Hermione Granger sat with a large number of Medi-witches and Medi-wizards at St. MungoÕs. She waited for the press conference that would announce her discovery. It had been over a month since she had owled the St. MungoÕs and the Ministry and after extensive testing they found that she had indeed found a cure for the pains.
She hadnÕt planned on this and decided that she wouldnÕt tell all of the story; the press conference began.
"Miss Granger, How did you find this Potion?" one reporter asked.
"ItÕs found in Ars Magica Medice, I had the opportunity to read and translate several potions from it that had been given to the hospital,"
"Miss Granger Can you tell us..." The press conference went on for several hours, Hermione was glad to get out of there as soon as she could apperate to the grounds outside of Hogwart's castle.
***
It was late afternoon when she got back to the castle, She hadn't had as much time to see Severus as she would have like too. She passed several students in the hallways and gave them a tired smile, She made her way down to the dungeons there was one more class for the day but she had time to drop in and see Severus,
"Hey you," She smiled as she walked into the Classroom, "I'm back," Severus looked up and smiled, "i missed you," he hugged her, "Are you all done?"
"For the time being? yes," She said as she yawned, "I'm glad we hadn't had to try that potion on you yet,"
"I am too," He nuzzled her neck, "Do you want to go down to Hogsmeade in the morning? It is the weekend after all,"
"I would love too," She gave him another kiss, "I have to go to get all of my letters that have been bound to show up now,"
"My quarters after dinner?" She nodded at his suggestion. "By love."
****
In the month that they had officially been together. The students had gradually gotten used to seeing them together in the hallways. Some of the Slytherins resigned the fact that they were together. Others Like Carmilla Nettleburn still loathed it.
Cicely rosewood had become something of Hermione's ears in the hallways, filling her in everyday after lunch before classes started again.
She still liked the two despite what anyone said. Hermione had entrusted her to collect her mail the days that she had to go to either St. Mungo's or the Ministry. And Cicely always gave her the letters as soon as Hermione returned.
Hermione ran into the girl in the hallway as she headed to her next class, "Miss Granger, here's your mail for you," She handed Hermione a think bundle of letters.
She smiled at Cicely, "I think I owe you a treat," she said as she walked the girl to her next class, "How about I bring you back a butter beer and a big pumpkin scone from Hogsmeade?"
"You'd do that for me?" She didn't think she truly deserved such a reward.
"You been collecting my mail off and on for me for the past month, and the teachers have had no problems with that, you deserve it,"
She left the girl by her classroom and went to the library. Irma was putting books away when she entered, "Hermione you look beat,"
"Thanks, I feel it too," She sat down at one of the tables, "I've been apperating to either the Ministry or St. Mungo's for the past three weeks, Severus and I haven't really seen much of each other lately," She began to sort through her mail, all the same, asking for interviews, she would decline all of them as always. She began to laugh at as she held two envelopes.
"What's so funny?" Irma asked, Walking over to her.
"PlayWizard and PlayWitch; I can guarantee the first one is for a photo shoot and the other one is for a column," She slipped them into her robe she would burn them later, "those will soon become a pile of ash,"
****
Dinner came and Hermione made her way to the great hall from the owlrey, she was exhausted, she wanted Severus to hold her until she went to sleep. She had a small vial of a waking potion that would take away some of her fatigue but she didn't want to take it yet.
She had written letters declining the interviews, and would burn the ones in her robe later. She sat as the high table and Spotted Cicely smiling at her, the girl really is a dear, she thought, she deserved something more than just a scone and a butter beer.
Severus strode up to the tables giving Hermione his trademark smile; thin and cruel, but Hermione could see the twinkle of love in his dark eyes.
He took his seat next to her, "You're tired love, maybe you should just get some sleep tonight,"
"I haven't been able to spend as much time with you as I like," She replied, "I'll sleep, besides I thought you wanted to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow,"
"I do," he replied, "I am just concerned about your health,"
"Severus, I have never been one to skimp on sleep, I get enough," She stopped talking and began to eat the first real meal she had had all day.
****
Remus watched the couple chatting, he was happy for them, Sirius had promised not to tell Harry yet as Ginny had promised. Sirius had returned to the Ministry two weeks ago, and he had told Remus of the sense of foreboding that he had, Sirius had to be reassured that nothing was going to happen before he left.
Remus began to wonder what Sirius had been so upset about, Remus would talk to Dumbledore later...
Minerva watched the couple talking, actually it was Severus talking and Hermione eating. Poor girl, she thought, She's been run ragged this past month. She slowly began to accept them as a couple though she didn't approve of the age difference.
****
Severus lead Hermione to his chambers and watched her curl herself up on his bed, He took off the waistcoat he wore and hung it up, She was dozing lightly when he came back, "Hermione?" She half opened her eyes, "you can't sleep in your work clothes," she yawned and sat up, she didn't realize how exhausted she was. She allowed Severus to undress her and put one of his long sleeved shirts on her.
"There you can go to sleep now," He said a he pulled back the blankets for her, He kissed her lightly but she was already asleep.
Crookshanks appeared out of nowhere, They had been allowed to install an enchanted cat door into both Severus' and Hermione's chambers that allowed the cat to go back and forth between the two sets of rooms. He jumped up onto the bed and curled up next to the sleeping woman.
Severus sat in a chair close to the fire place and read listening to Hermione's steady breathing, He could hear Crookshanks purring in time with her breathing. I'll be so glad when this is over, he thought, he was suddenly alerted by a knock on his chamber door.
He went to the door and opened it, and was surprised to see Remus standing in the hall with a worried look on his face. "Severus can I talk to you?"
"Come in," he stepped aside and let Remus walk in, "You'll have to keep your voice down Hermione's sleeping,"
"She's run herself to exhaustion," He replied, "I just got an owl from Sirius, he got word from a friend of his, a wizard named Francis Darrell, about strange goings on in a local cemetery where he lived, every night or so a group of people in cloaks and hoods were meeting there and holding some sort of meeting. They used no light and he couldn't see anything to describe them by, well he did see one thing,"
"What did he see and what does this have to do with me?" Severus asked as he poured Remus a brandy.
"Thank you," Remus took the drink, "Severus he said that he saw what he thought was the face of one of them, he said he couldn't see much but that the face was pure white,"
Severus felt his throat tighten, "Death Eaters?" he asked.
"That's the thing, no one in the Ministry believes him except for Sirius and a handful of others," He set the glass down, "Sirius told me that the Aurors were told to stop looking for any possible surviving Death Eaters because they most likely had their spirits broken and would do any thing further,"
"Ballocks," Severus muttered, he dreaded this, "Is Sirius going to do anything about it?"
"He's trying, I've already talked to Albus, and well No one's sure what they are going to do," Remus replied, "I thought you needed to know,"
"Thank you I do," Severus replied as he watched Remus stand, He walked with Remus and let him out, "You will keep me posted?" Remus nodded before walking down the hall.
****
Severus put his book away and went to the bedroom, he cast a warming spell and stretched out on the bed beside Hermione, he was becoming upset, he didn't understand how the Ministry could pull the Aurors away like that. Why? he tried to think of how they could have mucked things up like that. he fervently hoped that the sightings meant nothing and that he didn't have to worry, about his life or Hermione's.
He was more concerned about Hermione's than his own he realized, Severus was far older than her and she had so much to still live for. He wrapped an arm protectively around her, and buried his face in her hair. He felt the sting of tears, he pushed them away, he couldn't afford to cry, he had never been able to.
Severus closed his eyes and spooned himself behind Hermione, He would protect her at whatever the cost.
******
******
Severus lay awake most of the night, his fear was getting the better of him, he knew this. He grew drowsy and held Hermione tighter. he drifted off to sleep and was immediately swept into a dream.
***
Severus stood in a dark field, he could hear the hissing of a snake, or what he thought was a snake. there was no light except the from his want and that barely penetrated the black on black darkness.
The hissing grew and he could see shadows, or sense them walking towards him, his throat tightened and he felt the flood of panic wash through him as he saw the white masks and raised his wand to strike, but his arms felt like blocks of stone he couldn't raise them.
He heard a cry and turned his head to see Hermione laying on the ground curled tightly in a ball. He heard the hissing become louder and realized it was no ordinary snake, he saw the dinner plate sized eyes watching him, they turned towards Hermione and Severus could see the glistening fangs, but he couldn't run to her and he couldn't scream...
***
Severus sat up, was sweating and frightened, Hermione wasn't in bed and he began to panic. He looked out the open bedroom door and saw the sunlight streaming in through the phantom window.
He put his hand to his chest and felt his heart slamming against his ribcage. He stood up and walked out to the living room, there was a pot of coffee and and a plate of toast and Danish's. He rubbed his eyes and felt his heart returning to normal, Hermione appeared in the doorway some minutes later.
"Good morning sleepyhead," she smiled at him, "have some coffee, you need it,"
"Good morning, when did you wake up?" he slumped into the chair at the table.
"About half an hour ago," She sat across from him and poured him a cup of coffee, "I woke up in one of your shirts, i assume you changed me?"
Severus nodded, "Yes you curled up on the bed last night and fell right to sleep, you let me change you," He replied after he sipped some of his coffee.
He watched her as she sorted through letters, she pulled out two from her robes and scowled at them, "I forgot to burn these last night," she said standing up, "And just so you know Severus, one's from PlayWizard and the other is from PlayWitch. And believe me i am not about to pose for PlayWizard, I only pose for you," she gave him a seductive smile.
