The Human Cure

Chapter 13: Heartbeat

Author's Note: Thanks so much for sticking with this story! I have one more chapter after this one. My original game plan was to have this be the last one of the story, but I felt like there was too much being rushed into one chapter. I figured the pacing would be better off if there was one more chapter. This one is a short one, but my dear readers you shall not be disappointed.

It was a dreary afternoon when Hermione unlocked the door to her flat and walked in. Hearing the radio blaring out from the kitchen, Hermione placed her umbrella and book bag in its proper place before walking towards the room where all of the noise was coming from.

Seeing Severus cut up bits and piece of strawberries along with seeing her counter lined up with empty jars made Hermione a bit curious as she observed him in a bizarre ritual. The two had been an official couple for the last few months, and while Severus kept his flat, he more or less had taken up residence with her. She found a comfort in coming home to him cooking a light meal for them, followed by her grading papers or working on notes for a presentation she would have to give to her advisor. It had become a domestic partnership, and sometimes he would drink her blood.

At first, Severus was hesitant to drink from her more than once a week, but it soon became a point where he could take small amounts twice a week without her suffering any physical constraints. She trusted him, but he still worried that he would get carried away, hence the reason he never drank from her neck. He wouldn't say that their love making was more visceral because of the bloodletting, but he knew that she felt it on a deeper level because of her "donations" as she sometimes playfully called them. Never one to complain about getting naked with her, there were mornings where he couldn't help but sneak in the shower with her or greet her with a nice shag against her door as soon as she came home from the university. Wanting to live out his most twisted fantasy, he was pleasantly surprised when Hermione let him taste her when she was on her "monthly gift" as she called it. He couldn't help but smile every time he thought of her sitting on the lab table, her legs spread wide as she watched his tongue lavishly clean her. She was more than receptive, and that made him love her all the more. A woman he once saw as a prude was anything but, and he loved discovering and unfurling those details from her day to day.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked.

"I can taste a difference."

It dawned on her when she saw the numerous crates of strawberries.

"I spent close to a small fortune on them, but I can feel the texture on my tongue Hermione. It's beginning to taste like it should."

Shell-shocked and not knowing what to say, Hermione watched as Severus put the cut strawberries into jars for freezing. She knew it was one small victory for his cure, and as she approached him and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, she hoped her touch would tell him everything that she couldn't really verbalize in that moment.

Turning around, Severus smirked at her as he fed her a small bit that wouldn't fit into the jar he just filled.

"Why so many?"

"I want to keep these for when I finally do get all of my taste buds back. I don't know how long it will take, but I'm patient."

Kissing him, Hermione felt him wrap his arms around her.

"So, how many hours of work do you have in store for us tonight?"

"Us?" Hermione asked.

"Yes. I fully intend on taking you out to dinner, so I am offering up my services if you have any sort of grading that needs to be done."

Kissing him, Hermione smiled as she tried to push aside the image of the two of them taking care of such a task.

"Lucky for you I don't have anything to work on. Carla is helping me out with some of my notes for tomorrow."

"Well, thank Carla for me." Severus said as he began kissing Hermione's neck.

"I can be ready in twenty minutes." Hermione responded, trying to pull away from Severus.

"Hurry back." Severus said before kissing her.

Moments later as Hermione flipped through her closet, wondering if she should just change her top or wear a dress, Severus seemed to have made up his mind for her.

"Wear this one." Severus said, as he reached in front of Hermione and pulled out the hunter green taffeta dress she hadn't worn in ages. He admired the dress from the moment he saw her graduation picture, but she never wore it in all of their time together.

"I swore I loaned that one to Carla ages ago. It's rather dressy don't you think?"

"Yes, but I've never seen it on you. I think I would like to see you wear my old house colours."

Giving in to his request, Hermione grabbed the dress from Severus and began to walk towards the loo. Minutes later she emerged from the room, her makeup slightly touched up and her hair gently pinned up.

Hermione knew she looked just fine when Severus said, "Once again, please thank Carla for me."

Hours later as the two walked towards Hermione's bedroom, no reflections of their dinner or conversation were shared as Severus carried her, lips locked to hers. Severus noticed a slight fishy taste with his cod dish, so that called for some sort of celebration of the carnal variety.

Not patient enough to remove the bed clothing, Severus placed Hermione on the bed as he removed the green taffeta dress he so admired her in. Like putty in his hands, Hermione eased his trouble as she helped to remove herself from the clothing. Sitting up in her knickers, she unbuckled his belt and began to remove his trousers as he watched her in complete rapture. There was nothing special about her movements, but the fact that she was doing it was what made it so memorable.

