The following two week passed in a blur for both Hermione and Severus, as it was becoming very close to Christmas. Hogwarts had already let out for Christmas break and Hermione enjoyed the peacefulness. There were no longer hordes of chattering bustling people in the halls and she, Harry, Ron and Ginny could do as they please. The castle was also decorated beautifully. The moving staircases were bedecked with holly and garland, the Great Hall had its usual twelve glittering, glowing Chirstmas trees and the suits of armor all wore santa hats, much to their displeasure. When Hermione wasn't with Severus she had also taken to hanging round the Gryffindor common room again, as it wasn't packed anymore. The only Gryffindors that had stayed for the holidays were the trio and a couple of random second and third years. Hermione was also very anxious because she hadn't bought Severus a Christmas present yet. She had no idea what to get for him.
Her and Severus' relationship had grown a vast amount also ever since that night where they admitted there relationship. They had not become more intimately close besides kissing of course, but still, they had grown closer in every other possible way. Hermione was still nervous about the intimacy part; she didn't want to bring back horrors of the past. She was also finding it very hard not to tell her friends how she truly felt.
On top of everything else that she was worried about, there was the New Years Eve Ball to fret over. Everyone would be back in school by then and she had nothing to wear. For some reason she felt her old periwinkle blue dress robes just wouldn't do for this. Hermione sighed, there was just so much on her mind!
Hermione had woken up that morning and decided to eat breakfast in the Great Hall since Severus was having a meeting with Dumbledore and the other teachers. She dressed in her new berry red robes and pulled her hair back in a casual ponytail.
She took a seat beside Ginny and grabbed some coffee and toast with jelly. "Good morning Ginny" Hermione said.
Ginny looked up and grinned as she said "Ooooh Hermione I love your new robes. When did you get those?"
Hermione blushed a little and mumbled "Oh…a while ago."
A swishing noise filled the air and a large brown owl landed next to her goblet carrying the Daily Prophet. "Oh I forgot I subscribed to this again" She said as she untied the paper from the owl's leg.
Hermione read the front cover and the paper went limp in her hand. The headline read "Lucius Malfoy Escapes From Azkaban."
"Are you okay Hermione?" Ginny asked in alarm. Hermione numbly gestured toward the article.
Ginny picked it up and horror alit her face as she read article. She then put her arms around Hermione's violently trembling shoulders and tried to comfort her but it was futile. Heroines face was paper white and her eyes were wide and vacant. Hermione then turned to Ginny and whispered "I want to see Severus"
If Ginny was surprised about this she didn't show it. She took Hermione by the hand and escorted her to Severus' rooms where they were dismayed to find them empty. Hermione looked lost at this. Ginny then squeezed Hermione's hand reassuringly and said "Don't worry I'll find him. Stay here and I will be back as quick as I can."
Hermione nodded and whispered a small "thanks"
Ginny was walking as quickly as she could, almost running to find Severus. She had checked the potions room, the Great Hall again, the teacher's office, and was just getting desperate when she turned a corner and ran smack into who she was looking for.
"Do watch where you are going Weasley." Severus snarled at the pretty redhead. Just because he loved Hermione didn't mean he had to put up with her insufferably annoying friends.
Ginny ignored his tone and said "Professor Snape Hermione needs you. She told me to come get you…she's very upset because of..." She then quickly relayed the story of what they had seen in the Prophet.
Snape curses as his face contorted into a black mask of anger. Ginny almost quailed at his look but held her ground. "Where is she now?" He said tersely.
"I left her in your sleeping quarters" Said Ginny.
"Alone" Severus asked.
Ginny nodded.
Without a word Severus swept off, his black robes billowing behind him. He was moving faster than Ginny had ever seen him.
Severus found Hermione lying on his bed sobbing her eyes out. His heart contracted at the sight of her and he was at her side in a second. He lay down beside her and put his arms around her. He held her while she let it all out. When she had slowed down her crying to gentle hiccups, he felt he could speak with her. He gently turned her face so she was looking at him and said "Do you remember what I told you the first day you woke up from your coma? I told you that I would always be there for you and protect you. Lucius will not take you again. I would hunt him down myself and spill his vile blood just to protect you." He spoke his last words with such pure venom that he momentarily shocked her.
Hermione knew there was truth in his words but she couldn't stop the fear that had spread over her like a stifling blanket from taking over. She whispered to Severus tearfully "I know but I am still scared. I truly thought that this whole thing was over. I thought I would never have to be afraid of him lurking in the shadows anymore. I just wanted this to be put in the past. Why does he continue to haunt me Severus?"
Severus took both of her hands in his and looked her straight in the eye. "I swear to you, he will never hurt you again. I will make sure of that."
Hermione was silent at this and just gently buried her head in his chest, trying to stop another flow of hot tears. It was useless though. Severus just held her again as the next wave hit her.
Once the tears had stopped for the second time Severus told her his idea.
"I do know a way to make sure you are safe at all times, Hermione" He said somewhat cautiously. "It is a spell in the oldest magic that would link us together. Whenever you feel that you are in danger, all you would have to do would be to speak my full name and then say the words parco mihi ex periculosus which will invoke the spell. Once the spell has been activated I will be sent a mental picture of exactly where you are and what is happening to you at the time. This way, I can always be there to keep you from harm."