"Gods woman do you realize what you do to me?" he asked realizing the last time they had made love was weeks ago, he tried to sit comfortably despite his growing erection trapped in the confines of his slacks.
"I know perfectly well what i do to you," she glided over and wrapped her arms around his neck, she nibbled his ear lightly.
He groaned lightly as she nibbled, "Hermione please don't do this to me,"
She stood up, "And why not?" she replied, "I love tormenting you, remember i am your insufferable annoyance,"
"I know that," he closed his eyes as she kissed his neck, "It's still early Hermione,"
"What are you suggesting dear Severus?" She giggled against his neck, "that we escape to the confines of your bedroom momentarily?"
"Who ever said we had to go to the bedroom?" He said turning his head to kiss her, "I know I didn't,"
Hermione let go of his neck and tipped her head to the side and smiled, Always full of surprises, she thought. Severus looked into her eyes and gave her his trademark cruel smile, she also learned that this was the same smile that he used when he was in a mischievous mood, "Sometimes i wonder about you,"
"What is there to wonder?" he asked standing, he suddenly felt more awake now. he wanted her badly and gave her a smug self assured smile, "Gods woman you are so beautiful,"
"I know I am," She replied as she transfigured the rug in front of the fireplace into a plush sheepskin rug.
Severus looked at her with loving eyes and took a step towards her. He stopped short when he felt a disconcerting twinge in his stomach, Hermione saw his frown and watched with worried apprehension.
he shook his head and took another step, the twinge returned and he stopped again, this time giving her a look of utter confusion, "Severus? what is it?" She was next to him in a second, She fumbled in the pocket of her robe and pulled out a vial of a blood red potion, "Accio rug," the sheepskin rug was suddenly beside them about the time Severus started to shake.
"Not on my time you don't," she muttered and broke the seal on the bottle, "Severus I know it's the pains lie down," He knelt on the floor and clutched his sides, the pains started to flood through his body. She pushed him onto his back and held his head in her lap. She tipped the bottle against his lips. "Trust me,"
Severus felt the warm potion touching his lips and he parted them, it reminded him of cinnamon with a hint of something burnt.
He felt the potion sliding down his throat and closed his eyes.
***
Hermione uttered her silent prayer over and over again as Severus took the potion; she knew all the tests proved that it work but this was the man she loved and she didn't want anything to happen to him.
Severus slowly felt the pains turning into waves of warmth and comfort, he didn't know whether it was a permanent cure or if it would only last for the day but he was happy. "Hermione?" he opened his eyes to her tear filled brown ones, "Hermione it's gone,"
She smiled as the tears streamed down her face, her potion had worked. She kissed Severus as best as she could from their position.
****
They sat in each others arms after Severus at up, they just held each other, thankful that the pains had indeed left him.
Severus began to kiss Hermione's neck as she held him, he felt her body becoming warmer and more fluid to his touch. She moaned slightly as he bit into the pale flesh of her shoulder.
She pulled her fingers through his hair as his bites traveled from shoulder to breast. She was a cuddle and pliable to his will.
Severus slipped her robe from her shoulders and unzipped the back of her dress. She moaned as he pulled the dress off of her shoulders and took a nipple into his mouth.
Hermione felt waves of pleasure course through her body, she let Severus' strong hands trace invisible paths down her arms, shoulders and breasts.
Severus smiled as he stripped off his waistcoat and shirt, Hermione's nails found bare flesh as he nibbled at sensitive patches of skin on her chest.
****
Hermione lay wrapped in Severus' shirt, she was delirious with pleasure, It's amazing what a bit of crisis can do to lovemaking she thought as she nuzzled against Severus. The grandfather clock tolled eight and Hermione sat up, letting the shirt fall away from her pale and creamy skin, Severus caught his breath as she stood and gathered her clothes.
He stood and followed her into the bathroom she was standing in the shower and found no harm in joining her. The washed each others body for several minutes, the performed a quick-dry spell before getting dressed.
Severus buttoned his form fitting waistcoat as Hermione slipped back into her dress, He smiled at her and gave her neck a light nibble, "We should be going love," She said wiggling away from him.
*****
The students were voraciously eating breakfast, when Hermione and Severus walked into the great hall. Slytherin and Gryffindor students watched as they walked to the high table.
Carmilla Nettleburn didn't watch the couple as they walked into the room she was busy scraping dirt from under her nails, she hated herbology and having a detention last night had seriously put a damper on her original plans.
She scowled at them and looked up to to see several fellow Slytherins watching her with raised eyebrows. They knew better than to ask her what her problem was, she was rumored to have turned her nanny into a toad at the age of five. they did not wish to tempt fate.
She scowled and returned the picking at her nails, she had no appetite now and doubted she could ever respect her head of house ever again.
****
Cicely Rosewood was writing a letter in-between taking bites of her breakfast, she smiled at the couple and continued to write her letter. She had met Hagrid a few weeks before and had befriended the kindly game keeper.
She saw the owls flying in and her own screech owl, Pippit. She gave his the note and watched him fly out the window. the letter she had been writing was to Hagrid and it was about Severus and Hermione, she to could play both sides, she thought as she finished her breakfast.
****
Hagrid was at his large table whittling a whistle when a small owl came barreling into his hut through the open window, he smiled at the bird, "Ello there, what's you have there?" he asked as the owl, out of breath, dropped the letter in front of him, he opened the letter and read it.
Hagrid,
Miss Granger and Professor Snape seem happier than a pair of love birds. There is still a lot of hostility at the Slytherin table but the Gryffindors, by popular opinion, seem to think that Professor Snape doesn't yell at them as much, he's even been noted at taking points from his own house.
There's not much else other than that, i look forward to joining you for tea this afternoon and thanks for letting me bring along Philip,
Cicely
Hagrid smiled, he knew his granddaughter would pull through for him. He gave the tired little owl a saucer of tea with milk and a piece of biscuit. He glanced down by the hearth of the fire, Fang and Cuddles lay sleeping next to each other, the pup had grown quite a bit in the past weeks and was beginning to become a bit of a nuisance, if a lovable one.
Hagrid thought about decades long past and about his brief fling with a woman who, to the best of his knowledge, was half Veela, there had been a child Hagrid had never met. Then five years ago a woman had shown up in Hogsmeade asking about him the woman turned out to be his daughter. Hagrid missed Azine to death, she had become an Auror and was killed during that last battle, He hadn't known that She had a daughter until a few months before the present term started. he would tell the girl today, He had to.
*****
*****
A/N: this is what happened after Remus' meeting with Severus i.e. a sort of flashback
As Severus sat gathering his thoughts from the recent meeting with Remus, he didn't know that there was a meeting beginning and that even though he didn't want to be included he would be soon enough.
*****
Figures formed from the shadows that glided across the cemetery, they rose and formed a circle, each giving a subtle nod to the other as they gathered. One of them spoke, "What news of Hogwarts?" it asked in a hissing tone, "What news of our child?"
"We do not know," another voice hissed, the white mask not only concealing the face as well as voice. "We know She excels,"
"That is good," Another replied, "She may be a great advantage to us,"
"Of course she will, She has the power of our late Lord," another said, "It is a pity that Severus had to become involved with that little mudblood,"
"He is our greatest chance at regaining power," a silvery voice hissed, "And the Child is our greatest tool,"
The meeting continued for sometime, and every so often the words "Severus", "Hope", "Child" and "revenge" came up. They dispersed towards dawn blending into the shadows; disapperating to where the would be 'needed'.
*****
Sirius worked deep within the vaults of the Ministry's archives. He still had a sense of foreboding and wasn't happy about it. Mad eye Moody had even asked him what he thought about this; so he wasn't the only one feeling as if something was out there.
He wrote Ron a note. He might know something that he didn't and hoped that nothing was wrong. But Sirius had the sense that for everything that he was telling himself that these were all half assed lies to try to keep himself calm, or worse to keep him from losing his mind.
****
Remus slept fitfully he kept having dreams of changing into a werewolf and being surrounded by Deatheaters. He still retained some of his wolfish habits; he whimpered, whined and growled in his sleep.
His dream showed himself facing Severus in a forced duel, what it was over he didn't know but he was damned scared to find out.
****
Rob Weasely sat in his tent, his latest assignment had taken him to the hot jungle of south America. He received an owl from Sirius, a few days before, asking him to look into any dark gatherings, Ron had no idea if any had happened or not but he would keep his ears open. Sirius had promised to write again if he heard anything further.
Ron looked at a picture on the table in his tent; it was of him Hermione, Harry, and Hagrid. They were all smiling and waving at him, Gods how he missed them all.
****
Carmilla Nettleburn sat on her bed grumbling to herself, she scraped the dirt from under her nails, Detention?! She couldn't believe that she had been given a detention by Sprout, She was hacked, Her plans had been ruined, her dorm mates were either sleeping or faking it, they knew her temper and they did not want to be on the other side of her wand.
****
Cicely Rosewood was having a nightmare of her own, she had fallen asleep rather early and her dream was making her wish she was awake.
She was with her mother, they were in the woods she was only about five in the dream, she could here a screaming and her mother pushing her into a rotted tree trunk to hide her.
She heard scrapings and snuffling as something big pawed at the tree. A large black scaly nose pushed it's way into the trunk, she screamed. She saw a purple flash and the creature dropped; she curled up into a ball and began to cry...
