These drabbles are in response to a challenge by Droxy. The whole point is to learn to write concisely (who me?) by writing scenes with no more than one hundred words. This is a post-HBP fic.
I own nothing you recognize. I simply play in JKR's universe for stress relief.
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Merging
He was the one person in the world who understood her guilt and pain. She knew how much he loved Albus Dumbledore. The Headmaster was his mentor, friend, and father rolled into one. To kill him, even in the most worthy of causes, tore his heart in two.
At the beginning, she wanted to give him the healing that only a kindred spirit could offer. She'd been amazed to discover she had found healing as well.
Her acceptance and love were unconditional. She told him so with her hands, her lips, and her body. Only the words were left unsaid.
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Their lovemaking was slow and sweet. The feelings had been there for such a long time, but not the ability to express them. He lacked the words. Any words he could find seemed insipid compared to the overwhelming depth of his emotions.
For the first time in his life, he truly understood how poets could compare falling in love with drowning.
Her pain was his. He wanted nothing more than to make the hurt go away. He kept her close, held her tenderly, and stroked her hair.
What he could not say in words, he said to her with touch.
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Hermione woke first. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to wake up in this bed, next to Severus. It had taken getting used to at first. He generated enough heat to rival a blast furnace and tended to throw off the covers during the night - usually on top of her. He was a restless sleeper, tossing and turning unless he spooned against her. That seemed to make him rest easier.
The feeling was there, but could she put it into words? She'd never said it to Ron, never to Daniel. Could she say it to Severus?
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Someone had to say it first. He expressed his feelings in so many different ways. To say the words might make him feel vulnerable, risking rejection.
Hermione felt him stirring. She turned over and met his dark eyes.
"Do you remember when we thought Dave might make me transfer out of the department because of our relationship?" she asked.
"Mmmmph," he murmured.
"I wouldn't have accepted a transfer," she said, brushing his hair back. "I would have quit first."
"You would?" he asked.
"Career is second," she said firmly, "You come first."
She looked at him tenderly. He looked awestruck.
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Severus hesitated for a moment. Hermione was telling him that he was more important to her than the career she'd worked so hard to build. He understood the feeling, because he felt the same about her. If Dave had insisted she transfer to another facility, Severus would have submitted his resignation. His skills were in demand and he could have easily found a position with another pharmaceutical company.
Being Slytherin, his first priority would have been to recruit Hermione. He knew he could lure her away from Christopher Pharmaceuticals. He would keep her with him, no matter what it took.
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'This is what it is like to be vulnerable to another person," he thought. "By caring so much about Hermione, I risk the pain of losing her. I could say the words out loud. I think she will stay. It is not as if I have not been thinking those words for a while.'
Hermione and Severus lay facing each other. The sunlight and a cool breeze streamed in through the open curtains of the bedroom window. He reached out and took her hand, drew it to his lips and kissed her palm.
They said it simultaneously.
"I love you."
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They laughed, wrapped in the warmth of newly expressed love.
Hermione's laugh was open and of sheer delight.
Severus' laugh was more restrained, a deep rumble in his chest. Even in the moment of the purest joy he had ever known, he could not freely indulge himself.
The insecurity and doubts they shared diminished in the reality of hearing those words. Fear of rejection still existed and neither of them could feel totally confident in any relationship. After all, love was a new experience for both of them.
Those three words expressed the power of their mutual commitment to try.
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Spring moved into summer. Summer turned into autumn. The time they spent together was very special to them both. Their shared passion for science and medical research grew more intense as their new treatment for Hodgkins disease continued to show promise.
They returned to Boston's equivalent of Diagon Alley to shop, talk, and carefully reconnect to the wizarding world. They were known there as Sebastian and Jane. No one made the connection to Hermione Granger and Severus Snape.
They planted a potions garden in the backyard of Severus' Victorian home. They put together plans for the greenhouse he would build.
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"Why not bring Crookshanks for the weekend?" asked Severus.
"Are you sure? The last time you stayed at my place, he deliberately coughed up a fur ball on your briefcase," said Hermione, putting down her sandwich.
"He needs to get used to me and the house," replied Severus, firmly.
"He does?"
"Married couples live together and my house is bigger," said Severus as he handed Hermione the olives.
Hermione's hand froze in midair.
"You want to get married?" she asked in a whisper.
"I want us to be legally obligated to share a bed for the rest of our lives."
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"Just the bed?" asked Hermione, a smile teasing the corners of her mouth.
"Perhaps household chores," suggested Severus, helpfully. "You already do most of the cooking. We share the Potions lab."
"What about your housekeeping service?" she asked, teasing.
"They are not invited into the bed or the lab and they do not cook. They may continue to do the same cleaning they have since I bought the house," he replied. "You are the only one invited into my heart."
Severus took Hermione's hand and kissed it. His eyes were full of warmth, a look her reserved only for her.
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The ceremony was small and private. In the small Vermont town, the Justice of the Peace called his wife and daughter into the parlor to act as witnesses. Jane and Sebastian promised to love, honor, and cherish each other as long as they both lived.
That evening, there was another ceremony carefully hidden behind magical wards surrounding the garden of Severus' Victorian home. Hermione and Severus stood barefoot in the moonlight and pledged to join their lives, dreams, love, and magic.
Ever and always. Always and ever.
Sparkling lights surrounded them.
The two who were alone would never be again.
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To be continued
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Author's notes
Thank you to all of my reviewers for taking the time to send me a comment or two, or four, or six on my first attempt at concise writing. They are: Droxy (who started all of this and does it phenomenally well), Duj (who keeps trying to drill canon and the value of concise writing into my brain), Not So Chicken Little (who took a side trip from "Looking for Magic"), Winter Solstice 1 (who just plain made me feel good), Shdwcat27 (who cried when she was supposed to), Caerrae27 (who wrote one of the most encouraging reviews, ever), Megan Consoer (who always reviews, no matter what), Lady Rhian (who sees the details and picks out the most subtle plot points), and Me613 (who brightened up my whole day when she designated this story as one of her favorites).