Disclaimer:- I neither own nor earn anything from this story. Harry Potter and his wonderful world came from the mind of JK Rowling, but I love borrowing her characters and playing with them for a while.

sSs

A/N:- My most profound apologies for the length of time between chapters, I am very sorry it has taken me so long to post this. My only excuse is that I haven't been in a good writing place lately. I would also like to thank you all for your reviews, favourites and follows, you make me very happy. I hope this is as mistake free as possible, I haven't had a great deal of time to edit it, I also hope you enjoy…

hHh

Chapter Twenty Two - Deliverance

Lucius strode out the door without a backwards glance; he had become so exasperated by this situation and the trouble it was causing him that he even forgot about his dagger. The Apparition barrier was only a short walk and he reached it quickly, the length of his stride indicating further his ire. This was followed by a resounding crack of Apparition that told anyone who hadn't already worked it out, just what kind of mood he was in.

When he arrived into his sitting room at the Manor though all thoughts of everything else left him as a terrified two year old attached herself to his leg. "Papa Lu, I scared," she cried, her big tear stained eyes fixed on his face so far above her, and his indignation just melted away.

Lucius instinctively pulled the little girl up into his arms at the same time as he heard Ginny's deep groan of pain from the bedroom, and his eyes went to his daughter-in-law who was—he had to admit—valiantly trying to settle the children, looking for answers. Another moan echoed up the hall and it dawned on him as to why they were so frightened, they were remembering the night their father tried to kill their mother with the Obedience Curse.

The action of rubbing Lily's small back and shushing, to comfort her was at odds with his words, as he hissed at Astoria, "Did no one think of putting up a Silencing Charm when this began?" He watched understanding arrive on the witch's face and she reached for her wand. "It's too late now, you silly woman."

His control slipped a little further and he was livid again. The thought of talking to Narcissa had been bad enough, but so many other things were also rocketing around his mind. Why had this night had to interrupt what they had planned for the delivery of the baby? It feels like another punishment from the wizard we're all trying to save. Ungrateful little shit! I hope he rots in Azkaban, Lucius thought.

Mentally shaking himself again Lucius put Potter firmly out of his mind, and tried to wrestle some control back once more. He had to keep his head; there was more than Potter relying on him tonight. He was primarily worried about Ginny and the baby, even though they were out of the danger zone, the baby was still a few weeks early. With this in mind he resolutely blocked all thought of Harry Potter out of his head, Ginny and her children needed all his energy and concentration now, and now he was here he was going to give it to them.

He had only gone with Severus tonight reluctantly, and because Ginny had assured him that the backache she'd had on and off for days was only false labour again. He had hoped that it was, now that he realised differently he fought for composure. He had wanted to be here for the whole experience, not just the end.

It was then that he noticed his daughter-in-law glowering at him as well, Lucius sighed silently and realised he also had to placate her. He didn't care about her per say, she was an air-headed fashion plate, and he had little time for her, but she was the mother of his grandchildren, and Draco obviously cared deeply for her. Just quietly, she reminded him too much of Narcissa, even if she had given Draco a whole family, and not merely an heir.

Besides he needed things to go smoothly at the moment, so he steeled his dwindling reserves of patience and mollified her. "Astoria, I am sorry, but this night is becoming rather trying. Would you inform Molly I am here so she can come to the children, and then tell Ginny I will be there momentarily?"

Lucius waited for the witch to shot him a final glare as she rose to leave. He watched her gather herself up and stalk from the room, then he squatted in front of the lounge with Lily still clinging around his neck. James was sitting stiffly, trying not to let his fear for his mother show, and he was encouraging Albus to do the same thing. The brave boy had his arm around Albus but his little brother's lip was quivering violently all the same.

A strange thought entered Lucius' head as he saw how adapt James was at comforting his siblings, and it unsettled him. He couldn't help wondering exactly how many occasions had called for James to play the grown-up before tonight.