She felt herself being pulled from the tree trunk and being held. She opened her eyes and saw her mother cradling her in her arms.
Cicely woke slightly and shifted position, her dream turned into a pleasant one and she drifted back into a deeper sleep...
*****
*****
Severus and Hermione made there was down the path to Hogsmeade, They watched several of the students as well as teachers follow them. "Severus," She murmured as held onto his arm. Despite them being a couple Severus still hardly smiled in public, except his thin cruel smile.
"yes Mione?" he said as they walked.
"Nothing, I just love to say your name," She said as they headed into town, "I promised Miss Rosewood a treat for taking care of my letters and such,"
"She is a good student," He replied, "Her personality reminds me of Hagrid,"
"Now that you mention it, it does," Hermione replied, "but you have to admit she is an exceptional student,"
"In potions yes, I don't know about her other classes though," He gave her a thin smile, "Her mastery at potions is rivaled only by you or Me,"
"That is a bit of a compliment, especially coming from you Severus Snape," she smiled as the walked down the main street of Hogsmeade,
he gave her a bit of a squeeze as they headed over to the Apothecary, the entered and a squat witch smiled toothlessly, "Good Morning Professor Snape, it has been a while since you have graced my Presence"
"I don't know about Graced," He gave her a smile, "I was wondering if you had any sea urchin venom?"
"Let me guess, you want to be stocked up for mosquito season?" Severus nodded, "I think I have a couple of jars, Powdered right?" he nodded again.
Hermione looked around and in a barrel bowl behind several barrels saw something she had never seen before, "Severus? What are these?" she picked up what looked like a shard of iridescent porcelain
"That's water dragon eggshell," the little witch replied before Severus could, "take a bit with you if you like. I haven't been able to find any use for it other than it being pretty,"
Hermione smiled at the woman reached into her pocket she pulled out four galleons, "Will this be enough for the whole bowl or would you like more?" she asked as she set the coins in front of the woman.
"That's more than enough dear," She replied as handed Hermione a leather sack, "Here keep this to put them in,"
Severus smiled thinly throughout the entire conversation, he knew if anyone could find a use for the shells it would be Hermione.
Hermione slipped the shells into the leather sack, noting that it was slick feeling, "This is water dragon hide isn't it?" she asked handing the empty bowl to the woman.
"Sure is," She tried to hand Hermione back some of her coins, "I couldn't take all this, really,"
"It wouldn't feel right for me to take this without paying something for it."
Severus gave her a little laugh, "Typical Gryffindor," He said smiling at her, He paid for his purchases and the left the store.
****
They walked to a small bookstore Severus asked if she didn't mind if he looked in there by himself for a few minutes, "I don't mind Severus, I am going to go pick up something for Miss Rosewood," She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and walked off towards the sweet shop.
Severus scowled as he entered the store. Inside were stacks of dusty looking tomes, he knew what he was looking for and hoped that this particular shop would have them.
****
Hermione entered Honeyduke's and smiled, a pudgy looking wizard smiled at her, "I recognize you," he started, "You're Miss Granger, you went to Hogwarts, work there now too right?"
She nodded, "That's me, I'm happy that you recognized me," she gave him a winning smile, "I am looking for something to give to one of my students, She's been helping me quite a bit lately,"
"Which house does she belong too?" he asked, "Let me guess Gryffindor," Hermione looked startled but nodded.
"I think a pack of sugar quills and a box of chocolate frogs," Hermione replied, knowing that they were Gryffindor favorites, "That work?"
"I think so, and two boxes of every flavor beans for good measure and free of charge," Hermione paid for her goodies and left the store as it was filling up.
She also bought a bottle of butter beer and a large pumpkin scone for Cicely well as a few goodies for herself and Severus. Who knew that the man had a weakness for black currant scones, she thought as she walked back to the bookstore.
Severus was waiting outside looking content with himself, "What did you find?" He asked her as she walked up.
"Just some goodies, for miss Rosewood as well as some for us," she gave him an evil grin, "And you have to wait for later to see what I bought you,"
He pouted and she caressed his cheek, "You're an evil woman you know that?"
"I am perfectly aware of that Professor Snape," She smiled and the walked down the street, "Did you find what you were looking for?" she asked him as continued down the road.
"I did," he smiled, "Shall we have lunch?" he asked as he guided her to a small coffee house.
"I guess we shall," they took a seat inside by the window and watched people go by. They ate and chatted as if they hadn't seen each other in weeks, and it was almost true, they saw each other mostly at lunch and when they slept; which didn't count.
They watched the students walking past, Severus surprised her by telling her every students name and whether or not their families had been affiliated with the Deatheaters. "Sometimes I wonder what they would think of me if they knew..." Severus started, "Miss Nettleburn especially, her family was right up there with the Malfoys, now they say they were all under the Imperious curse," he sighed, and gave Hermione a smile.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, taking his hand in hers, "I thought you were going to ruin my whole day,"
He gave a hearty laugh, which made several of the witches in the coffee house look around in amazement, "No, I'm fine. I wouldn't want to ruin your day, Gods forbid that."
She smiled at him, "I'm just glad the potion worked,"
*****
Cicely Rosewood and Philip Burtleby made there way down to Hagrid's hut, Cicely watched Philip as he trundled along after her, "Hey Cicely you've got to slow down,"
"Oh Philip you're just slow," She smiled and laughed at her clumsy friend, "We're almost there see?" she pointed and the large hut came into view.
She watched her friend dusting the dirt and leaves off of himself as she knocked on the door. The door opened and Hagrid's smiling face looked at them, "Yer made it! Come in come in," he opened the door further and let the two students in.
"Thanks for letting me bring Philip along," she immediately went to the bed and picked up cuddles, she glanced at Philip who was staring at Hagrid, "Mister Burtleby, it's not polite to stare," Philip blushed and Hagrid laughed.
He had put up all of the pictures he had of his friends and family along the mantle of the fireplace. Cicely stood up holding the large and still sleeping puppy, and walked over to the pictures.
"Cicely, doesn't that look like your mother?" Philip asked pointing to a picture of Hagrid with his arm around a tall beautiful woman, "Mister Hagrid Sir, who is that?" the boy asked as Hagrid handed him a large cup of tea and a piece of treacle fudge.
Cicely put cuddles back on the bed where he had been sleeping and walked over to the pictures. She picked the one of him and the woman up, "That's me daughter," Hagrid said as she looked at the picture.
She looked confused, then it hit her; this was her mother as she had been five years ago and that must mean Hagrid was her Grandfather. "Hagrid, You're my grandfather?" she asked quietly, Philip sputtered in his tea and his jaw dropped.
"Aye, lass," Hagrid sat down at the table across from the shocked Philip, "I didn't know about yer until this year,"
Cicely was overwhelmed, her parents were dead and was being raised by her grandmother, she had no idea that she was Hagrid's granddaughter. A large smile grew on her face and she threw her arms around hagrid's neck in a hug that nearly strangled him.
Philip would have said something but his teeth were stuck together from the fudge, "Easy Girl," Hagrid said prying her hands from around his neck. "Good tier know you don't hate me,"
"I'm so happy," her smile was almost as large as Hagrid's, "I've never been so happy in my life,"
****
Severus and Hermione made their way back up to Hogwart's, the walk was slow but it suited them.
Severus caught sight of two students running ahead of them, "Mister Burtleby and Miss Rosewood!" they stopped dead in their tracks and froze.
Hermione and Severus walked up to the startled students, "Mister Burtleby you can go," Severus said, "Miss Rosewood, We need to speak with you," Hermione watched Philip running off like a scared rabbit and Cicely laughing silently.
"This is for you, for all of your help this past month," She handed the girl a brown wrapped package, "You'd better go catch your friend I think Professor Snape startled him," Cicely smiled and ran off for her friend.
Severus scowled then laughed when the students had disappeared. "I startled them? not me,"
"Severus, you are in no way innocent," She said giving him a squeeze. "Come on, I want to show you what I found for us, and it's not what you think." Severus pouted,
Severus wondered what it could possibly be, if it's not what I think, then what is it?
******
******
Severus followed Hermione to her quarters, his curiosity was getting the better of him and she knew it. Hermione Smiled and handed him a lumpy wrapped package, "You can open it now if you like love, I know that your curiosity is going to eventually kill you if you don't open it."
Severus scowled at her and took the package and sat down on her couch, she sat across from him in a large armchair. there were actually two packages wrapped into the one. the first was a picture of Himself and Hermione walking down the dungeons of Hogwart's. It showed him smiling, happily, "Whose house do I get to take points from for this?" he asked scowling, "or do i just not want to know?"
"I'll tell you later," Hermione said as he set the picture down, "Open the other one,"
Severus obliged and opened the other package, insider were four very delicious looking black currant scones, "You didn't,"
"I most certainly did," she replied, "You never should have told me you had a weakness for them,"
"You're my real weakness Hermione," His voice was husky as he rewrapped the scones and put them aside, "You have been for a long time,"
"Severus Snape, how long have you lusted for me and been in denial about it?"
"Since your Seventh year," he said not looking into her eyes, "You are what made want to go on everyday, knowing that i had to play Voldemort's petty little games." He looked into her eyes then, they were full of concern and curiosity, "I'll tell you everything if you come to my chambers,"
Hermione looked at him, "I willingly go with you," She said as he picked up his packages and they left her chambers and headed down towards his.
