a pig," said Anastasia throwing her napkin. She rose and stalked off.
"Nosy thing, isn't she?" suggested Jacob, dropping his paper when he was sure Anastasia was gone.
"I'm sure she would never mean any harm," Hermione said.
"Indeed," said Jacob from behind his paper, making Hermione wonder.
0
Severus and Hermione saw his parents off after lunch. Hermione watched curiously as Jacob packed up the flying carpet.
"Have you ever seen one before?" he asked, looking at her expression.
"No," Hermione replied.
"You should get Severus to take you on an aerial tour with the estate carpet," Jacob suggested. "He was never good on a broom, but he can manage a carpet."
"I'll mention it to him," replied Hermione, glancing back at the house and making out the shadows of Severus and Anastasia arguing in the kitchen window.
"Don't let the Snape temperament put you off," added Jacob tying down a substantial red trunk. "We're a vocal group."
"I knew that," replied Hermione chuckling.
"Suppose you did," answered Jacob smiling at her. "You seem to be a strong young woman, you'll manage fine. Don't let him walk over you."
"I don't plan on it," said Hermione, straightening herself.
"No one ever plans on it," declared Jacob with an amused expression on his face.
Suddenly there was a loud noise from the house.
"Jacob!" Anastasia shrieked out the now open kitchen window. It was more of an order than a request.
"See what I mean," said Jacob finishing his knot and standing up. "Yes, my dear?" Jacob yelled back. Hermione noticed he made no movement to get closer to the house.
"Tell Severus he must at least come visit us for a week in France during his time off," Anastasia demanded.
"I'm certain we can manage a week," answered Hermione under her breath before something reflecting the annoyed expression on Jacob's face came out of his mouth.
"They're on their honeymoon," suggested Jacob exasperatedly. "They want time alone, darling."
"They can disentangle themselves for a week," said Anastasia firmly. "We have bedrooms in France as well."
"Mother!" Hermione heard Severus' scandalized voice behind her in the kitchen. Anastasia waved a hand dismissively at him.
"We can stop on our way back home," yelled Hermione.
Anastasia looked smug as she went back to the kitchen, closing the shutters as she pulled her head back in.
After Severus and Hermione finally waved his parents off, they went back into the kitchens.
"They should be here soon," said Severus. He stoked a fire in the heavy iron stove and set the small table for tea.
"Can I help?" asked Hermione.
"The elves made cakes," said Severus absentmindedly. "They should be in the cube."
Hermione tried not to flinch at the recognition of house-elves. She knew they must be present.
Hermione glanced at the crystal cube on the counter. It was frosted, and she could see something in it, although she couldn't guess how to open it. Severus looked over her shoulder when he couldn't figure out what was taking her so long.
"One of the brightest students at Hogwarts can't figure out how to open a preservation chamber?" Severus snorted behind her.
Hermione wasn't a student at Hogwarts. They shared the same name. They were partners in the Order. She decided to take Jacobs advice.
She brought her arm back sharply and it sunk into Severus' gut.
His chin smacked the top of her head firmly as he doubled over.
They both tumbled to the floor.
"Well it's nice to see Albus has chosen competent agents," boomed a deep, Russian-accented voice behind them. "How are you, dear cousin?"
"Hello, Pieter," said Severus pulling himself up from the floor and offering Hermione a hand, although he was still rubbing his tender abdomen. "Good to see you."
Pieter reached out to her other hand, and the men pulled her to her feet.
Pieter was a black-haired, tall wizard with a long black beard. He had it tucked into his gold belt. His deep burgundy robes were composed of heavy wool. Hermione could see the tips of black curly-toed boots peeking out from under his hem. His white teeth glinted ferally at her from the depths of his facial hair. One of his glittering blue eyes winked at her. "Where are Uncle Jacob and Auntie Stacy?"
"You just missed them," said Severus sternly. "If you wanted to see them you should have been here last night. If they'd seen you today, they'd know something was up and you know how mother is. You cut it too close."
"I'd say I was taking an afternoon off and taking you fishing," Pieter said in thickly accented English, pouring himself a cup of tea. "They would accept that."
"In your dress robes. Nothing suspicious about that," snorted Severus.
Pieter grinned at Hermione. "Do you fish, young lady?"
"Depends on where it's from," replied Hermione thinking of the perch outside her window.
"You do not like the ledge at Hogwarts?" boomed Pieter laughing heartily. "It does have the habit of putting one off, but there are splendid fish in the lake."
"The place here is more conventional," said Severus, putting a cake in front of Hermione. "Father keeps it stocked."
" I would very much enjoy it," said Hermione politely.
Pieter said beamed at Hermione. "She is quick, and she likes to fish. Could such a vision be more perfect?" He reached out and put a gentle kiss on the back of her hand, his blue eyes never leaving hers.
No one had ever spoken to Hermione like that. No one had ever seen her like that. She blushed.
"So how is Anna?" boomed Severus in a voice louder than he would have liked.
"Wonderful," said Pieter smiling broadly. "We are expecting a child again!"
"Great God man, get a hobby!" exclaimed Severus. "What is it now, three?"
"This is the fourth," said Pieter proudly. "I hope this one is a boy. Then we will have two of each."
"Congratulations," said Hermione. "When will the baby be here?"
"Any time now," Pieter admitted. "Anna says it has moved in the proper way."
"Should you be away from home?" asked Hermione.
"It is fine," said Pieter. "I have a coin enchanted to pulsate when it is time. I can apparate to her in the blink of an eye."
"Should be used to it by now," said Severus smirking into his cup of tea.
"When are you going to find a woman good enough for you, Severus?" asked Pieter. "Your house should be full of little shrieking voices. You would be amazed at how relaxing it is."
"I have an entire school full of children," said Severus, glancing at Hermione. "That's relaxing enough."
"You never know," Pieter said his eyes twinkling. "After your mission is over, you may decide not to worry about an annulment."
"Ridiculous." Severus suddenly reached out to refresh his teacup. Hermione took a bite of her cake. They avoided each other's gaze like their lives depended on it.
Pieter inwardly shook his head. "You will dine with us tonight! I will bring the documents Albus wants you to look over. Anna would love to see you."
"Excellent," replied Hermione before Severus could say no. "We'll look forward to it."
Severus shook his head into his cup as he drew a sip. Pieter was plotting something. It made him uneasy.