CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE – WHAT NOW?

Severus wasn't sure he slept. Maybe he dozed off once or twice, but he didn't want to. He had an acute fear that if he fell asleep, when he woke up Hermione would be gone, or perhaps he would wake up and she had never come at all. He looked down at her face, her tangled hair curling about her neck and shoulders and ensnaring his arm. She was wrapped around him as if she felt the same fear, her leg hooked around both of his and her arm a cage around his chest. This was the only kind of trapped Severus was happy with. He reached out a hand to touch fingertips to cheek, trailing a path to her ear and down her neck. There was something different about her than when he had first seen her at the Leaky, a kind of warmth and softness. He knew it was relief because he felt it too, threading through his veins and burrowing in his bones. Severus let them stay like that until the sun pierced through the threadbare curtains and Hermione woke with a shiver, clenching him closer and looking up with a smile.

"Severus," she breathed, "g'morning." Hermione ran a hand over her face and stretched her arm above her body before locking it around his chest again.

"Good morning. I trust you slept well?"

"It was the best sleep in the world." Hermione smiled. "Any ideas for the day?"

Severus thought never leaving was an excellent choice, but he was tired of the Leaky and tired of not being himself. That didn't mean he knew what came next though, despite their catching up and discussions interwoven with sex, he didn't want to make assumptions. "I believe breakfast would be a start."

"Yes!" Hermione groaned happily, "but maybe at home? I've plenty of things we can cook."

Home. Was it his home too now, or would he be banished back to this room at the end of the day? They hadn't talked things over that far and Severus felt some unease with the uncertainty. "That sounds like a good idea."

Hermione yawned. "Shower?" She grinned and winked, "we need them." Hermione extricated herself from the bed first, stretching and wandering into the bathroom. Severus watched her go in full admiration of her naked form. When he heard the water running, Severus got up from the bed and stretched, aware of a few aches he had lost familiarity with since the war. They stood for a moment in silence as the water warmed and then Hermione stepped under the spray, reaching a hand behind her for Severus. He took it and joined her, the shower feeling ten-times better than normal with Hermione there. He had been a fool most of his life, he knew that now. But that was over, he had to get himself together. For them.

They dressed the way first time lovers might undress, slow and deliberate with tentative glances at each other. This was the start of something new, a beginning, and they felt it heavy in the air. Hermione smiled when Severus was fully dressed, so distinctly him without being full professor, he still wore his dragon hide boots and black trousers, and while his black robes were still formidable, they were certainly less bat-like, and somehow still an absurd number of buttons. Hermione soothed her hand down the front of his robes and looked up at him. The same face, his scarred neck, his hair longer than before. She knew she wouldn't trade any piece of him for the world. "Is there anything from in here you need?"

Severus glanced around, the mini lab in the bathroom, the spare set of clothes tossed on a nearby chair. With a harsh motion of his hand, he vanished them all, turning his eyes back on Hermione. "Not anymore." Severus did not look again at the empty room as he crossed the floor for what he hoped would be the last time and grasped the doorknob.

"Wait!" Hermione gasped and Severus turned to look at her, "what about your glamour?"

A smirk pulled at the corners of Severus' lips, "I think it's probably about time the world knew I was alive."

Hermione beamed at him and met him at the door, she took his arm and they left together, through the halls and down the stairs, to the main floor of the Leaky. Whispers started to gather around them, casting a hush throughout the building, gasps met them as they crossed the floor, dodging tables and customers. Without Rita Skeeter around to muck things up it was hard to say, but it was probable that some gossip column somewhere would talk about the sudden appearance of the traitor-turned-war-hero accompanied but none other than Miss Granger herself. Outside, Hermione gripped Severus a little tighter and apparated them back to her home, landing in the garden outback. Adrenaline dripping down her spine, Hermione broke into a fit of nervous giggles. "Gods, their faces!"

Severus smiled at her, but he was too distracted by their surroundings to comment. The garden was small and lovely, with a narrow stone path weaving the way to a small, pale yellow cottage. Severus could almost taste the wards they were so strong, and yet…he glanced at Hermione. Had her wards always been open to him, or had she only done it when she realized he was alive? Hermione reached for his hand and guided him to the little white door. She unlocked it and pushed it open, stepping inside.

Hermione was greeted by the sight of Remus curled up on the couch looking for the world like he hadn't slept a wink and a cheery Teddy playing on his blanket. His head turned at the sound of her and a sly smile spread across his face, "I'm guessing it went well then."

Hermione grinned and moved aside, making room for Severus to enter behind her. The two men locked eyes and Severus felt that old pang of jealousy but squashed it down. There was nothing threatening here. "Lu- Remus." Severus acknowledged.

Remus' face softened from the stare down, "It's good to see you, Severus," he offered genuinely. "Well, we can head out then, I just wanted to make sure you got home safe, Hermione."

At the mention of 'we', Severus' gaze fell to the floor where a small little boy stared up at him in wonder. He had forgotten all about Teddy, and while there was something very Remus about the boy, he certainly took after his mother more.

"Why don't you stay with us for breakfast?" Hermione offered. It was habit, but Hermione realized her transgression only when Remus didn't respond, but looked back at Severus. If Remus was surprised that Severus agreed with a nod, it didn't show. Hermione smiled and kicked her shoes off by the door, waving hello to Teddy.

"Hermione," Remus said, standing up from the couch and reaching into his pocket. He approached her and held out his hand, Hermione placed hers in his, uncertain. Remus flipped her hand palm up and with his other hand, gave her something. He clasped her hand between his own with a gentle squeeze, "I think it's time you wear this again, and perhaps don't take it off." He quirked a smile at her and released her hand, in it, the stone necklace burned hot and glowed. Hermione smiled and put it on. She felt for warmth out of habit, but now she got to turn and look at Severus, who seemed as relieved as she to feel the old warmth of life pressing at them again.

