A chill filled the air as their bodies cooled, but it was more so internal. Both knew there was a reason things had gone this far tonight.
"Hermione," Severus placed his larger hand over hers. "I have to admit I had selfish intentions for not turning you away tonight."
She placed her other hand over his, "And I had selfish intentions for not letting you turn me away."
"Yes," he drawled. "You can be quite stubborn; insufferable Gryffindor."
"I could say the same, self-serving Slytherin."
They shared a small smile.
"Severus, I know you have some dreadful news; but it's not like I went into this expecting roses and sunshine."
"I'm quite possibly allergic to both."
Hermoine laughed. "Go on. Tell me your news then, so I can better understand."
He twitched a brow in concern.
"I'm ready." Her stomach disagreed with her lips.
He searched her eyes for a moment, knowing full well this may be the last time they held him in high regard; what could be the closest to love he would ever know. "Tomorrow is the day that Dumbledore must fall."
She slowly began to cover herself with the blanket, feeling more exposed than she had when being intimate. They had spoken of this moment, of course. Dumbledore was sick, and it would be more of a mercy killing than anything. The old wizard had even requested it of Severus. Still, it would be more blood on her mercenary's hands and more vile words darkening his name. Such a beautiful, eloquent name undeserving of murder and muck. "Severus," she looked up at him, his face searching hers for this very same emotions he expected to find in the crowd. She knew then she had to stifle the uncertainties within herself to comfort him. She cupped his cheek, "you're a good man."
He gave a terse laugh then, but his head turned into the warmth of her palm. "Whatever you say I am Hermione, I am. I will trust your word alone. But you must. swear. to tell no one of my efforts." He locked eyes with her from betwixt her fingers.
"You have my word, Severus," she would make sure to say it as lovingly as possible to erase the spiteful twaddle that was sure to follow.
"Thank you," he kissed her palm.
"And," she took a breath against the thrumming of her heart, "if I am to follow your logic, it will mean a rift at Hogwarts. Who will be the new headmaster?"
"That," he inflected, "would be me."
"You?!" She gasped as her face flushed crimson.
"That's right, Miss Granger, you've just copulated with the soon-to-be headmaster." If there was any joy to be had out of the situation it would be the look on her face. But their heavy hearts would not afford them the pleasure. There could be only trepidation.
"Oh my," Hermoine brought her fingers to her lips, "Severus, you'll be the brunt of accusations, the malice of the whole school will be on your shoulders!"
"It is what the Dark Lord desires," Snape chewed the moniker. He took a moment and swallowed before he looked to her, "But you won't be here for any of it."
"What?" Her eyes grew wide, "Who will protect you?"
That those were the first words out of her mouth made his heart grow lighter and heavier at the same time, he almost laughed. "Would it be you?"
"Always." Her eyes were full of all the certainty of youth. He recognized that word and he hated himself for it. He hated that he had doomed her to inherit his legacy of kindling a dead flame. And yet, he realized, with that look and her face and that word in her mouth, how dearly he loved her. He smiled sorrowfully at the words unsaid and imparted a kiss.
"We may not be side by side but we will still have the telepathic connection."
She nodded, "Right. But, Severus, where will I be going?"
"On a quest for Voldemort's soul. Potter, I'm sure, will fill you in on the details. But you will be away. You must be as far away from the Dark Lord's reaches as humanly possible. Even I should not know your whereabouts."
"…What of my schooling?"
At that, he did laugh. "Hermione, haven't you learned from all of that ink I've placed in your margins? The best lessons are learned outside of a textbook." He took one look at her face, "Yes," he drawled, "I know you love those infernal things. And they do come in useful from time to time. Yet with your experiences to come, you will be the most educated witch of them all. No one will be able to question your authority on battling the Dark Arts." He brushed a curl behind her ear, "You must put all of your abilities to the test as this will be the greatest exam of your life. And I will be grading you harshly." He gave a wry smile.
"Severus," she cried then as she nuzzled herself into the crook of his neck, "Severus!" her voice broke as she was already mourning the loss of the man she had given herself to, and the loss of the headmaster she had admired since childhood. After tonight, she would no longer find safety in the stone walls of Hogwarts. After tonight, it would become her lover's bitter prison: something she supposed it always had been. "Take me again," she looked up at him pleadingly, "I want to remember this. I want to remember how your body feels against mine when…"
He brushed her tears away with his nimble fingers. "I want you to remember." Somewhere inside I want to ruin you, to make you feel so good that others mean nothing years after I've gone. As I've said, Hermione, selfish reasons. His eyes begged her forgiveness.
She kissed him slowly, tenderly. And together they took their time exploring one another deep into the quiet of the night.