Shaking himself internally to focus his mind again, Lucius placed a comforting hand on Albus' knee, and said, "Having a baby is a very loud event, little man, but I assure you that your mother is perfectly safe, and soon you will have a brother or sister. Look, here comes Nanny now, I'm sure she'll tell you the same."

Molly gasped as she realised what was happening, and she quickly added her reassurances to Lucius' words, before prising a reluctant Lily from around his neck and sitting between the boys, with her little granddaughter cuddled up in her lap. The kindly redheaded witch settled all three of them and while summoning a book to keep them occupied, she indicated silently that Lucius could leave them to her now.

Quickly stopping in his study and getting an elf to summon Draco, Lucius explained the problem at the safe house. After some initial hesitation on Draco's part, Lucius sent his son away confident that he would convince Narcissa to help. He even fashioned a Portkey for him, so they could arrive at the generally unknown destination as quickly as possible. He then penned a quick message to Severus and sent his best elf with it before taking his place beside Ginny.

Out of all the things that were happening tonight, this was by far the most daunting for him. He had never had anything to do with birthing a baby, even if he did understand that it was the custom for fathers to be present, he hadn't been when Narcissa had Draco. His ex-wife hadn't wanted him there for the birth of their son, but Ginny did wish him present, and he was therefore determined to be there for her and for the child he had already started to care for, even though it wasn't his.

Lucius had always wished for a large family, a house filled with children so to speak, but Narcissa had point blank refused after Draco. She told him that the only offspring required of her was his heir, and she was having no more.

All this was at the forefront of his mind as he took the last steps into the master bedroom. Then his mind wandered back to the one single pointed nodded as Molly took control of the children, and he relaxed ever so minutely more. Molly and Arthur had been dubious about their daughter's relationship with him to start with. Statements like, "He's too old for you," and, "Do you really think this is wise?" he been bandied around. They had settled a little, but he still felt like he was on probation, right up until moments ago when Molly's single nod allowed him to believe he was finally being accepted.

As he entered the room, Lucius heard Poppy Pomfrey say, "Very well dear, now push."

Looking at his witch, his heart clenched as he saw that she was covered in sweat. He could see the pain and exhaustion in her eyes, he had never felt so helpless, because there was nothing he could do to cure the problem, it had to run its course. "What do I do?" he asked dumbly, absently conjuring a wet cloth to sponge Ginny's brow.

It was a general question, and Ginny didn't answer him with words, she just took his other hand in a death grip as another contraction hit and then proceeded to squeeze harder while she pushed. Somehow her bruising hold seemed to centre him, and he put everything else out of his mind to concentrate on her.

Having already had three children, it only took seven pushes for a head topped with red hair to appear. They purposely hadn't found out the sex of the baby, wanting it to be a surprise.

Another push and a round of encouragement from Poppy and Lucius and the head was out. "One more push, dear," Poppy said, already cleaning the fluid out of the baby's mouth with a gentle cleaning spell.

Ginny gave another push and fall back onto the bed, exhausted, but the hard work was done, and the room filled with the sounds of a squalling infant. Poppy held their child aloft before placing her on Ginny's stomach and pronouncing their new daughter, a little underweight but perfectly healthy. Poppy used her wand to bandage the cord stump, and then clean both Ginny and the baby, as Ginny tiredly hushed her daughter her eyes fixed on the tiny child.

xox

Severus understood why his friend had opted not to return, apart from the fact that once he found Ginny was in labour and he wouldn't have left, Severus knew Narcissa's presence would be something of a trial for him if he had returned.

The raven-haired Potions master glanced at the cool elegant blonde witch who was in deep discussion with her sister. The question of why she would help was tickling at the corners of his mind, but, after pondering this for a few moments while he made the final preparations, he decided it didn't matter, the sooner they got this over with the quicker he could get back to Hermione.

Severus observed the cause of all this trouble as Remus and Bill brought his unresisting body to the position they had dealt with Weasley in. Kingsley had doped Potter with a strong sleeping spell; after discussion, the thought was that his unconscious mind would release the curse easier.