SHSHSH

After breakfast, Remus really did leave, and Hermione and Severus were left with another moment of 'what now?'. Hermione was the first to break the silence that swirled around them as they finished off cups of tea. "You can stay here, you know."

Severus hated to admit that he was glad she said it. He didn't really want to go anywhere else, nor did he really have a place to go. Besides, last night had reminded him that once they had been used to sharing a space, even if it hadn't started out as a good thing. He needed a home base to figure out what he was going to do with his life now that he was recovered and had made his first appearance into the world. He had to re-establish himself and of course there would be the questions and the re-introductions. He felt faintly smug at the idea of Minerva seeing him again after her insistence that he was just someone playing a cruel joke.

So that's what their days consisted of, figuring out what Severus was going to do with himself, meals with the Weasley clan (his least favorite activity), and the occasional visit with Remus and Teddy. To Severus' surprise, he found Remus' company pleasant enough and although Teddy was terrifyingly young, he was amusing.

"So, have you come up with a master plan, Severus?" Hermione asked as she shoved through the door, her arms full of take-out. She set the food cartons down on the dinning room table, grinning when Severus raised an eyebrow at the food.

Severus stood and got them plates, unwilling to eat out of the containers. "I believe I can start an apothecary; it seems like the one in Hogsmeade never recovered after the war. And perhaps expand it to have a loft above it if…" His eyes flicked to Hermione's face and he saw her expression falter.

"Don't be insane Severus, you've been here two weeks, I'd be happy if you stayed forever." Her cheeks flushed bright red and Severus smirked. "I erm, can talk to Remus about-"

Severus shook his head. "You two have a well-established routine based around Teddy, his job, and your internship, and there's always Maeve. For now, it's more effort to change things than to leave them be." Severus had yet to meet Maeve, but he had been assured of her ability to both watch Teddy and the cottage if ever the need arose.

"When do you want to get started with the apothecary?" Hermione asked before shoving a piece of sushi in her mouth.

"We could go check out the property this weekend and make the arrangements." Severus jotted a few things down in a notebook he was keeping and closed it. "There something I must do before then."

Hermione raised an inquisitive eyebrow in place of a question but received no response.

SHSHSH

Severus stared up at the gates, letting the apprehension roil in his stomach before he tentatively reached out and pushed. The gates were unlocked, and the wards did nothing to stop him. Feigning more confidence than he had, Severus strode up the pathway to the large set of double doors and knocked. A few moments ticked by, when to his immense relief, Draco answered the door instead of his mother.

"Severus! What are you doing back?"

"We have some catching up to do, is your mother home?"

Draco shook his head and moved aside, letting Severus enter and lead them to the nearest table. Severus pulled out his notebook and looked around, realizing he hadn't seen the house the whole time he had been locked up in it. Its old polish and pomp were faded, and although nothing was in a state of disrepair, there was a distinct feel of abandonment. Severus cleared his throat turning his attention back to Draco.

"You said you left to find a friend… did you?" Draco asked, sitting uncertainly at the edge of his seat.

Severus let some humour play across his features and nodded. "Yes, eventually. That's part of what I would like to talk to you about today."

"And the other part?"

"We'll get there. Now, when I left here I went to find Hermione Granger-" Severus stopped Draco's question with a raised hand, "She was not actually a thrall, but Hermione and I did develop a…relationship during the time before the final battle. I've been staying with her for two weeks now."

Draco was gawking at him, his eyebrows twisted, "you mean to say that you and Granger are shagging?" Severus responded with a nod. "Disgusting."

"Don't be rude Draco."

"No... I…not like that. I mean Granger's not bad really, but what does she see in you?" Draco's expression of rejection turned into a teasing smile. "I mean honestly it's a bit strange but at least one of us is having a good time."

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers. For now, Draco's teasing did not need a response, soon enough he would realize the seriousness of the relationship. "I refuse to go back to Hogwarts as a professor, not that they would have me anyway, I believe. So, I've decided to open an apothecary in Hogsmeade. I would like you to help me start it."

"Don't you have Granger for that?"

"Yes, but she has her own career path. You and I have blemishes on our names, whether or not they gave us bloody Order of Merlin's."

"Saw that did you?" Draco grinned, "too bad I didn't get one too."

Severus cocked an eyebrow. "You know you don't deserve one. However, I do think that if you work at it, you could become a healer."

"What?" Draco leaned back; his arms crossed. "I've never been good at healing spells and all that."

"Frankly, I don't think you cared enough before. But you did well enough when you had to take care of me. You can start at the apothecary, earn a name for yourself and clean money to take classes. Hermione could probably help you from there."

Draco swallowed and looked away. He had never considered that there was an option for him. His mother was trying, Merlin help her, but the Malfoy name was tainted, and their wealth was not gained through benevolent means. Clean money and a new start with a recommendation from the golden girl herself was a better offer than he had dreamed of. "I suppose it's not a bad idea. When do you want me?"

"Start of next week. We will repair the shop, set it up, and start forming our collection."

Draco reached a hand across the table. "It will be a pleasure doing business with you."

Severus swatted his hand away and stood, clapping Draco on the shoulder. They retreated to where they would not be so obviously discovered to have a drink and chat about moving forward.

…

Hi guys! Hopefully you like this new chapter! Thanks for reading, especially those who kept with me through hiatus. Love to you all and please stay healthy during these trying times 3