****
Cicely Rosewood sat in the Gryffindor common room with her wrapped package; Philip sat across from her and was nearly as white as nearly headless nick. She opened her package and a large smile grew on her face.
"What did you get?" Philip asked standing and looking at the the candies, pastries, and two bottles of butter beer in front of her.
"It's for helping Miss Granger for all that time," She handed him a Pumpkin scone, "Here, you look deathly pale," she smiled and set a scone aside for herself, "We'll split this bottle and save the other one," she disappeared for a few minutes as she stashed her goodies in her room.
"Did you have any idea Hagrid was your grandfather?" Philip asked her when she returned.
"None, That puts my living relatives up to two," She wasn't bothered by the fact that she only had two living relatives, "I really like Hagrid, I'm glad he's family,"
Philip smiled, he really liked Cicely, and liked to see her happy.
****
Carmilla Nettleburn wandered the streets of Hogsmeade, She was in a foul mood, she had gotten a letter from a close friend of hers informing her of some recent events; Mostly about groups of Muggles who had been kidnapped and tortured. It made her smile and that was all that mattered to her.
She had already won a book of curses in a card game at the Hog's head, She held her own in that tavern and was respected and almost feared there. Let them Fear me, She thought as she walked, Fear is better than respect in my book, she smiled and held onto her prize even tighter, this was the one thing she had wanted for a long time.
She made her way through the crowds of students, they parted when they saw her. Her presence was becoming almost as bad as Professor Snape's.
****
Minerva McGonagall sat at her desk grading papers when Albus walked into the classroom, "Good afternoon Albus," She said with out looking up from her papers.
"Good afternoon Minerva, I found out some rather interesting news about a certain Miss Cicely Rosewood,"
"She's not in any trouble I hope," Minerva replied, she was one of her most promising students this year, "Albus, I know that smile, what has she done?"
"The girl hasn't done a thing, it turns out she has a family member working here and she didn't even know it,"
Minerva set down her quill, "Who on earth could it be Albus, Miss rosewood has only one living relative that we know of, and that's her grandmother. So who could it possibly be?"
"Hagrid," Albus smiled as Minerva's normally sour looking face cracked a smile, "He came up and told me not even an hour ago,"
"That's wonderful," Minerva's smile grew, "She must be happy about that, She did take a shine to him,"
*****
Hermione sat with Severus in his chambers, she watched in rapt attention as he rummaged through his notes and found a neatly folded scrap of parchment, "I knew something bad would happen at that last Deatheaters meeting, I had no idea that it would involve me," He started, "When I apperated there I was immediately hit with the Cruciatus. my first thought was I had failed to redeem myself and that I would die that night. I was tortured in almost every nonfatal way and partially healed before I was thrown in a cell in some Gods-forsaken dungeon. That continued every night, torture, mocking, degradation, and every morning I was thrown into the cell patched with spells that healed my wounds. I some how managed to find a scrap of parchment and a bit of muggle pencil."
He handed the parchment to Hermione, "I had planned on killing myself after writing a note saying that I, Snape, was sorry for failing. The only thing that kept me truly going was knowing that if i didn't survive Brilliant minds like your would be destroyed on the basis of your parents were. I always thought you were brilliant, but it took me those nights when I was being tortured to realize that you were also beautiful in every way. I also convinced myself that no one as beautiful, as intelligent and as young as you could ever love someone so scarred and wrecked as me."
Hermione then looked at the parchment scrap the words 'I, Snape' were scrawled on it. She felt the tears falling down her face; falling to the parchment in her hands
Severus continued, knowing that she needed to hear this, "It was nearly two months before Voldemort launched his final attack, i was left unwatched and I don't know how I managed to escape and to retrieve my wand, Gods know how I managed that. I found Voldemort taunting harry and tried to use the Evada Kedavra curse on him, It apparently didn't work as I was flung several yards away. The next thing I remembered was waking up in the infirmary here,"
He looked at Hermione, She was silently crying, tears streaming down her face. "Oh Severus," he got up and pulled her to him, and wrapped his arms around her sobbing frame, "Severus," she murmured over and over again.
He held her for several minutes until she stopped sobbing, She pushed herself away and wiped the tears from her eyes, "I had to tell you Love, I had too," he murmured.
Hermione looked him in the eyes, "The day you didn't return my heart had shattered into a million pieces. I have always respected you, even if you were cruel to the students. I developed an attraction to you and when you left, I thought the only man I could ever love was gone from my life forever."
Severus kissed away the fresh tears that streamed down her face, "Mione," He bent down and picked her up, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his chest, her ringlets falling in every direction. He carried her into his bedroom and laid her down on the bed. She looked up at him with doe eyes, passive and willing. She had taken her shoes off when they had arrived in his chambers and curled her toes as he watched her.
He took of his robes and unbuttoned his waistcoat, then took of the black dress shirt he wore. Hermione watched silently as he laid them across the back of a chair and joined her on the bed.
He lay on his side and rubbed her belly, she turned and watched him, her eyes drowsy and filled with love. she raised her hand sleepily and brushed it across his bare chest, he shuddered with pleasure and took her hand an kissed the tip of each finger.
Hermione sighed and closed her eyes, Poor thing, he thought, she hasn't even begun to catch up on her sleep, He looked at her again, her breathing had deepened and she was beginning to slip into a deep sleep.
He held her hand as she slipped into sleep, and watched her for several minutes. He finally stood up after a half an hour and went to his robes, he pulled out two packages that had been shrunk to fit into his pocket, he muttered the spell to turn them back to their original size and set them on the bed next to Hermione along with a note.
He put his shirt and waistcoat back on and gave Hermione a kiss on the cheek. He stepped out of his chambers and into the dungeon halls. He sighed and went to his classroom. He would grade papers for a while then go and check on her.
*****
Remus walked down the cold and dark corridors that made up the dungeons, he had seen several students but paid no attention to them. he looked into the potions classroom and saw a ruffled looking Severus sitting at the podium at the head of the classroom grading papers, "Severus?" Remus called out softly, "Can I talk to you?"
Severus looked up, "Come in Remus," He set his grading quill down and stretched, "What can I do for you?"
"Just wanted to see how you were, about the news of the meetings again you know," Remus said standing a few feet away from the podium.
"It's distressing knowing that the Ministry pulled the Aurors away from this. Especially since they knew that there were still at least a dozen powerful Deatheaters out there. I have the feeling there are more, that meeting had at least four hundred," he stretched his arms and yawned.
"Where's Mione?" Remus asked, knowing that Severus didn't have to give him an answer. "She seemed terribly tired last night,"
"She's sleeping in my chambers, we went out to Hogsmeade earlier," He frowned, "I told her about my ordeal," Remus knew what he was talking about and also knew that Severus hadn't told very many people, knowing that there were still Deatheaters out there.
"Is she all right?" he asked not looking into Severus' gaze.
"She cried, then fell asleep," he answered, "I haven't told her about the possible Deatheater sightings, I will though, But I want her to stay safe, Even if it means that I lose my safety, to protect her,"
Remus frowned, Severus had meant to say life instead of safety, he thought. Did he really mean he would give up his life to keep Hermione safe? He didn't like the sound of that. "We'll make sure you both remain safe Severus, I Promise," He gave Severus a smile, "Now whose papers have you decided aren't worth the parchment they are written on?"
Severus smiled cruelly he realized Remus was trying to get him away from the subject of death, "Most of them always are Remus," he replied, "Except for Miss rosewood's hers are almost always perfect,"
"A compliment? to a student no less," he laughed,he heard the door creaking an looked towards it, "Hello Hermione,"
Severus looked up and saw Hermione standing in the doorway, "You let me sleep," she gave him a serious look.
"It hasn't been that long has it?" Severus asked the two people standing in front of him.
"It's nearly six in the evening Severus, we got back a little after noon," She replied, giving him a sleepy smile.
Remus smiled, he remembered that if she fell asleep in the afternoon she would be up half the night and bored out of her mind, "The cat's out of the bag now Severus, You don't realize how much trouble you're in now," he laughed.
"Thank you for the books Severus," he released that she was holding two books in her arms, "You really didn't have too,"
"What didn't Severus have to do if you don't mind me asking," Remus felt his curiosity piqued.
"he was kind enough to buy me a copy of 'Arcane Potions' and 'Ars Magica Medice" of my very own," Hermione said gliding towards the two men, Severus realized she was barefoot.
"Ah Severus that was so sweet of you," Remus hooted, "I'm sorry, I tried, But that was really nice of you Severus, and I promise i won't tell anyone."
Hermione gave Remus a friendly peck on the cheek, "I know you won't, because if you do I'll turn you into a blast-ended screwt,"
"Ouch," Remus cringed, "I think Some of Severus' Slytherin attitude has rubbed off on you Hermione," He hugged her, "but deep down you're all Gryffindor," He left the couple in the classroom and made his way back to his own classroom.
"That man," Severus started, but ended up laughing, "He's all right. What did he mean about me letting a cat out of the bag?"
"I can't sleep in the afternoon," Hermione started as she glided to the podium, "I'll be up all night and bored out of my mind,"
"Shit," Severus gave her a scowl.
"It won't be a problem seeing as I have a plaything..."
"What plaything?" Severus asked wondering.