Candidly after all the trouble the wizard had caused them, Severus was only doing this to bring everyone's suffering to an end. The way Potter had slighted them all over the past ten years he really didn't deserve their help. He had been an arrogant little toerag, just like his father when he was younger, and Severus wondered exactly how much of his current behaviour was actually the results of the curse. The raven-haired professor went quietly about his preparations keeping his opinion to himself.

Andromeda and Tonks had taught Narcissa and Draco the incantation required, and all four of them now joined hands around the hanging form as they set about freeing Harry from the curse that had caused them all so much trouble.

They were right, Harry's wolf made it far more difficult to release him from the demon in the curse. In his meticulous preparations, Severus had anticipated that this exorcism would generate the same magical side effects as the grimoire produced the night they actually identified the curse and opened the evil book seeking the counter-curse.

This time instead of the curse smoothly lifting from the soul of the afflicted, as it had with Ron Weasley, it tried to attack anyone without blood of the Black family running in their veins. Severus constructed an impenetrable wall around himself as he oversaw the proceedings.

He watched Lupin suffer as Mooney tried to wrestle control of the normally shy professor's conscious mind, and Severus guessed that it was because it was still almost a full moon. Harry's wolf called plaintively—even though he was unconscious—trying to summon assistance from other werewolves, hence the suffering of Lupin, who realised what was happening and had to fight off his own wolf.

After almost half an hour Andromeda was finally able to plunge the dagger into the clay vessel containing the captured demon. They were all windblown and physically and mentally exhausted

Severus left those responsible for Harry Potter to deal with the rest, he matter-a-factly retrieved everything he had brought, including Lucius' dagger, and stalked out without another word to make his way back to Hogwarts. He wanted no further part in the exercise, they had cured the problem, but he had only agreed to do it because he knew he was the best qualified person to do so. He had no desire to ever have anything further to do with either Potter or Weasley.

Severus knew that even though there was likely to be other werewolves outside the barrier, he left with his wand drawn and the single-minded determination he was famous for. He sensed forms in the dark, but none approached him, and he was soon gone with a resounding crack.

It was now extremely late, and he was exhausted as well as entirely uncertain of what was waiting for him when he returned. He knew he had to make it up to Hermione in what was left of tonight, because after he had left it struck him how very callous he had been today. He should have made a point to try and explain everything to her; after all she was only just regaining her confidence. It was natural that she would jump to the conclusion that she was being rejected when she heard the word, 'No'.

As tired as he was, his heart clenched at the full realisation of what he'd done, and he hurried back to his quarters. Seeing the open connecting door, Severus quickly stored the dangerous ingredients and the dagger away safely, and shedding his outer robes as he walked, he strode through into Hermione's rooms looking for her.

His heart tightened seeing her asleep, fully clothed and hugging a pillow, especially when he noticed that the item was still wet with her tears. She had fallen asleep crying; now he felt like a complete heel. As he stood there watching her, a voice behind him chastised, "About time you turned up."

Severus' shoulders stiffened, but without turning he answered in his silkiest voice. "Remember you are made of glass, my friend, and glass is very easily broken."

There were no more comments, and Severus moved towards the bed, kneeling beside Hermione's sleeping form. He brushed the curls off her face, and soon replaced the gentle movement of his hands with his lips.

She began to stir and sighed, "Severus?"

"I'm sorry, my love. I was callous and stupid, this morning. I should have tried to explain why I didn't want you to come."

Hermione had now rolled onto her back and had her arms wound tightly around his neck. She captured his lips in a sleepy but steamy kiss. "No Severus, I should have been more understanding, it's just when I hear the word 'no' I still don't react well to it."

Severus watched her lip tremble slightly before she stilled it with her her teeth after this statement. It was enough to have him climbing into the bed on top of her, holding himself over her as he gave her a longer kiss. "No, I shouldn't have said it like I did, I just wasn't thinking," he crooned to her as he broke the contact.

