A/N: A huge thank you to all of you for sticking with me so far! I really appreciate your support:)
Warning: Lemon ahead (towards the end... it's more intimate than graphic, really, but here's a warning just in case).
Disclaimer: I don't own anything; I'm just playing on J.K. Rowling's playground!
Hermione woke to find herself wrapped in somebody's arms, confused until she remembered the events of last night.
Severus.
She turned over so she was facing him. He was so calm when he slept; he looked as if he'd never been bothered by a thing in the world. It was nice to see him this way, but she desperately needed the loo.
Trying to extricate herself from his grasp, she slipped out from under his arm and pulled her legs away, only to have her foot caught in the duvet. Hermione fell to the floor with a slight thump, but it was enough to wake Severus. He sat up abruptly, looking around as he realized where he was.
When he saw her on the floor, he rose to help her up, smirking at her all the while.
"Good morning, Hermione."
She was pleased to hear the humor in his deep voice, even if it was at her expense. "Good morning, Severus," she answered as she stood on her toes to kiss him. Remembering why she was out of bed in the first place, she went into the bathroom to complete her morning ablutions.
It was a bright Thursday morning, so Hermione had classes all day, while Severus had the morning off. She rushed to make sure everything was in order before exiting her bedroom to find Severus, who was sitting on the couch with a stack of parchments, quill in hand. His trademark scowl was already in place, and Hermione couldn't help but walk up behind him and run her fingers through his dark hair. He leaned into her touch and tilted his head back; she knew what he wanted and happily obliged.
Their kiss was slow and sweet, a promise of what was to come. In that moment, they were the only two people in the world. Knowing she had to eat before she went to Professor Slughorn's, Hermione called Tinky for whatever was being served at breakfast for the two of them. She still didn't like using the house elf, but didn't want to hurt the poor thing's feelings. Oh, well. We can't have everything.
Or maybe they could, she mused as she looked at her wizard. She'd wanted this for so long, and now she had him and it was wonderful.
After breakfast, he wished her a good day, and she left for the dungeons. The morning classes were simple, and nothing went awry, so she was still in a good mood when she went to lunch in the Great Hall. Her smile only brightened when she saw Severus waiting by the door for her. He offered her his arm and escorted her to their seats.
He told her about his morning, and she was excited to learn that he'd found two new test subjects for their potion. If all went well, they would only need three more successful trials before it could be deemed successful and they could patent it.
As she was still his apprentice, she gave him a report on how her classes were going. Severus was proud of her; she was moving quickly through her work, and she was now almost a month ahead. He couldn't have asked for anyone better.
Last night had been incredible. Hearing her say those three words to him had nearly made his heart stop. Severus hadn't loved anybody since Lily, and now he realized that it hadn't even been love. He'd been infatuated. Lily Evans had been the first person to show him kindness, and he'd latched on for dear life. When she'd abandoned him in his moment of darkness, it had felt as if everything had shifted. His lifeline was gone, and he was truly on his own.
He had led a dark life, and had eventually been placed between two masters. It had been a painful twenty years, but at least it was over.
Severus was finally living his own life. He had a job, a home at the castle, and now he had a witch. He'd long since given up any hope that he'd find somebody who wanted anything to do with his damaged soul, but he'd found a kindred spirit in Hermione. They were slowly healing each other.
The next couple of months passed slowly. Severus and Hermione were happy together, and they were learning how to open up and be with another person. They would still sit and read every night, but now Hermione was curled against him instead of on the other side of the couch. Crookshanks often joined them, making himself comfortable on her stomach or Severus' lap. When they brewed together, they were still oblivious to the world around them, but now they were totally aware of each other. Every banter ended with a kiss or three. All was well.
They had visited Emmie last month, performing the same ritual as last year, but this time Severus stayed with her and held her hand; when she'd started to cry, he pulled her onto his lap and rocked her.
More test subjects had been found for their potion, and they hadn't had a single failure in any of the fifty trials. It had been patented, and would begin to sell at the beginning of the New Year. That had filled the research requirement for her apprenticeship, so now she was beginning to take on the fourth years.
The first year of her apprenticeship had come and gone, and she'd progressed wonderfully. Hermione had learned how to brew more potions than she'd ever know what to do with. Her teaching was still going well, but it was definitely getting harder. With all the work she did for the infirmary, it was hard to find time for all the marking sometimes, but she managed. She knew it was worth it.
