Lost in the Woods: Predicaments and Resolutions

By Ange de Socrates

Disclaimer: Characters not mine. Plot mine. Why I would claim ownership to something that pales in comparison to the genius of J.K., I have absolutely no idea. Do enjoy.

The Morning After

Severus stroked the curly brown hair that belonged to the beautiful witch asleep beside him. It was a mystery to him even now just how he had managed to let her go three years before.

Perhaps he was afraid that she would toss him if he didn't do it first. She had been the only person to stir emotion in him since before the Dark Mark was branded on his wrist. It had been an unfamiliar feeling, and unfamiliarity was one of the few things that truly scared him. Bring on darkness, Death Eaters, and Voldemort himself; emotions… not so much.

He sighed, nestling into her hair and pulling her a bit closer.

Hermione's eyes fluttered softly as she yawned and snuggled into the warm body behind her.

"Am I forgiven?"

The witch smiled sleepily and whacked him lightly with a pillow. "A couple more nights like last night and you will be." She rolled over and tucked herself under his chin.

Severus grinned lecherously. "I thought so." He kissed her forehead, reveling in the strange and horribly uncharacteristic fuzziness in his stomach rather than rejecting it. "Honestly, Hermione – I am truly sorry for what I did."

Hermione looked up at him with forgiving eyes. "It was my fault, a bit. I mean, I'd known you for seven years and expected you to be a teddy bear. I shouldn't have assumed so much."

"No." He took her hands in his. "I am to blame. I'm afraid I'm not used to these… these… emotions. Flighty buggers."

Hermione giggled. "So you are human. I'll have to let the conspiracy theorists know that you're not a vampire after all."

"Vile witch," Severus murmured, stroking a hand down her sheet-clad side, his intentions quite clear.

Hermione closed her eyes and sighed happily. "Bastard though you are, I'm happy to have you back, Severus."

The wizard growled. "I love how you say my name… Let's hear you scream it."

Hermione mewed happily as she stretched, noticing sleepily that there was an empty pillow beside her. She frowned, slipping on a robe and walking into the adjoining room, where light had been slipping under the door.

Instead of a private laboratory, as she had always suspected was in the room to which the professor had never allowed her access, Hermione was surprised to find a full-size kitchen with a window overlooking the grounds.

"Good morning," Severus greeted from behind the stove, where various delectable-smelling foods were sizzling.

"You cook?" the witch replied as she looked around at the pale green room with its marble counters and cherry-finished cabinets.

Severus raised an eyebrow. "You honestly thought an accomplished Master of Potions could not figure out how to scramble eggs and fry kippers?"

"Well…" She had never made the connection before. "Come to think of it, it certainly would make sense."

He gestured to a table by the window. "Have a seat, and breakfast will be ready in a moment."

Hermione obeyed, gazing out at the forest and the lake before it. She had always assumed that there were no windows anywhere in the dungeons or in Severus' quarters since they were all underground.

"My rooms are actually at ground level," Severus piped up, answering Hermione's unasked question. "The doorway from my office to my quarters is actually a portal upstairs, where all of the other teachers' rooms are."

"Another mystery unraveled," Hermione said, watching him dish up the food. "Why didn't you ever let me in here before?"

Severus set a plate in front of her and sat in the chair opposite. "This wasn't always a kitchen," he said simply.

Hermione knew better than to press him, instead digging into the delicious pile of potatoes, eggs, toast, and sausage he had prepared.

When both had finished eating, Hermione stood to gather the dishes, but Severus stopped her.

"Please, allow me." He flicked his wand at the soiled plates, which vanished with a pop.

An awkward silence followed in which Hermione looked nervously around the kitchen and Severus got to his feet and dusted off his robes.

"I suppose I should be going," the witch finally said, heading toward the door that led into the bedroom.

"Don't go," Severus said suddenly, grabbing her wrist and bringing her closer. "I won't let you go again."

Hermione's eyes widened. "But I…"

"Stay with me," he continued, his words pouring out unrehearsed. "Hermione, I was a fool to throw you out before, and I am a man who learns from his mistakes. I will sacrifice anything to be with you, to keep you in my arms. I am not one to play silly mind games – say the word, and I will give everything to have you for my own."

The witch was momentarily speechless, but her brain soon kicked back into action. "Severus, I have a job in London, and you have a job here at Hogwarts. It would be impossible for me to stay here."

"This job means nothing compared to you," he hissed, pinning her against the wall. He ran his hands down her sides and nipped at her neck. "I would leave it in a heartbeat. I hate the little bastards here anyway."

Hermione moaned as his tongue ran across her jaw and lapped at her earlobe. "This is all so spontaneous… We're just in the heat of the moment…" Even as she protested, her resolve was beginning to fail.

Severus pulled back and looked into her eyes with deep sincerity. "I can assure you that this is no weak moment of spontaneity, Hermione. I am suggesting something much more permanent."

"Pardon?" Hermione whispered, her hands beginning to shake.

"I have a house in London, and I intend to leave my position here to take up residence there as a private potions brewer." He gave her a small, albeit nervous, smile. "I once told you that I wanted your body and your soul, and you gave it to me willingly. And I told you that someday I would be after your heart."

"Severus…"

"Today, I want your heart." He paused, the weight of his words making it hard for them to escape his throat. "Marry me Hermione."

A/N: So many reviewers asked for more chapters that I just had to give in. You win! But there's only one more chapter left, so soak it up while you can. :-)

Since I'm cramming a great deal of emotion and plot into only a few chapters, the pace is bound to be a bit more rushed than I would otherwise like, so please forgive me for that.

Much love to all my readers and reviews! You've kept my heart light, my smile bright, and my pen swift.