This time as Hermione's eyes drifted back open after his heated exploration of her mouth she sighed, and simply whispered, "I love you, Severus," and lifting her head she moved in for another kiss.

Severus' mouth turned up at her declaration, and gave her what she wanted; making short work of their clothing as he did so.

As soon as Hermione felt their skin meet, she moaned and melted into him, opening up to allow him settle between her legs.

"I'm sorry… I love you too," his voice rumbled close to her ear, dropping kisses around the delicate shell as he spoke. He started licking and nipping at the sensitive patch of skin just under it while his hand slithered down between them. "Oh, so ready for me," he murmured, when his fingers encountered her warm wetness.

His hot breath tickling her ear and his fingers were driving her wild, and Hermione shivered delightedly. "Yes, only for you," she responded in a husky, passion filled whisper, rocking her hips against his hand in an effort to get him to move faster and go deeper.

Severus slipped his longest finger inside her, as his eyes watched her react to his invasion. He loved taking in Hermione's responses to his ministrations in this situation. He heard her breath hitch and felt her arch up even closer to him.

Her message was understood and without further words, he wasted no time adding a second and then third digit to his explorations, and as he did so, his mouth started its journey down her body, capturing a nipple in his mouth. His tongue teased and lathed the bud until it was pebbled peak, and then he licked a wet trail across to the other to do the same.

Hermione's hands had gone to his head to hold it in place, but soon slid elsewhere, travelling over his back and down to massage his buttocks, before moving around his hips and grasping his weeping length in her hands.

As he worked her already heated body into a frenzy, Severus thrust gently into her hands, bending his spine more and more to keep contact with her hands the further his mouth moved where he wanted to go.

Finally, he was mentally weighing up the pros and cons between moving down further and losing the contact with Hermione's delicate fingers that were doing a magnificent job of teasing him, or staying right like he was but missing the opportunity to explore his favourite place with his mouth.

After some moments of indecision, the results were taken out of his hands when Hermione groaned deeply and he felt her clench tightly around his fingers. More than anything he realised he wanted to be inside her, and surging up he sank his throbbing length into her.

Hermione squealed in delight, and wrapped her legs around his back, trying to drag him in further with her heels.

There really was nothing as good as being sheathed inside this witch, Severus had to stifle a groan of pleasure at the feel of it. He slowly withdrew and did it again, and this time the groan did leave his throat. "You feel so good," he moaned.

Hermione whimpered in answer and urged him to move again.

Slipping his hand down while he kept moving Severus pulled one of her legs from around his waist and up over his shoulder. The change in depth and angle had her quickly moaning her approval, and all else was forgotten as he sank repeatedly into her welcoming heat.

There love making was slow but heated, they had not connected in this way all day which was unusual for them, and they realised at this moment how much they had sorely missed each other.

Severus lifted himself up so he could watch himself disappearing repeatedly into his witch's tight channel, as if he needed to recalibrate himself with this act. "I am home," he panted, watching as Hermione arched up into him and her voice rose in ecstasy, as another orgasm tore through her.

The pulling and squeezing of her pussy around him, made it too hard to draw this out any longer, and Severus stilled momentarily before his guttural groan signalled his climax as well.

He collapsed on Hermione, and she welcomed his weight pinning her to the mattress. "I missed you today," she panted, as they recovered their breathing and lay boneless in each other's arms.

"And I, you," Severus replied after a time.

"Is the deed complete, are we rid of them?" Hermione asked, studying his face as she absently ran her fingers through his hair.

"Yes, they are both released from the curse, Potter was more complicated though."

"Why?"

"He has recently been infected with lycanthropy."

"Oh," was Hermione's only comment. She tightened her fingers in his hair and dragged him closer for a kiss."I love you, Severus," and then peacefully dozed off.

Severus lay there holding his witch, and going over his day in his mind while he tried to close his thought processes down. He didn't blame her for not being interested in Potter at all, it was then that he realised he had forgotten to tell her that Ginny was having the baby. Oh well, that will be a nice surprise for the morning, he thought and closed his eyes as well.