She and Severus now shared a bed every night. The nightmares were still occurring, but they weren't nearly as bad as they had been, even after they'd improved the first time. Hermione could now go a few nights without one, and the ones she had were still lessening in their intensity. There had been a few nights when she'd woken to Severus holding her tightly against his chest, murmuring in her ear, but it had been awhile.
He had nightmares, too. Some nights, she heard him calling out in his sleep as he became soaked with sweat. She woke him as he did her, and he would calm quickly after he was awake. He'd explained that he had been having them for nearly two decades, but that didn't take any of the pain away. Hermione wished there was more she could do, but settled with knowing that she could be to him what he was to her.
Now, Christmas was fast approaching. Their quarters had been thoroughly decorated, as neither had ever had reason to celebrate the holidays before. The tree sat near the fireplace, and it was decorated with ornaments of silver and icy blue. Each had a stocking on the mantle, and Hermione had managed to find an advent calendar. They had shared each piece of candy as they counted the days until their first Christmas together.
Severus had found some Muggle twinkle lights, charming them to work without electricity so that their tree was enveloped in a soft glow. It was… well, magical. When Severus wasn't looking the night they'd decorated, Hermione had found some mistletoe and put it over his bedroom door. When he'd declared it time for bed, she trailed behind him with a small smile. It hadn't taken him long to realize what was going on when he couldn't move, and he had looked up almost immediately.
She had laughed, and stayed just far enough away that she wasn't affected, earning herself a glare.
"Did you need something, Severus? You're just standing there scowling at me," she'd asked with a hint of her laughter still in her voice.
At this, Severus had rolled his eyes and held his hand out expectantly. She took it and stepped under the mistletoe, and he'd kissed the living daylights out of her.
Hermione had put a lot of thought into what she should give Severus for Christmas. He had almost any book imaginable. There wasn't anything she could get him that was potions-related. He'd already replaced the robes she'd set on fire during her first year. He had everything.
But, then again, he didn't. Neither of them had any good Christmas memories. She'd followed this train of thought until she knew exactly what she was going to do for him. It was perfect! All she needed was some soft blankets, Tinky, and her wizard.
Severus was truly enjoying the holiday season for once in his life. Their quarters were beautiful, and decorating had actually been... fun. He still felt as if he were completely out of his realm, but Hermione didn't seem to mind. He knew that, with Hermione, he could definitely get used to this.
As soon as she'd mentioned that they could spend Christmas together, he'd jumped at the opportunity. He'd always been slightly jealous of all the stories he heard about nice holidays spent with family. At Spinner's End, Christmas had been dismal at best and painful at worst.
He knew exactly what to get Hermione. Once he'd thought of it, it made perfect sense, and it was almost painfully obvious. He couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't thought of it sooner.
Hermione was so unbelievably happy. It warmed his heart to see how far she'd come. The last panic attack had been before the day of her sister's death. It was milder than the one she'd had last year, for which he was relieved. He never wanted to see her in as much pain as the severe attacks caused her again.
In the past couple of months, the staff had slowly realized that Severus and Hermione were together. Albus, Minerva, and Poppy were elated, although Minerva did warn him that if he hurt her cub, he'd be very sorry before turning to say something along the same lines to Hermione. Nobody was really surprised; they had been expecting it for months.
None of them knew anything about what Hermione had lived through before Hogwarts- other than Minerva and Albus, but they knew very little- but most of them were aware of what had happened over summer. All they knew for sure was that Severus was much more pleasant now than he'd ever been, and they were glad to see him happy.
At breakfast last Tuesday, an owl had dropped a rolled up parchment onto Hermione's plate before taking the bit of sausage she offered. He'd watched her read it cautiously, and had breathed a sigh of relief when a smile broke out on her face.
"It's a save-the-date. Harry and Ginny are to be married in February. I'm so happy for them! You'll come with me, won't you, Severus?"
He really couldn't say no when she looked at him like that; her dark eyes were sparkling and she was beaming at him hopefully. It was rather unfair.
"Of course, Hermione, if you wish."
Her smile only brightened as she leaned across to kiss his cheek before rushing off to respond to the invitation.
He was caught off guard by her boldness, but it warmed his heart to know that she didn't care who knew that they loved each other. That annoyingly insecure part of him had been worried that she'd be ashamed of him, but she'd made it known very quickly that this was not the case. The morning he'd voiced such concerns, she'd stopped him before they entered the Great Hall and kissed him chastely full on the mouth before taking his hand and acting as if the students weren't staring at them with their mouths wide open.
