We fall into an odd routine the next few days. She helps out in the shop, assists with brewing and keeps track of the orders. Despite not having brewed properly in the five years since she left Hogwarts she doesn't make many mistakes when following the texts I indicate, and she asks relevant question when watching me prepare ingredients for the research brews. She has grown up, somewhere along the way, and is at least able to observe without asking two million questions. Together we manage to make some headway into the mountain of orders I have waiting for me, and with her around I don't have to lose focus whenever there's a customer coming to the shop while I'm in the middle of a complex brew.
Somehow it's easy to spend all my time with her. We cook together, or fetch takeaway. She curls up on the couch with a book while I read the latest Potions journal; we discuss magic, recent events, and books; she does the invoices while I order supplies. The nights, too. After that first night when I woke up curled around her, having slept the best sleep of my life, it becomes natural to share a bed. I haven't kissed her again. This, whatever it is, feels more important.
There isn't much in the press, it is as if Hermione Granger was never missing. Potter keeps us updated on the progress. They're still keeping Molly in custody and managed to find Rita Skeeter, but Umbridge is a bit trickier to nail down. Everyone thought her dead, or that she'd fled the country, but evidently that is not the case.
We go to meet with Weasley one evening. He goes all wide-eyed when he sees Hermione and looks a bit confused a couple of times but otherwise refrains from commenting, and I extract a rather nasty vow for him not to prank her. (I would never dare, he says to me in private. She's brilliant but scary, you know that? A bit like you, Snape. I cannot exactly disagree.) She's tense as well, sticking close to me, but relaxes as the evening passes, and has some input into our discussions about future products.
The following Sunday afternoon we are visited by an unusual trio. Lovegood shows up, followed by Narcissa and Minerva. They all seem jittery in that way one gets after too little sleep and too much action, hyper-focused and bone weary at the same time. Oddly enough it is Minerva who appears the most energetic, while Lovegood seems lethargic. I shuffle them upstairs and close the shop while Hermione has already put the kettle on. We wait in silence.
"You talked to the Fae," Hermione says once the tea is ready. Hermione is on a kitchen chair, Lovegood and Minerva sit on the couch, while Narcissa has requisitioned my armchair.
It is not a question, but it fits. I nod slowly. Lovegood as Maiden. Mother, that would be Narcissa, and then Minerva as… the other one.
Narcissa is the first to speak. "We did. The Fae agreed to assist us again, and the Aurors are rounding up Dolores Umbridge, the Minister and their cronies right now. As it turns out, the Minister is Umbridge's nephew, and he's been acting on her instructions all this time. They've been siphoning Galleons and magic off the everyone for years."
Narcissa then turns to Hermione which has me confused for a moment. "Augusta told us about all of this once the geas was lifted. She had heard of the deal since she's in regular contact with the Fae as the Utter Crone of the Coven, but she too was bound by its terms. When I learned the truth about you I had to do something to help. I still have nightmares about you and your friends in the Manor, and that event is a debt I can never repay you. I asked the Fae if they could do anything but I'm not sure it helped."
Hermione is pale but nods, shifting closer to me. "It was a long time ago, Mrs Malfoy," she says slowly, tracing her left arm with two fingers, roughly where my Dark Mark used to be. With a frown she pulls the sleeve back, but I cannot see anything unusual. Pale skin, a few freckles. "They did, oh they did, thank you Mrs Malfoy," she says and seems to be about to burst into tears.
"Call me Narcissa, please," the older woman says and pulls her into a hug.
Minerva continues the explanation. "They said they made the deal because they saw it would lead to a better future in the end, plus they got mead from it and… well, the use of Mr Weasley. I'm sure I don't want any details, but it didn't sound like they were too happy with him."
"You talked to them yesterday? It seemed like Molly and her gang needed a full moon and Stonehenge in order to communicate with them?" I have to ask, I don't know enough about the Fae.
Narcissa has resumed her seat and nods again. "The Fae do not actually bother with rituals, standing stones and specific times of the year. It was their idea of a practical joke, I think. You do need three witches, however, and a Bargain has to be made."
"What was the price?" Hermione interjects, sitting up straighter. She is looking at Narcissa but it is Minerva who answers.
"Well, I allowed them inside the borders of the Forbidden Forest, as long as the Centaurs agree," she says slowly. "I also promised to teach the students at Hogwarts about the Fae and Old Magick, and to strengthen the bonds between our two worlds that way. She granted me health again, as thanks. Luna, however, is the one more directly affected."
Lovegood yawns. She looks even more ephemeral than usual, somehow. "Don't worry, it was fun. I think it will be twins but it's a little early to tell. I'm a bit tired already, though."
She's pregnant, and knows already? The Fae were efficient, then. It should surprise me but doesn't, at the same time. "They will take the child, to raise? After it's born?"
Lovegood looks solemn. "Yes… I fear Neville won't understand, though." She yawns again.
Minerva looks concerned, and even Narcissa frowns briefly. After some more discussions they leave, Lovegood with a couple of vials of a pre-natal potion. Hermione doesn't say anything, and I wonder if this is the end. She doesn't need me any longer if the ones who cursed her are being held responsible for it. It is inevitable, anyway, her leaving. They all do, they always do. Better to preempt the pain.
"You're free to leave now," I say, crossing my arms in front of me as if to hold myself together. "You don't have to stay with me, they cannot hurt you any more."
"No!"
Her vehemence surprises me, and even more so when she walks up to me, grabbing the lapel of my robes.
"I don't remember everything but I know a few things at least," she says, holding me close to her, not that I'm resisting much. "I know that when you first arrived what you sought was recognition, for your work, your sacrifices and for yourself as a wizard. That was easy enough to fix. Then, you wanted to solve the mystery of who the Hair-ologist was, but you managed that more or less on your own since I couldn't give you any more hints. There's something more though, something deeper… what you really, really wanted, was not to be alone any more."
My arms come up to hold her and I close my eyes, it is too much. "What I want doesn't matter. It never has. You deserve more, something better than this."
"You're wrong, Severus," she says firmly. "I know what I want, and that is you. But if you don't want me…" She lowers her eyes and bites her lip, looking young and uncertain all of a sudden.
One of my hands comes up to tangle in her hair. It is soft to the touch, and seems to have a life of its own. My touch makes her look up at me again, and finally I know. It seems right.
"I used Legilimency on Molly. The Fae spoke of true love and pure intentions needed in order to break the geas. I don't understand this, I've never been in this situation before, but I think it is true. It could even be that. Love. What I want… If you would, I would have you stay here, with me. Help me at the workshop, gain a Potions Mastery if you wish, or study something else. Share my life." I take a deep breath. "Share my bed, even. Merlin, witch, I want you."
She smiles then, brilliantly, and yank my head down with a sharp tug at my hair to claim my lips again in a fierce kiss. It feels like life, like a future.
"Was that a yes?" I have to ask, some time later, breathless.
"Obviously," she drawls and requests another kiss.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
A/N: This is roughly where we'll end things! An epilogue left and then we're done. It was a fun story to write, I didn't expect it to need this many chapters but well that's where the story went. Thanks for tagging along for the ride! /AA