"I have you, you are my plaything," She smiled and ran her hand across the inside of his leg.
Severus groaned with pleasure, "Gods Hermione," he gasped.
She hadnÕt planned on this and decided that she wouldnÕt tell all of the story; the press conference began.
"Miss Granger, How did you find this Potion?" one reporter asked.
"ItÕs found in Ars Magica Medice, I had the opportunity to read and translate several potions from it that had been given to the hospital,"
"Miss Granger Can you tell us..." The press conference went on for several hours, Hermione was glad to get out of there as soon as she could apperate to the grounds outside of Hogwart's castle.
***
It was late afternoon when she got back to the castle, She hadn't had as much time to see Severus as she would have like too. She passed several students in the hallways and gave them a tired smile, She made her way down to the dungeons there was one more class for the day but she had time to drop in and see Severus,
"Hey you," She smiled as she walked into the Classroom, "I'm back," Severus looked up and smiled, "i missed you," he hugged her, "Are you all done?"
"For the time being? yes," She said as she yawned, "I'm glad we hadn't had to try that potion on you yet,"
"I am too," He nuzzled her neck, "Do you want to go down to Hogsmeade in the morning? It is the weekend after all,"
"I would love too," She gave him another kiss, "I have to go to get all of my letters that have been bound to show up now,"
"My quarters after dinner?" She nodded at his suggestion. "By love."
****
In the month that they had officially been together. The students had gradually gotten used to seeing them together in the hallways. Some of the Slytherins resigned the fact that they were together. Others Like Carmilla Nettleburn still loathed it.
Cicely rosewood had become something of Hermione's ears in the hallways, filling her in everyday after lunch before classes started again.
She still liked the two despite what anyone said. Hermione had entrusted her to collect her mail the days that she had to go to either St. Mungo's or the Ministry. And Cicely always gave her the letters as soon as Hermione returned.
Hermione ran into the girl in the hallway as she headed to her next class, "Miss Granger, here's your mail for you," She handed Hermione a think bundle of letters.
She smiled at Cicely, "I think I owe you a treat," she said as she walked the girl to her next class, "How about I bring you back a butter beer and a big pumpkin scone from Hogsmeade?"
"You'd do that for me?" She didn't think she truly deserved such a reward.
"You been collecting my mail off and on for me for the past month, and the teachers have had no problems with that, you deserve it,"
She left the girl by her classroom and went to the library. Irma was putting books away when she entered, "Hermione you look beat,"
"Thanks, I feel it too," She sat down at one of the tables, "I've been apperating to either the Ministry or St. Mungo's for the past three weeks, Severus and I haven't really seen much of each other lately," She began to sort through her mail, all the same, asking for interviews, she would decline all of them as always. She began to laugh at as she held two envelopes.
"What's so funny?" Irma asked, Walking over to her.
"PlayWizard and PlayWitch; I can guarantee the first one is for a photo shoot and the other one is for a column," She slipped them into her robe she would burn them later, "those will soon become a pile of ash,"
****
Dinner came and Hermione made her way to the great hall from the owlrey, she was exhausted, she wanted Severus to hold her until she went to sleep. She had a small vial of a waking potion that would take away some of her fatigue but she didn't want to take it yet.
She had written letters declining the interviews, and would burn the ones in her robe later. She sat as the high table and Spotted Cicely smiling at her, the girl really is a dear, she thought, she deserved something more than just a scone and a butter beer.
Severus strode up to the tables giving Hermione his trademark smile; thin and cruel, but Hermione could see the twinkle of love in his dark eyes.
He took his seat next to her, "You're tired love, maybe you should just get some sleep tonight,"
"I haven't been able to spend as much time with you as I like," She replied, "I'll sleep, besides I thought you wanted to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow,"
"I do," he replied, "I am just concerned about your health,"
"Severus, I have never been one to skimp on sleep, I get enough," She stopped talking and began to eat the first real meal she had had all day.
****
Remus watched the couple chatting, he was happy for them, Sirius had promised not to tell Harry yet as Ginny had promised. Sirius had returned to the Ministry two weeks ago, and he had told Remus of the sense of foreboding that he had, Sirius had to be reassured that nothing was going to happen before he left.
Remus began to wonder what Sirius had been so upset about, Remus would talk to Dumbledore later...
Minerva watched the couple talking, actually it was Severus talking and Hermione eating. Poor girl, she thought, She's been run ragged this past month. She slowly began to accept them as a couple though she didn't approve of the age difference.
****
Severus lead Hermione to his chambers and watched her curl herself up on his bed, He took off the waistcoat he wore and hung it up, She was dozing lightly when he came back, "Hermione?" She half opened her eyes, "you can't sleep in your work clothes," she yawned and sat up, she didn't realize how exhausted she was. She allowed Severus to undress her and put one of his long sleeved shirts on her.
"There you can go to sleep now," He said a he pulled back the blankets for her, He kissed her lightly but she was already asleep.
Crookshanks appeared out of nowhere, They had been allowed to install an enchanted cat door into both Severus' and Hermione's chambers that allowed the cat to go back and forth between the two sets of rooms. He jumped up onto the bed and curled up next to the sleeping woman.
Severus sat in a chair close to the fire place and read listening to Hermione's steady breathing, He could hear Crookshanks purring in time with her breathing. I'll be so glad when this is over, he thought, he was suddenly alerted by a knock on his chamber door.
He went to the door and opened it, and was surprised to see Remus standing in the hall with a worried look on his face. "Severus can I talk to you?"
"Come in," he stepped aside and let Remus walk in, "You'll have to keep your voice down Hermione's sleeping,"
"She's run herself to exhaustion," He replied, "I just got an owl from Sirius, he got word from a friend of his, a wizard named Francis Darrell, about strange goings on in a local cemetery where he lived, every night or so a group of people in cloaks and hoods were meeting there and holding some sort of meeting. They used no light and he couldn't see anything to describe them by, well he did see one thing,"
"What did he see and what does this have to do with me?" Severus asked as he poured Remus a brandy.
"Thank you," Remus took the drink, "Severus he said that he saw what he thought was the face of one of them, he said he couldn't see much but that the face was pure white,"
Severus felt his throat tighten, "Death Eaters?" he asked.
"That's the thing, no one in the Ministry believes him except for Sirius and a handful of others," He set the glass down, "Sirius told me that the Aurors were told to stop looking for any possible surviving Death Eaters because they most likely had their spirits broken and would do any thing further,"
"Ballocks," Severus muttered, he dreaded this, "Is Sirius going to do anything about it?"
"He's trying, I've already talked to Albus, and well No one's sure what they are going to do," Remus replied, "I thought you needed to know,"
"Thank you I do," Severus replied as he watched Remus stand, He walked with Remus and let him out, "You will keep me posted?" Remus nodded before walking down the hall.
****
Severus put his book away and went to the bedroom, he cast a warming spell and stretched out on the bed beside Hermione, he was becoming upset, he didn't understand how the Ministry could pull the Aurors away like that. Why? he tried to think of how they could have mucked things up like that. he fervently hoped that the sightings meant nothing and that he didn't have to worry, about his life or Hermione's.
He was more concerned about Hermione's than his own he realized, Severus was far older than her and she had so much to still live for. He wrapped an arm protectively around her, and buried his face in her hair. He felt the sting of tears, he pushed them away, he couldn't afford to cry, he had never been able to.
Severus closed his eyes and spooned himself behind Hermione, He would protect her at whatever the cost.
******
******
Severus lay awake most of the night, his fear was getting the better of him, he knew this. He grew drowsy and held Hermione tighter. he drifted off to sleep and was immediately swept into a dream.
***
Severus stood in a dark field, he could hear the hissing of a snake, or what he thought was a snake. there was no light except the from his want and that barely penetrated the black on black darkness.
The hissing grew and he could see shadows, or sense them walking towards him, his throat tightened and he felt the flood of panic wash through him as he saw the white masks and raised his wand to strike, but his arms felt like blocks of stone he couldn't raise them.
He heard a cry and turned his head to see Hermione laying on the ground curled tightly in a ball. He heard the hissing become louder and realized it was no ordinary snake, he saw the dinner plate sized eyes watching him, they turned towards Hermione and Severus could see the glistening fangs, but he couldn't run to her and he couldn't scream...
***
Severus sat up, was sweating and frightened, Hermione wasn't in bed and he began to panic. He looked out the open bedroom door and saw the sunlight streaming in through the phantom window.
He put his hand to his chest and felt his heart slamming against his ribcage. He stood up and walked out to the living room, there was a pot of coffee and and a plate of toast and Danish's. He rubbed his eyes and felt his heart returning to normal, Hermione appeared in the doorway some minutes later.
"Good morning sleepyhead," she smiled at him, "have some coffee, you need it,"
"Good morning, when did you wake up?" he slumped into the chair at the table.
"About half an hour ago," She sat across from him and poured him a cup of coffee, "I woke up in one of your shirts, i assume you changed me?"
Severus nodded, "Yes you curled up on the bed last night and fell right to sleep, you let me change you," He replied after he sipped some of his coffee.
He watched her as she sorted through letters, she pulled out two from her robes and scowled at them, "I forgot to burn these last night," she said standing up, "And just so you know Severus, one's from PlayWizard and the other is from PlayWitch. And believe me i am not about to pose for PlayWizard, I only pose for you," she gave him a seductive smile.
