A/N: Chapter thirteen, oh my god! I can't believe I've reached chapter thirteen – this was barely an idea when I started, it was no idea at all… just that I wanted to write a story about Hermione saving Severus Snape and they fall in love through crazy happenings.

Chapter 13 – Prelude

"Is that not obvious, Miss Granger? Come now, are you no longer the Brightest Witch of her Age?" Severus said, expressionless. Figure it out Miss Granger. Having to explain this would be uncomfortable.

"Did you really just call me Miss Granger? Really? After where your mouth has been, are we not beyond such formality, Severus?"

It was almost laughable to Severus how easily he managed to distract her with the formality which no longer felt appropriate. She had a point; there was no need for him to treat her as a student, or indeed a child anymore; he had more than satisfactory evidence to the contrary that she was neither.

"I find your reasoning to be sound in this matter. As you absconded from your final year of education, you are no longer my student and you are as forthright in your sexual desires as a Knockturn Alley whore, I can certainly not consider you a child but it is a well-established moniker and I have used it for many years; it may be a difficult habit to break. Under what name would you wish for me to refer to you?"

Hermione huffed. She was used to him sounding insulting and accusatory in everything he said but to do so after what they had just shared, after she'd saved his life and cared for him for the last couple of days, it felt uncalled for.

He's stalling? Distracting me? Why?

"As you said I am no longer your student; which, by the way, will be changing in September as I plan to return to school to complete my education; well, it will change if you are also returning to the school. And as you so distastefully confirmed I am not a child anymore; you could simply try calling me by, you know, my name."

Severus raised an incredulous eyebrow at her boldness and Hermione felt the need to defend herself rise; his intimidation tactics would not stand with anymore. By reciprocating her desires, he had banished all fear she once felt toward him and it powered her courage now to mess with him a little.

"Unless of course, you want to advance straight to… oh, I don't know… babe? Sweetheart? Darling?"

"Insufferable!" he said, exasperated, struggling to hide the sliver of his amusement.

"That's hardly complimentary toward someone who just saved your life and made you come. And, I only had one more…"

"Gryffindor? So, very Gryffindor!" He inquired sarcastically, working his eyebrow again.

"Buttercup, actually." Hermione responded simply with a small smile as he pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.

"Buttercup?" He asked, disbelievingly.

"Not really" she laughed. "I just wanted to hear you to say 'buttercup'."

"I believe my initial assessment of 'Insufferable' is the most suitable moniker for you, my insufferable little witch."

"I suppose that will have to do… for now."

I should not put this inevitable confrontation off any longer. The more time that passes the more endearing she seems to become and I do not need another broken heart plaguing me for another twenty years – I sincerely doubt I would survive such pain a second time. I really should tell her the truth, I have lied to her enough, about everything; lied to them all enough; not that it wasn't necessary, or enforced. But still, her trust in me must be tentative; I should nurture it if I want this - whatever this is - to continue. At least this time she is quite within her rights to hate me; me and my damn curiosity. Legilimency might be useful and it has kept me alive more times than I can count but it is as much a fucking curse as it is a blessing. Just do not get angry and call her 'mudblood'. Don't call her mudblood. Don't call her mudblood. Don't call her mudblood.

"Now, my dear, you were inquiring as to my knowledge of our bonds?"

"Yes, I was. How exactly do you know that we are bonded? Wait, bonds? As in plural?"

Severus rolls his eyes.

"Would you like me to answer one of those questions or all of them?"

"All please, but not here. With the magical defences apparently eaten by a gold niffler and this situation being nobody else's business, I'd like us to be somewhere a little more undetectable."

"I concur. Do you have somewhere in mind?" he said, almost suggestively.

"There's my place; well, it's my parent's place but they're not… they're not there at the moment; actually I might need your help with that at some point. Your place, wherever that is, which would be interesting for me but probably not safe until you've been pardoned. I'm guessing the same applies for your quarters at Hogwarts. Erm…"

"If you are only trying to find a more comfortable bed to continue our bonding, I can fix that here…" He says, definitely with suggestive intent this time, a twinkle in his eye which could actually rival that of Albus Dumbledore."

"No, we need to talk. Properly talk."

"Very well." He said on a disappointed but resigned sigh. "Your parents' home may have been appropriate if the Order were not aware of your role in my survival and convalescence but as it is we are likely to be just as harassed by dunderheaded fools and their curiosities there as much as anywhere else. I, however, have a personal safe house which is known only to me and my mother; a cottage which has been in her family for generations."

Hermione smiled.

"Do you ever cease coming through with miracles?"

"I am simply well prepared for every eventuality but I am thankful for the faith you alone seem capable of bestowing upon me. The reasons for which I intend to ask you about once we begin this 'talk'."

"Of course, Severus. I don't wish to hide anything from you. Certainly not anymore."

"Indeed. Shall we take our leave then?" He held out his arm for her.

Hermione hesitated.