At first, public displays of affection had made him very uncomfortable, and he knew that Hermione felt the same way about being gawked at, but they were both so insecure that they knew they needed to do it for each other- and for themselves, as well. He could see her confidence growing almost daily and, if he were honest, he felt as if his was, too. Now they were so used to holding hands around the castle or sharing a small kiss before classes that it felt as if they'd been doing it forever. Students had stopped taking interest after a few weeks, and they were left in peace.
Today was the last day of term; the students would be mostly gone from the castle by five o'clock that evening.
The day seemed to rush past them, and before they knew it, Severus and Hermione were back in their quarters, curled up on the couch together while they read. Feeling a bit bolder than usual, Hermione closed her book and set it on the table before taking Severus' and doing the same. He looked at her curiously as she pulled away, only for her to crawl into his lap and, straddling him, begin kissing him tenderly.
Severus cupped her face in both hands as he returned the kiss. Her arms wrapped around his neck and her fingers twined into his hair, pulling him closer. Then she was deepening the kiss. He let her keep control, knowing that intimacy was a difficult thing for her. As their kiss gentled, she pulled her head back slightly, just enough to look into his eyes.
"Severus, I love you."
"And I you, Hermione."
Their foreheads touched, and he could feel her warm breath on his face.
"I want you, Severus."
As much and as long as he'd wanted to hear those words, Severus knew he had to make sure that she was ready, even if they took it slowly. He had to slowly introduce her to how it should be.
For her part, Hermione wasn't sure how much she could do. She really wanted to be with him in all the ways she could, but she didn't think she could do it quite yet.
"We'll take it slowly, love. Come with me?"
She nodded wordlessly and took his offered hand as he led them to her room.
When they were sitting on the bed together, Hermione moved towards him, taking his face in her small hands as she kissed him. While her previous kisses had been soft and gentle, this one was hungry.
Hermione could tell that Severus was allowing her to set the pace, and she had complete control of the situation. If she wanted to stop at any time, she knew he would let her. He wasn't like her father; he would never force himself on her.
With this in mind, Hermione's fingers found the buttons of his white shirt and she started undoing them with shaky fingers; whether she was shaking from nerves or anticipation, she couldn't be sure. It was probably both. Eventually, his shirt fell from his body and landed in a small heap on the floor. Hermione pulled away to look at him.
He was beautiful. Severus was thin, but muscles could be seen underneath. She knew how those strong arms felt around her; his heartbeat was almost as familiar to her as her own; his form was solid and reassuring in its stability. Little scars could be seen coving him, but they were just a part of the wondrous being that was Severus Snape.
She began running her hands timidly across his chest, reveling in the feel of his soft skin marred by the scars against her fingers. There was the faint dusting of black hair trailing down his pale body, and she followed it from his chest down to where it met his trousers. Their eyes met, and he silently asked her permission to remove her shirt.
She nodded, suddenly feeling very self-conscious. He would be able to see her scars now. The word carved into her left arm- which, until now, had been hidden by a glamour- the long scar going down her upper arm and the stab wound on her side from her father, what small marks the rubber band left on her right arm, and the long scar that stretched from her left shoulder to her right hip, courtesy of Dolohov. But, she reminded herself, he's already seen them.
He pulled her shirt over her body slowly, leaving her in her bra and jeans. His eyes took in what he could see of her form. The night she'd been brought to him, he had seen her, but he'd been trying to maintain her modesty; he hadn't really looked at her, focusing instead on her injuries. Like him, she was scarred, but not as badly. He reached behind her and found the clasp of her bra, again looking at her for permission before proceeding. Soon it joined their shirts on the floor.
"Hermione, you're absolutely beautiful."
She couldn't help but blush, but she was unable to keep from covering herself. Severus, sensing her discomfort, reached out and took her left hand. Keeping his eyes on her face, he moved his hand so that his fingers brushed against the last letters of her scar. Still watching her, Severus brought her arm to his lips and kissed the denouncement her wrist. She was still tense, so he continued to move his lips softly down her arm until he reached the end of the marking. He pulled away, but only so he could move to reach her upper arm.