"Gods woman do you realize what you do to me?" he asked realizing the last time they had made love was weeks ago, he tried to sit comfortably despite his growing erection trapped in the confines of his slacks.
"I know perfectly well what i do to you," she glided over and wrapped her arms around his neck, she nibbled his ear lightly.
He groaned lightly as she nibbled, "Hermione please don't do this to me,"
She stood up, "And why not?" she replied, "I love tormenting you, remember i am your insufferable annoyance,"
"I know that," he closed his eyes as she kissed his neck, "It's still early Hermione,"
"What are you suggesting dear Severus?" She giggled against his neck, "that we escape to the confines of your bedroom momentarily?"
"Who ever said we had to go to the bedroom?" He said turning his head to kiss her, "I know I didn't,"
Hermione let go of his neck and tipped her head to the side and smiled, Always full of surprises, she thought. Severus looked into her eyes and gave her his trademark cruel smile, she also learned that this was the same smile that he used when he was in a mischievous mood, "Sometimes i wonder about you,"
"What is there to wonder?" he asked standing, he suddenly felt more awake now. he wanted her badly and gave her a smug self assured smile, "Gods woman you are so beautiful,"
"I know I am," She replied as she transfigured the rug in front of the fireplace into a plush sheepskin rug.
Severus looked at her with loving eyes and took a step towards her. He stopped short when he felt a disconcerting twinge in his stomach, Hermione saw his frown and watched with worried apprehension.
he shook his head and took another step, the twinge returned and he stopped again, this time giving her a look of utter confusion, "Severus? what is it?" She was next to him in a second, She fumbled in the pocket of her robe and pulled out a vial of a blood red potion, "Accio rug," the sheepskin rug was suddenly beside them about the time Severus started to shake.
"Not on my time you don't," she muttered and broke the seal on the bottle, "Severus I know it's the pains lie down," He knelt on the floor and clutched his sides, the pains started to flood through his body. She pushed him onto his back and held his head in her lap. She tipped the bottle against his lips. "Trust me,"
Severus felt the warm potion touching his lips and he parted them, it reminded him of cinnamon with a hint of something burnt.
He felt the potion sliding down his throat and closed his eyes.
***
Hermione uttered her silent prayer over and over again as Severus took the potion; she knew all the tests proved that it work but this was the man she loved and she didn't want anything to happen to him.
Severus slowly felt the pains turning into waves of warmth and comfort, he didn't know whether it was a permanent cure or if it would only last for the day but he was happy. "Hermione?" he opened his eyes to her tear filled brown ones, "Hermione it's gone,"
She smiled as the tears streamed down her face, her potion had worked. She kissed Severus as best as she could from their position.
****
They sat in each others arms after Severus at up, they just held each other, thankful that the pains had indeed left him.
Severus began to kiss Hermione's neck as she held him, he felt her body becoming warmer and more fluid to his touch. She moaned slightly as he bit into the pale flesh of her shoulder.
She pulled her fingers through his hair as his bites traveled from shoulder to breast. She was a cuddle and pliable to his will.
Severus slipped her robe from her shoulders and unzipped the back of her dress. She moaned as he pulled the dress off of her shoulders and took a nipple into his mouth.
Hermione felt waves of pleasure course through her body, she let Severus' strong hands trace invisible paths down her arms, shoulders and breasts.
Severus smiled as he stripped off his waistcoat and shirt, Hermione's nails found bare flesh as he nibbled at sensitive patches of skin on her chest.
****
Hermione lay wrapped in Severus' shirt, she was delirious with pleasure, It's amazing what a bit of crisis can do to lovemaking she thought as she nuzzled against Severus. The grandfather clock tolled eight and Hermione sat up, letting the shirt fall away from her pale and creamy skin, Severus caught his breath as she stood and gathered her clothes.
He stood and followed her into the bathroom she was standing in the shower and found no harm in joining her. The washed each others body for several minutes, the performed a quick-dry spell before getting dressed.
Severus buttoned his form fitting waistcoat as Hermione slipped back into her dress, He smiled at her and gave her neck a light nibble, "We should be going love," She said wiggling away from him.
*****
The students were voraciously eating breakfast, when Hermione and Severus walked into the great hall. Slytherin and Gryffindor students watched as they walked to the high table.
Carmilla Nettleburn didn't watch the couple as they walked into the room she was busy scraping dirt from under her nails, she hated herbology and having a detention last night had seriously put a damper on her original plans.
She scowled at them and looked up to to see several fellow Slytherins watching her with raised eyebrows. They knew better than to ask her what her problem was, she was rumored to have turned her nanny into a toad at the age of five. they did not wish to tempt fate.
She scowled and returned the picking at her nails, she had no appetite now and doubted she could ever respect her head of house ever again.
****
Cicely Rosewood was writing a letter in-between taking bites of her breakfast, she smiled at the couple and continued to write her letter. She had met Hagrid a few weeks before and had befriended the kindly game keeper.
She saw the owls flying in and her own screech owl, Pippit. She gave his the note and watched him fly out the window. the letter she had been writing was to Hagrid and it was about Severus and Hermione, she to could play both sides, she thought as she finished her breakfast.
****
Hagrid was at his large table whittling a whistle when a small owl came barreling into his hut through the open window, he smiled at the bird, "Ello there, what's you have there?" he asked as the owl, out of breath, dropped the letter in front of him, he opened the letter and read it.
Hagrid,
Miss Granger and Professor Snape seem happier than a pair of love birds. There is still a lot of hostility at the Slytherin table but the Gryffindors, by popular opinion, seem to think that Professor Snape doesn't yell at them as much, he's even been noted at taking points from his own house.
There's not much else other than that, i look forward to joining you for tea this afternoon and thanks for letting me bring along Philip,
Cicely
Hagrid smiled, he knew his granddaughter would pull through for him. He gave the tired little owl a saucer of tea with milk and a piece of biscuit. He glanced down by the hearth of the fire, Fang and Cuddles lay sleeping next to each other, the pup had grown quite a bit in the past weeks and was beginning to become a bit of a nuisance, if a lovable one.
Hagrid thought about decades long past and about his brief fling with a woman who, to the best of his knowledge, was half Veela, there had been a child Hagrid had never met. Then five years ago a woman had shown up in Hogsmeade asking about him the woman turned out to be his daughter. Hagrid missed Azine to death, she had become an Auror and was killed during that last battle, He hadn't known that She had a daughter until a few months before the present term started. he would tell the girl today, He had to.
*****
*****
A/N: this is what happened after Remus' meeting with Severus i.e. a sort of flashback
As Severus sat gathering his thoughts from the recent meeting with Remus, he didn't know that there was a meeting beginning and that even though he didn't want to be included he would be soon enough.
*****
Figures formed from the shadows that glided across the cemetery, they rose and formed a circle, each giving a subtle nod to the other as they gathered. One of them spoke, "What news of Hogwarts?" it asked in a hissing tone, "What news of our child?"
"We do not know," another voice hissed, the white mask not only concealing the face as well as voice. "We know She excels,"
"That is good," Another replied, "She may be a great advantage to us,"
"Of course she will, She has the power of our late Lord," another said, "It is a pity that Severus had to become involved with that little mudblood,"
"He is our greatest chance at regaining power," a silvery voice hissed, "And the Child is our greatest tool,"
The meeting continued for sometime, and every so often the words "Severus", "Hope", "Child" and "revenge" came up. They dispersed towards dawn blending into the shadows; disapperating to where the would be 'needed'.
*****
Sirius worked deep within the vaults of the Ministry's archives. He still had a sense of foreboding and wasn't happy about it. Mad eye Moody had even asked him what he thought about this; so he wasn't the only one feeling as if something was out there.
He wrote Ron a note. He might know something that he didn't and hoped that nothing was wrong. But Sirius had the sense that for everything that he was telling himself that these were all half assed lies to try to keep himself calm, or worse to keep him from losing his mind.
****
Remus slept fitfully he kept having dreams of changing into a werewolf and being surrounded by Deatheaters. He still retained some of his wolfish habits; he whimpered, whined and growled in his sleep.
His dream showed himself facing Severus in a forced duel, what it was over he didn't know but he was damned scared to find out.
****
Rob Weasely sat in his tent, his latest assignment had taken him to the hot jungle of south America. He received an owl from Sirius, a few days before, asking him to look into any dark gatherings, Ron had no idea if any had happened or not but he would keep his ears open. Sirius had promised to write again if he heard anything further.
Ron looked at a picture on the table in his tent; it was of him Hermione, Harry, and Hagrid. They were all smiling and waving at him, Gods how he missed them all.
****
Carmilla Nettleburn sat on her bed grumbling to herself, she scraped the dirt from under her nails, Detention?! She couldn't believe that she had been given a detention by Sprout, She was hacked, Her plans had been ruined, her dorm mates were either sleeping or faking it, they knew her temper and they did not want to be on the other side of her wand.
****
Cicely Rosewood was having a nightmare of her own, she had fallen asleep rather early and her dream was making her wish she was awake.
She was with her mother, they were in the woods she was only about five in the dream, she could here a screaming and her mother pushing her into a rotted tree trunk to hide her.
She heard scrapings and snuffling as something big pawed at the tree. A large black scaly nose pushed it's way into the trunk, she screamed. She saw a purple flash and the creature dropped; she curled up into a ball and began to cry...