"We're not dressed and I need to collect my things from the makeshift bathroom."

"Of course. I shall prepare myself for departure whilst you collect your belongings." He said as she wandered toward the bathroom. "Very well done on your transfigurations in the bathroom; impressive," he added, dropping more breadcrumbs to her consciousness that he had used the facility while she was not present; more evidence that he had spent a lot more time conscious in the last two days than she realised.

"Thank you." Hermione shouted back from the bathroom. "You'll never know how amazing it feels to get compliments from you about my spell work or, well, anything really."

She heard him chuckle.

"I like the sound of you laughing." She continued, returning to him with an armful of bottles. "I don't think I've ever heard it before."

"Until now I have had very little reason to smile, let alone laugh."

"Well, that's true. It's a very deep and resonant sound. It's like I can feel it vibrating my bones."

"That will be a part of the bond. I will elaborate further once we are settled at the safe house."

"I should leave word for Harry or he'll think I've kidnapped you." Hermione said smiling.

"Potter is more likely to believe I have kidnapped you but perhaps you are…"

"Would it kill you to call him Harry? Just once?"

"…right." He finished his pre-interruption sentence. "I have already conceded to using your given name, considering the recent changes to our levels of familiarity, I believe it is acceptable when we are alone but I will not afford Mr Potter the same concession."

"Always so proper," she snorted. "No–one would ever believe you were fucking a former student an hour ago."

"Miss Granger…"

"Oh don't start that again." She said, grabbing his arm. "Shall we go?"

As Severus turned them both on the spot into the sensation of being sucked through a tube, Hermione missed the rolling of his eyes and the way he smiled predatorily at her sexual language.

They landed ten feet from the gate of what looked like a park keeper's cottage; it was in a large clearing, surrounded by thick forest and Hermione could feel the magic of many wards surrounding them. She wasn't quite ready to let go of Severus's arm so she loosened her grip but did not drop her arm as she looked around.

There was a slightly overgrown garden sectioned off from the rest of the clearing by a low stone wall and circling the house. She recognised many of the plants and trees that bordered the two-story dwelling with its thatched roof, perfectly central, hunter green front door and four small, wooden-framed windows, set against aged sandstone bricks.

"It's beautiful, so picturesque. It reminds me of drawings I did as a child. There's just one thing missing."

"Oh? And what is that?" Severus asked, genuinely curious.

"A lilac tree; just outside the kitchen window. I always drew a lilac tree but with raspberry red blooms. I love raspberries and used to believe everything should taste of them."

"Ah, red. Gryffindor, even before school." He chuckled again.

Hermione nodded at the thought.

"If you keep laughing, I'm going to be dragging you into the bedroom and we'll never get around to talking."

"I would have no complaints with that course of action, my dear."

"I'm glad to hear it but we really should get the talking out the way first. I know I have things I need to tell you and I get the feeling there are certain facts you need to tell me too."

"Unfortunately, Hermione, you are right." He stated without the previous humour as he led her down a stony path toward the front door.

"I do love it when you say my name like that. You know, unprompted." She replied, tightening her grip on his arm once more.

Severus opened the door with a wave of his wand and watched as Hermione's eyes widened in awe. Unlike the smallish and less than impressive exterior, inside the cottage was large and though it kept the rustic feel of a cottage in the woods, was lavishly decorated for comfort as well as displaying a high standard of opulence. There were high ceiling, perfectly polished hard wood floors, sumptuous fur rugs, marble statues and an open archway over to the far left which led to what looked like, if Hermione had to judge by the shelves of books on the other side, a library.

He noticed Hermione's eyes focusing where he knew they would right away and guided her silently toward the archway with a hand at her lower back, wandlessly lighting the lamps and the fires as they passed by each one. When they reached the library entrance, he heard his… his… what was she? Well, he heard her gasp and smiled; congratulating himself on correctly guessing her reaction – gasping and rendered speechless. I should've taught her potions here, he thought to himself.

"Oh Severus, it's… it's stunning; completely marvellous. How do you ever drag yourself away?"

Perhaps not.

"My life over the last twenty years has not easily leant itself to my favourite pastime of trying to read every book ever published but…"

"Oh Merlin, I thought I was the only one with that goal."

He chuckled again but his laughter was abruptly cut off by a pair of soft Gryffindor lips crushing onto his.

He stumbled backward at her sudden onslaught but as she hadn't let go of him, when he landed on the floor she landed on top of him, straddling him in fact.

She pulled away smiling as she looked at the man she was falling for in the most dishevelled state she had ever seen him.

"I'm getting a sense of Deja vu." She giggled.

"Quite." He responded in an uncharacteristic jovial tone before grabbing her hips and jumping up with surprising athleticism and placing her feet firmly on the floor. "One of us needs to keep our minds on this plan to talk and you, my dear, seem to be struggling with your hormones at present. I promise you can explore the books later but for now I think we should make our way to the seating area and have this conversation that neither of us particularly want to have. It seems though that we must before we continue with other more enjoyable activities." he pointed to a nook directly to their left.