Placing a hand on her cheek, she looked up at him and he saw a flicker of innocence to her, it was almost as if he were glimpsing into the past – into the eyes of a woman whose past was all but dead.

"I love you."

Smiling at him, Hermione gave him a look that easily read, Sillyman,I'veknownallalong. Not waiting for him to remove his shirt, Hermione pulled him towards her as they both fell into her bed. As they kissed and continued to memorize each other's skin, Hermione felt Severus creep his hand up towards her hot, wet center. Never one to deny him, she made his task easier by easing her legs out a little more. As Severus' soft touch teased her folds, he felt Hermione's lips on his neck. Feeling himself harden and his fangs ready to come out, he knew he was a goner when he felt her suck on the flesh of his neck.

"Hermione…"

"Yes?" She asked, not stopping.

"I think…I think we should slow down a bit." Severus said as he felt himself losing his well-maintained control.

"Am I doing something wrong?" Hermione asked, genuinely concerned.

"No. No. It's perfect – you're perfect. I just…"

"I understand." Hermione said as she softly kissed his lips.

Still feeling his finger in her, Hermione moved her hand towards the finger that was still inside of her. Grabbing his hand, she brought it to her mouth and wrapped her tongue around the finger that was soaked with her essence. Feeling his sex twitch against her thigh, Hermione didn't have any trouble overpowering Severus as she flipped them over.

The two didn't say anything as Hermione removed her knickers and slowly placed herself on his hardness. It was the first time he relinquished control in such a manner, and as Severus watched her slowly ride his shaft, he didn't care if he got off. He just wanted to watch her in such a task. It was as close to magic as he could ever remember as he observed her facial movements, noting what pleasured her and what kept her searching.

Softly tracing his fingers on her bare skin, he carefully listened to the soft moans that escaped her lips as she continued to chase after her pleasure. Seeing the arch of her neck, her unruly hair fall down past her shoulders, her nipples at their peak, the soft sheen of pink as her skin began to glow, he only sought her eyes.

"Look at me." Severus desperately spoke.

Never one to deny him, Hermione's eyes met his and he began to slowly meet her at their joining spot as he softly thrust in her. Staring at each other, Hermione wanted to speak, wanting to say something, but in that very moment she couldn't. He didn't care if it took them all night to climax, he would easily spend a day in bed with her doing this if it meant she would continue to look at him like that.

"Yes." She whispered as she continued to look at him. He saw her breath hitch as he continued to pump into her.

"Tell me what you are thinking." Hermione whispered as she lowered herself towards him, her lips speaking the words into his.

"I imagine this is what you will look like when I'm filling you with what will eventually create and become our child."

Hearing Hermione loudly shudder as he continued to fill her, he sought out her lips and possessively kissed them as she began to pick up the pace.

"Let's pretend." Hermione whispered. "Fill me, fuck me Severus. Let us pretend we are creating something new, something that won't be touched with death and the hardships that we have endured. Promise me that we will be happy." Hermione said as she sat up and continued to ride him.

Severus knew any sort of promise would almost be an empty one, but not able to take such torture any longer, he sat up and continued in the joining. She watched as his fangs were now fully exposed, his cock becoming more vicious in his goal of release. Kissing him and running her tongue over his sharpened teeth, she arched her neck back as she felt her climax approach. Not caring if her neighbors heard, she began to vocalize her pleasure as she felt Severus finally bring her to orgasm. She didn't hear his two soft words as he entered his fangs into her neck – the first time ever since they consummated their relationship.

"I promise."

About ten minutes later, the two were lying side by side, composing themselves from their coupling. Suddenly Severus felt something strange in his chest.

"Gods…" Severus whispered as he paused completely still.

"What is it?" Hermione asked drowsily with concern, a trace of dried blood on her neck.

Not being able to find the words, he grabbed her hand and placed it on his heart. Hermione held her breath as she felt his heart beating beneath a chest that was warmer than she remembered. It wasn't a strong beat, but it was faintly there if one was patient enough to listen for it.

Severus watched as tears fell down her cheeks, absolute shock at what she was witnessing. And as suddenly as it was there – it was gone.

"It's…it's not as fast a heartbeat should normally be, but it beat Severus."

He immediately grabbed her and crushed his lips with hers. Gripping her close to him, it was as close to celebratory as they were going to get. As Hermione put her ear to his heart, she closed her eyes, wondering if all of what was happening was some sort of cruel dream.

"It's the most beautiful thing I've ever heard." She whispered, wishing it would come back.

"We did it." Hermione continued, her speech filled with drowsiness.

Severus waited until she fell back asleep before he responded.

"No my love, you did it." Severus said as he ran his hand through her hair, more fascinated with the woman sleeping on his chest than the fact that his heart actually beat for the first time in over a hundred years.