She felt herself being pulled from the tree trunk and being held. She opened her eyes and saw her mother cradling her in her arms.
Cicely woke slightly and shifted position, her dream turned into a pleasant one and she drifted back into a deeper sleep...
*****
*****
Severus and Hermione made there was down the path to Hogsmeade, They watched several of the students as well as teachers follow them. "Severus," She murmured as held onto his arm. Despite them being a couple Severus still hardly smiled in public, except his thin cruel smile.
"yes Mione?" he said as they walked.
"Nothing, I just love to say your name," She said as they headed into town, "I promised Miss Rosewood a treat for taking care of my letters and such,"
"She is a good student," He replied, "Her personality reminds me of Hagrid,"
"Now that you mention it, it does," Hermione replied, "but you have to admit she is an exceptional student,"
"In potions yes, I don't know about her other classes though," He gave her a thin smile, "Her mastery at potions is rivaled only by you or Me,"
"That is a bit of a compliment, especially coming from you Severus Snape," she smiled as the walked down the main street of Hogsmeade,
he gave her a bit of a squeeze as they headed over to the Apothecary, the entered and a squat witch smiled toothlessly, "Good Morning Professor Snape, it has been a while since you have graced my Presence"
"I don't know about Graced," He gave her a smile, "I was wondering if you had any sea urchin venom?"
"Let me guess, you want to be stocked up for mosquito season?" Severus nodded, "I think I have a couple of jars, Powdered right?" he nodded again.
Hermione looked around and in a barrel bowl behind several barrels saw something she had never seen before, "Severus? What are these?" she picked up what looked like a shard of iridescent porcelain
"That's water dragon eggshell," the little witch replied before Severus could, "take a bit with you if you like. I haven't been able to find any use for it other than it being pretty,"
Hermione smiled at the woman reached into her pocket she pulled out four galleons, "Will this be enough for the whole bowl or would you like more?" she asked as she set the coins in front of the woman.
"That's more than enough dear," She replied as handed Hermione a leather sack, "Here keep this to put them in,"
Severus smiled thinly throughout the entire conversation, he knew if anyone could find a use for the shells it would be Hermione.
Hermione slipped the shells into the leather sack, noting that it was slick feeling, "This is water dragon hide isn't it?" she asked handing the empty bowl to the woman.
"Sure is," She tried to hand Hermione back some of her coins, "I couldn't take all this, really,"
"It wouldn't feel right for me to take this without paying something for it."
Severus gave her a little laugh, "Typical Gryffindor," He said smiling at her, He paid for his purchases and the left the store.
****
They walked to a small bookstore Severus asked if she didn't mind if he looked in there by himself for a few minutes, "I don't mind Severus, I am going to go pick up something for Miss Rosewood," She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and walked off towards the sweet shop.
Severus scowled as he entered the store. Inside were stacks of dusty looking tomes, he knew what he was looking for and hoped that this particular shop would have them.
****
Hermione entered Honeyduke's and smiled, a pudgy looking wizard smiled at her, "I recognize you," he started, "You're Miss Granger, you went to Hogwarts, work there now too right?"
She nodded, "That's me, I'm happy that you recognized me," she gave him a winning smile, "I am looking for something to give to one of my students, She's been helping me quite a bit lately,"
"Which house does she belong too?" he asked, "Let me guess Gryffindor," Hermione looked startled but nodded.
"I think a pack of sugar quills and a box of chocolate frogs," Hermione replied, knowing that they were Gryffindor favorites, "That work?"
"I think so, and two boxes of every flavor beans for good measure and free of charge," Hermione paid for her goodies and left the store as it was filling up.
She also bought a bottle of butter beer and a large pumpkin scone for Cicely well as a few goodies for herself and Severus. Who knew that the man had a weakness for black currant scones, she thought as she walked back to the bookstore.
Severus was waiting outside looking content with himself, "What did you find?" He asked her as she walked up.
"Just some goodies, for miss Rosewood as well as some for us," she gave him an evil grin, "And you have to wait for later to see what I bought you,"
He pouted and she caressed his cheek, "You're an evil woman you know that?"
"I am perfectly aware of that Professor Snape," She smiled and the walked down the street, "Did you find what you were looking for?" she asked him as continued down the road.
"I did," he smiled, "Shall we have lunch?" he asked as he guided her to a small coffee house.
"I guess we shall," they took a seat inside by the window and watched people go by. They ate and chatted as if they hadn't seen each other in weeks, and it was almost true, they saw each other mostly at lunch and when they slept; which didn't count.
They watched the students walking past, Severus surprised her by telling her every students name and whether or not their families had been affiliated with the Deatheaters. "Sometimes I wonder what they would think of me if they knew..." Severus started, "Miss Nettleburn especially, her family was right up there with the Malfoys, now they say they were all under the Imperious curse," he sighed, and gave Hermione a smile.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, taking his hand in hers, "I thought you were going to ruin my whole day,"
He gave a hearty laugh, which made several of the witches in the coffee house look around in amazement, "No, I'm fine. I wouldn't want to ruin your day, Gods forbid that."
She smiled at him, "I'm just glad the potion worked,"
*****
Cicely Rosewood and Philip Burtleby made there way down to Hagrid's hut, Cicely watched Philip as he trundled along after her, "Hey Cicely you've got to slow down,"
"Oh Philip you're just slow," She smiled and laughed at her clumsy friend, "We're almost there see?" she pointed and the large hut came into view.
She watched her friend dusting the dirt and leaves off of himself as she knocked on the door. The door opened and Hagrid's smiling face looked at them, "Yer made it! Come in come in," he opened the door further and let the two students in.
"Thanks for letting me bring Philip along," she immediately went to the bed and picked up cuddles, she glanced at Philip who was staring at Hagrid, "Mister Burtleby, it's not polite to stare," Philip blushed and Hagrid laughed.
He had put up all of the pictures he had of his friends and family along the mantle of the fireplace. Cicely stood up holding the large and still sleeping puppy, and walked over to the pictures.
"Cicely, doesn't that look like your mother?" Philip asked pointing to a picture of Hagrid with his arm around a tall beautiful woman, "Mister Hagrid Sir, who is that?" the boy asked as Hagrid handed him a large cup of tea and a piece of treacle fudge.
Cicely put cuddles back on the bed where he had been sleeping and walked over to the pictures. She picked the one of him and the woman up, "That's me daughter," Hagrid said as she looked at the picture.
She looked confused, then it hit her; this was her mother as she had been five years ago and that must mean Hagrid was her Grandfather. "Hagrid, You're my grandfather?" she asked quietly, Philip sputtered in his tea and his jaw dropped.
"Aye, lass," Hagrid sat down at the table across from the shocked Philip, "I didn't know about yer until this year,"
Cicely was overwhelmed, her parents were dead and was being raised by her grandmother, she had no idea that she was Hagrid's granddaughter. A large smile grew on her face and she threw her arms around hagrid's neck in a hug that nearly strangled him.
Philip would have said something but his teeth were stuck together from the fudge, "Easy Girl," Hagrid said prying her hands from around his neck. "Good tier know you don't hate me,"
"I'm so happy," her smile was almost as large as Hagrid's, "I've never been so happy in my life,"
****
Severus and Hermione made their way back up to Hogwart's, the walk was slow but it suited them.
Severus caught sight of two students running ahead of them, "Mister Burtleby and Miss Rosewood!" they stopped dead in their tracks and froze.
Hermione and Severus walked up to the startled students, "Mister Burtleby you can go," Severus said, "Miss Rosewood, We need to speak with you," Hermione watched Philip running off like a scared rabbit and Cicely laughing silently.
"This is for you, for all of your help this past month," She handed the girl a brown wrapped package, "You'd better go catch your friend I think Professor Snape startled him," Cicely smiled and ran off for her friend.
Severus scowled then laughed when the students had disappeared. "I startled them? not me,"
"Severus, you are in no way innocent," She said giving him a squeeze. "Come on, I want to show you what I found for us, and it's not what you think." Severus pouted,
Severus wondered what it could possibly be, if it's not what I think, then what is it?
******
******
Severus followed Hermione to her quarters, his curiosity was getting the better of him and she knew it. Hermione Smiled and handed him a lumpy wrapped package, "You can open it now if you like love, I know that your curiosity is going to eventually kill you if you don't open it."
Severus scowled at her and took the package and sat down on her couch, she sat across from him in a large armchair. there were actually two packages wrapped into the one. the first was a picture of Himself and Hermione walking down the dungeons of Hogwart's. It showed him smiling, happily, "Whose house do I get to take points from for this?" he asked scowling, "or do i just not want to know?"
"I'll tell you later," Hermione said as he set the picture down, "Open the other one,"
Severus obliged and opened the other package, insider were four very delicious looking black currant scones, "You didn't,"
"I most certainly did," she replied, "You never should have told me you had a weakness for them,"
"You're my real weakness Hermione," His voice was husky as he rewrapped the scones and put them aside, "You have been for a long time,"
"Severus Snape, how long have you lusted for me and been in denial about it?"
"Since your Seventh year," he said not looking into her eyes, "You are what made want to go on everyday, knowing that i had to play Voldemort's petty little games." He looked into her eyes then, they were full of concern and curiosity, "I'll tell you everything if you come to my chambers,"
Hermione looked at him, "I willingly go with you," She said as he picked up his packages and they left her chambers and headed down towards his.