Hermione saw two deep green leather wingback chairs and a chaise long of soft jade velvet; a low coffee table and two side tables with reading lamps, well lanterns really, set upon them.

"Slytherins and their green bloody everything." She said teasingly as she headed over toward the nook.

"Says the girl who wants red lilac trees." He deadpanned.

"Only one red lilac tree and it wasn't for the colour, it was for the flavour."

"Be that as it may, it would still be red. Now, are you still offended by the ownership of house-elves?"

Hermione looked up, confused by the sudden change of subject.

"Not offended exactly, no. Why?"

"Do not get all… Hermione Granger about this…"

"Since when did I become a verb?" She asked looking affronted, but Snape ignored her.

"Weston!" He called out.

A moment later, there was the faintest trace of a pop to the right of Snape and a middle-aged house elf in a butler's uniform apparated into their presence, bowing.

"Welcome home, Master. Weston is glad you is well. What may I do for you, Master?"

"Ah yes, Weston, good. I am well, thanks to Miss Granger here. I am sure you have heard of Hermione Granger?"

Weston looked Hermione over twice and nodded before bowing again.

"It is Weston's pleasure to make your acquaintances Miss."

"Thank you Weston." Hermione replied.

"Hermione, I believe this conversation may need something stronger than tea. I am going to indulge in a glass or two of fire-whiskey. Would you care to partake?"

"Actually, I'd appreciate a glass of brandy, if you have some."

"Of course, my mother is partial to brandy. Weston, if you would please decant mother's brandy and serve us here in the library, please."

"Yes Master." Weston agreed before disappearing with another pop.

Whilst they waited for the much needed alcohol they both weighed the possible outcomes of the impending conversation which filled each of them with dread, for different reasons.

Oh, this isn't going to be fun. He's never been the easiest person to talk to but this is… his life. He's given up enough already; he's going to hate being tied to me forever. How does he even know about the bond? He was unconscious the whole time I was figuring it out, wasn't he? Oh shit, what if he wasn't. But then he'd know about… and…and everything. Oh Gods, I can't do this.

Severus watched Hermione's face flush delightfully as she arranged and lost herself in thoughts and fears of what was to come. He fought the urge to use legilimency…

That's how I got into this mess, at least the Hermione-mess. The alcohol will help… it will help both of us; I need to relax, I need to stay in control of the situation; although… her reaction to my legilimency is not easily anticipated. She could rage, she could run, oh Merlin, what if she cries? Perhaps if I practice before speaking…

'Miss Granger, Hermione, I have something to confess.' Is confess the right word? Will it make her defensive before I even begin? How did I end up in this situation? I managed successfully avoided detection by fucking Voldemort and I'm being thoroughly broken down by the insufferable, know-it-all Gryffindor Princess. No! She deserves the truth; she saved my life. It's conditioning that makes me reticent - years and years of conditioning, of watching what I say, how I act, of occlumency. It's the memory of Lily's rejection, the stain of her betrayal when she married Potter, the decades of buried pain caused by those fucking Marauders. I can do this, I did what no one else could when I played both sides of the war; who else could have been a highly ranked Death Eater and the sole spy within the enemy camp for the Order of the Phoenix whilst protecting Harry Potter, maintaining both cover stories and teaching full time. If anyone deserves the power house witch that is Hermione Granger, it's me. Fuck them all! I don't care about the backlash of our involvement; I want this witch, she wants me, we're twice bonded, destined and I'll be damned if I let her go now.

A squeaky cough interrupted the thoughts of both Hermione and Severus as the elf stood watching his Master and their guest staring blankly into the air as if blinded by their own thoughts.

"Master, your drinks are served. Will you both be here for dinner? Weston would like to prepare dinner for Master and his guest."

"Dinner would be most welcome, Weston." He said to his elf whom was pouring generous measures of fire-whiskey and brandy into the relevant glasses. He turned to Hermione. "Chicken?"

"Yes, chicken would be lovely. It feels like months since I've enjoyed a good elf-cooked meal; you don't realise how much miss something like that until you don't have it anymore. I could eat a skinny hippogriff between two mattresses."

"I believe we should keep to the chicken."

"Very good, Master." Weston said before popping away as Hermione nodded.

Once again alone, Severus handed Hermione her brandy and necked his own glass in one, trying to decide exactly what to say next; Hermione did the same.

"So…" Hermione began. "Shall I start?"

"Proceed." Snape responded.

A/N: Ok, so I'm aware that all I have achieved in this chapter is a location change, a little indecision on the part of both Hermione and Severus and some much enjoyed banter. The reason this chapter has taken so long is because I was determining Snape's state of mind, mood and how I wanted him to react… with his last inner monologue that seems quite set now but is it set in stone? We shall see.