He gave each of her scars the same attention, until he reached the one on her torso. Sure to stop before he reached her breasts, Severus kissed his way down her clavicle. His fingers moved lightly from her hip to her waist, still carefully avoiding touching her breasts.
Keeping his walls down so she could see what he felt- awe, nervousness, love- Severus kept his eyes on his witch's. He knew she needed reassurance that her scars were just another part of her, and in no way did they take away from her beauty.
Hermione, now aware that there wasn't a thing that she needed to hide from Severus, pressed into him and they kissed languidly, laying down and gasping as they felt warm skin meet warm skin for the first time.
"Touch me, Severus."
Hesitating for only a moment, Severus was happy to oblige. Her breasts were warm and soft in his palms. His thumb rubbed tentatively over a hardened nipple, and she pulled in a breath, arching into his touch. Encouraged, Severus continued his ministrations while kissing his witch. His lips moved to her jaw, trailed down her neck, and found her chest. He lavished one breast with his mouth before giving the other equal attention, kissing, licking, and suckling gently. Hermione was moving and moaning softly underneath him, subconsciously rubbing her center on his thigh.
Severus came up from her chest and planted another kiss on his witch's lips. He then kissed down her body. His mouth followed the line crossing her torso, and she let out another moan; it was sensitive. When he reached the waistline of her jeans, he looked up to her again. She nodded quickly this time, lifting her hips as he unfastened her pants. Now she was left in her lacy dark blue knickers.
"Your turn, Severus."
He looked confused for a moment before understanding. Rising, he undid his trousers before rejoining her in his black boxers. Severus' hands moved up and down Hermione's body as he pulled her in for another hungry kiss. His self-control was beginning to slip; if they went much farther, he didn't know if he'd be able to stop.
"Hermione, I need to know if you want to stop, because with much more of this, love, I won't be able to."
"Please, Severus, I need you."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. I love you."
"As I love you, Hermione."
And with that, he pulled her knickers from her and removed his boxers. They were as exposed as could be with one another, and it felt right.
He was hesitant, not wanting to go too fast, but Hermione cupped his cheek and brushed his hair from his face.
"It's okay, Severus. I'm ready. I trust you."
Severus kissed her tenderly before complying. His hand reached down to her slick folds and found her clitoris, circling it with his thumb as a long finger slipped inside her entrance.
She gasped and bucked her hips into his hand. He found a slow and steady rhythm, and it wasn't long before she was coming undone beneath him, shouting his name in pleasure. He watched her climax, slightly bewildered by the sight before him. Her mouth hung slack in ecstasy, her eyes open and rolling back slightly. The dark curls he had come to love were thrown across the pillow, and she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. And then, to hear her shout his name… he could have fallen over the edge right then and there.
Hermione was recovering from her first orgasm, panting heavily. She found Severus' hand (not the one that had just exited her body) and squeezed. He returned the gesture, bending to kiss her again. It was Hermione who pulled away, looking into those deep, dark eyes that entranced her whenever she saw them.
"Severus, please."
He chuckled darkly at her urgency, but murmured a contraceptive spell before moving to position himself at her center. He kissed her again as he slowly moved into her, stopping to give her time to adjust. She gasped against his lips as he entered her. Then he was all the way in, and she'd never felt so complete. She bucked against him, urging him to move. Severus pulled back slowly before meeting her again, setting a slow and gentle pace.
Hermione had never known that it could feel like this. With her father and the men in the alley, she'd only been caused pain, but this was incredible. She now understood why it was called "making love." They were together as one.
With Severus, Hermione felt such an intense pleasure; she never wanted it to end. She began moving her hips to match his thrusts, and he slowly began to quicken his movements. They were both making incoherent noises, and Hermione couldn't tell what sounds came from who. All thought fled her mind as she started moving towards her peak, and she could only hold the man she loved even tighter.
"Severus…"
And then her climax was pulsing through her, pleasure crashing over her in waves. Severus wasn't far behind, and as he released inside her, he moaned her name into the room.
He collapsed above her, keeping most of his weight on his arms so he didn't crush her. Severus pulled out slowly and rolled to lay beside her, pulling her to his chest. Exhausted, they fell into a pleasant and sated sleep.
A/N II: Alright, well, I hope I did it justice! I've never written a lemon before, and I did my best.
Also, we're at 8,500+ views now... Y'all are amazing. Thank you so much!
Any and all feedback is appreciated- I'm always looking to grow as a writer. Until next week:)