Hermione looked at Severus with hope and questioning in her eyes "How is this spell performed? I mean, how would it be originally initiated on us?"
I don't know the exact incantation but we would have to hold hands and agree to have our souls intimately linked. Then someone else would have to say the spell that binds us together which is "redimio thee una pro totus vicis" which means I bind thee as one for all time." Severus saw Hermione's eyes widen at this and said. "This doesn't mean anything like marriage. You would be free to go your own way even with it in place. The only way the spell works is if the words to activate it are spoken"
Hermione thought about it. She thought about how it would feel to always be connected to Severus, to always know that he could be there to save her. She wouldn't have to be afraid anymore. At this thought, she immediately resolved that it was the right thing to do. It would end all of her worries, plus, she liked the thought of having a connection to him.
She nodded and said "Okay, I think I would like to do that."
Severus was a little surprised that she had agreed so readily but then thought about the constant fear she was living in, of course it would be what she wanted to do.
"I shall speak to Dumbledore as soon as I can." He said. "I would like him to perform the spell; I don't want anyone else knowing that we are doing this. It would be wise to not tell Ron or Harry.
Hermione snorted at this and said "If I told Harry or Ron that I was going to be connected to you in any way, they would personally see to it that they murdered you.
Now it was Severus' turn to snort "Do you really think either of them are a match for me? Especially that slimy redheaded Weasley. I would slaughter them both" He said with disdain.
"Possibly" Hermione said with a faint smile.
The next day found Severus and Hermione sitting in chairs before the headmaster, holding hands. Severus had explained the whole process to Dumbledore and Dumbledore had agreed that it was a good course of action. There had been a knowing smile behind his words also, that told Severus he had already figured out both of their feelings for each other. Once again Severus was left to ponder how the headmaster knew everything that went on.
Hermione was ready and she and Severus had both memorized the incantation that they were supposed to say.
"Are you both ready to begin" Dumbledore said cheerily.
They both nodded.
"Well I think Severus can go first and you follow directly after him Hermione. Now remember that it is of utmost importance that you get the words exactly right, both of you, or the spell will be ruined. You may begin Severus." Dumbledore said.
Severus chanted loudly "I bind myself to thee and place my faith in thee. That in time of utmost danger, I shall call upon them in faith that I shall be safe from harm."
Hermione then repeated the incantation. When she repeated the last word she jumped as both of their hands had started to glow and grow hot. She looked down in wonder and saw a bluish-silver light emanating from them.
Dumbledore then raised his wand and said redimio thee una pro totus vices which was the last phase of the spell.
A blinding white light shot from Dumbledore's wand and hit their clasped hands like a bolt of electricity. Hermione's last image was Severus' face before she passed out cold.
She woke up what seemed like several hours later in the hospital wing. She sat up alarmingly and looked around. She saw Severus lying in the bed next to her and panicked. Something had gone wrong with the spell. She jumped up and was just about to run to find Dumbledore when he walked in.
"Oh I see you are up Mrs. Granger" He said with a twinkle in his eye. "Excellent, excellent. You seem to have beaten poor Severus over there. He looks like he is still out cold."
"What...what happened?" Hermione said worriedly.
"Do not fret Mrs. Granger" Said Dumbledore in a pacifying voice. "The force of the spell just seemed to have knocked you both out cold. It is nothing to worry about. Both of you will be fine and the spell is still in place."
Hermione sat back down on her hospital bed, relieved. Hermione looked down and starting flexing her hand which still felt tingly.
Dumbledore peered down at her through his spectacles and said bemusedly "So, how are you and Severus getting along?"
Hermione looked up at him, mortified. How did he know anything about her and Severus? Was he going to be angry? Was he going to tell her she couldn't stay with Severus anymore? Wait, all he did was ask how they were getting along. Maybe he didn't mean anything. She answered him shortly "Fine Professor Dumbledore. Were getting along just fine"
Dumbledore looked at her quizzically as if he knew she was not being completely truthful about there relationship and said "Ah well Mrs. Granger. The real truth will reveal itself one day. It always does." He then smiled at her and walked away.
Hermione was very confused by this. What did he mean the real truth? How does he know everything she thought? She stayed along this train of thought for a few minutes until she heard a snort next to her. Severus popped up and looked around "What's going on?" He said.
Hermione smiled at him and told him what Dumbledore had told her. He looked relieved just as she had that nothing horrible had happened.
That night Severus and Hermione went back to his chambers to enjoy a dinner together. They both had grilled salmon, mashed potatoes, green beans and ice cream for dessert (Hermione's idea).
"So, feel any different?" Severus asked wryly.
"I feel like you need to come and kiss me" She said with a mischieveious grin.
"I think that sounds in order" Severus said as he got up and kissed her deeply, washing away all the unpleasantness of the day with his single touch.
Hermione lay in bed that night well after Severus had fallen asleep. She was still pondering what to get him for Christmas when a wonderful idea hit her. She wasn't sure about it just yet…but she would find out soon.
Author's Notes: Please review!