****
Cicely Rosewood sat in the Gryffindor common room with her wrapped package; Philip sat across from her and was nearly as white as nearly headless nick. She opened her package and a large smile grew on her face.
"What did you get?" Philip asked standing and looking at the the candies, pastries, and two bottles of butter beer in front of her.
"It's for helping Miss Granger for all that time," She handed him a Pumpkin scone, "Here, you look deathly pale," she smiled and set a scone aside for herself, "We'll split this bottle and save the other one," she disappeared for a few minutes as she stashed her goodies in her room.
"Did you have any idea Hagrid was your grandfather?" Philip asked her when she returned.
"None, That puts my living relatives up to two," She wasn't bothered by the fact that she only had two living relatives, "I really like Hagrid, I'm glad he's family,"
Philip smiled, he really liked Cicely, and liked to see her happy.
****
Carmilla Nettleburn wandered the streets of Hogsmeade, She was in a foul mood, she had gotten a letter from a close friend of hers informing her of some recent events; Mostly about groups of Muggles who had been kidnapped and tortured. It made her smile and that was all that mattered to her.
She had already won a book of curses in a card game at the Hog's head, She held her own in that tavern and was respected and almost feared there. Let them Fear me, She thought as she walked, Fear is better than respect in my book, she smiled and held onto her prize even tighter, this was the one thing she had wanted for a long time.
She made her way through the crowds of students, they parted when they saw her. Her presence was becoming almost as bad as Professor Snape's.
****
Minerva McGonagall sat at her desk grading papers when Albus walked into the classroom, "Good afternoon Albus," She said with out looking up from her papers.
"Good afternoon Minerva, I found out some rather interesting news about a certain Miss Cicely Rosewood,"
"She's not in any trouble I hope," Minerva replied, she was one of her most promising students this year, "Albus, I know that smile, what has she done?"
"The girl hasn't done a thing, it turns out she has a family member working here and she didn't even know it,"
Minerva set down her quill, "Who on earth could it be Albus, Miss rosewood has only one living relative that we know of, and that's her grandmother. So who could it possibly be?"
"Hagrid," Albus smiled as Minerva's normally sour looking face cracked a smile, "He came up and told me not even an hour ago,"
"That's wonderful," Minerva's smile grew, "She must be happy about that, She did take a shine to him,"
*****
Hermione sat with Severus in his chambers, she watched in rapt attention as he rummaged through his notes and found a neatly folded scrap of parchment, "I knew something bad would happen at that last Deatheaters meeting, I had no idea that it would involve me," He started, "When I apperated there I was immediately hit with the Cruciatus. my first thought was I had failed to redeem myself and that I would die that night. I was tortured in almost every nonfatal way and partially healed before I was thrown in a cell in some Gods-forsaken dungeon. That continued every night, torture, mocking, degradation, and every morning I was thrown into the cell patched with spells that healed my wounds. I some how managed to find a scrap of parchment and a bit of muggle pencil."
He handed the parchment to Hermione, "I had planned on killing myself after writing a note saying that I, Snape, was sorry for failing. The only thing that kept me truly going was knowing that if i didn't survive Brilliant minds like your would be destroyed on the basis of your parents were. I always thought you were brilliant, but it took me those nights when I was being tortured to realize that you were also beautiful in every way. I also convinced myself that no one as beautiful, as intelligent and as young as you could ever love someone so scarred and wrecked as me."
Hermione then looked at the parchment scrap the words 'I, Snape' were scrawled on it. She felt the tears falling down her face; falling to the parchment in her hands
Severus continued, knowing that she needed to hear this, "It was nearly two months before Voldemort launched his final attack, i was left unwatched and I don't know how I managed to escape and to retrieve my wand, Gods know how I managed that. I found Voldemort taunting harry and tried to use the Evada Kedavra curse on him, It apparently didn't work as I was flung several yards away. The next thing I remembered was waking up in the infirmary here,"
He looked at Hermione, She was silently crying, tears streaming down her face. "Oh Severus," he got up and pulled her to him, and wrapped his arms around her sobbing frame, "Severus," she murmured over and over again.
He held her for several minutes until she stopped sobbing, She pushed herself away and wiped the tears from her eyes, "I had to tell you Love, I had too," he murmured.
Hermione looked him in the eyes, "The day you didn't return my heart had shattered into a million pieces. I have always respected you, even if you were cruel to the students. I developed an attraction to you and when you left, I thought the only man I could ever love was gone from my life forever."
Severus kissed away the fresh tears that streamed down her face, "Mione," He bent down and picked her up, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his chest, her ringlets falling in every direction. He carried her into his bedroom and laid her down on the bed. She looked up at him with doe eyes, passive and willing. She had taken her shoes off when they had arrived in his chambers and curled her toes as he watched her.
He took of his robes and unbuttoned his waistcoat, then took of the black dress shirt he wore. Hermione watched silently as he laid them across the back of a chair and joined her on the bed.
He lay on his side and rubbed her belly, she turned and watched him, her eyes drowsy and filled with love. she raised her hand sleepily and brushed it across his bare chest, he shuddered with pleasure and took her hand an kissed the tip of each finger.
Hermione sighed and closed her eyes, Poor thing, he thought, she hasn't even begun to catch up on her sleep, He looked at her again, her breathing had deepened and she was beginning to slip into a deep sleep.
He held her hand as she slipped into sleep, and watched her for several minutes. He finally stood up after a half an hour and went to his robes, he pulled out two packages that had been shrunk to fit into his pocket, he muttered the spell to turn them back to their original size and set them on the bed next to Hermione along with a note.
He put his shirt and waistcoat back on and gave Hermione a kiss on the cheek. He stepped out of his chambers and into the dungeon halls. He sighed and went to his classroom. He would grade papers for a while then go and check on her.
*****
Remus walked down the cold and dark corridors that made up the dungeons, he had seen several students but paid no attention to them. he looked into the potions classroom and saw a ruffled looking Severus sitting at the podium at the head of the classroom grading papers, "Severus?" Remus called out softly, "Can I talk to you?"
Severus looked up, "Come in Remus," He set his grading quill down and stretched, "What can I do for you?"
"Just wanted to see how you were, about the news of the meetings again you know," Remus said standing a few feet away from the podium.
"It's distressing knowing that the Ministry pulled the Aurors away from this. Especially since they knew that there were still at least a dozen powerful Deatheaters out there. I have the feeling there are more, that meeting had at least four hundred," he stretched his arms and yawned.
"Where's Mione?" Remus asked, knowing that Severus didn't have to give him an answer. "She seemed terribly tired last night,"
"She's sleeping in my chambers, we went out to Hogsmeade earlier," He frowned, "I told her about my ordeal," Remus knew what he was talking about and also knew that Severus hadn't told very many people, knowing that there were still Deatheaters out there.
"Is she all right?" he asked not looking into Severus' gaze.
"She cried, then fell asleep," he answered, "I haven't told her about the possible Deatheater sightings, I will though, But I want her to stay safe, Even if it means that I lose my safety, to protect her,"
Remus frowned, Severus had meant to say life instead of safety, he thought. Did he really mean he would give up his life to keep Hermione safe? He didn't like the sound of that. "We'll make sure you both remain safe Severus, I Promise," He gave Severus a smile, "Now whose papers have you decided aren't worth the parchment they are written on?"
Severus smiled cruelly he realized Remus was trying to get him away from the subject of death, "Most of them always are Remus," he replied, "Except for Miss rosewood's hers are almost always perfect,"
"A compliment? to a student no less," he laughed,he heard the door creaking an looked towards it, "Hello Hermione,"
Severus looked up and saw Hermione standing in the doorway, "You let me sleep," she gave him a serious look.
"It hasn't been that long has it?" Severus asked the two people standing in front of him.
"It's nearly six in the evening Severus, we got back a little after noon," She replied, giving him a sleepy smile.
Remus smiled, he remembered that if she fell asleep in the afternoon she would be up half the night and bored out of her mind, "The cat's out of the bag now Severus, You don't realize how much trouble you're in now," he laughed.
"Thank you for the books Severus," he released that she was holding two books in her arms, "You really didn't have too,"
"What didn't Severus have to do if you don't mind me asking," Remus felt his curiosity piqued.
"he was kind enough to buy me a copy of 'Arcane Potions' and 'Ars Magica Medice" of my very own," Hermione said gliding towards the two men, Severus realized she was barefoot.
"Ah Severus that was so sweet of you," Remus hooted, "I'm sorry, I tried, But that was really nice of you Severus, and I promise i won't tell anyone."
Hermione gave Remus a friendly peck on the cheek, "I know you won't, because if you do I'll turn you into a blast-ended screwt,"
"Ouch," Remus cringed, "I think Some of Severus' Slytherin attitude has rubbed off on you Hermione," He hugged her, "but deep down you're all Gryffindor," He left the couple in the classroom and made his way back to his own classroom.
"That man," Severus started, but ended up laughing, "He's all right. What did he mean about me letting a cat out of the bag?"
"I can't sleep in the afternoon," Hermione started as she glided to the podium, "I'll be up all night and bored out of my mind,"
"Shit," Severus gave her a scowl.
"It won't be a problem seeing as I have a plaything..."
"What plaything?" Severus asked wondering.
"I have you, you are my plaything," She smiled and ran her hand across the inside of his leg.
Severus groaned with pleasure, "Gods Hermione," he gasped.