1Redefining Nothing

Ch. 7: A Get Away

A/N: Sorry about the delays on getting this written. I find I actually write less on school breaks, perhaps because I'm so busy with family stuff. Anyway, it stalled for the two weeks I was on break. But I put the petal to the metal and I hope it meets your expectations

A few days later, Severus was stretched out on his couch. Hermione sat between his legs with her back against his chest. Severus was grading first year essays while running a hand idly through Hermione's hair. Hermione was reading half-heartedly.

Severus set aside the paper he was reading with a frustrated sigh. He burrowed further down into the couch and wrapped his arms around Hermione. "'Mione?"

"Hmm?"

"What are you doing over the Christmas holidays?"

"What?" Hermione asked in surprise. That had come out of nowhere.

"I mean are you going home."

"Oh." Hermione recovered. "No, I'm planning on staying here. Mum and Dad decided to go on a Mediterranean Cruise. I don't want to be home alone." Her brow furrowed. "Why do you ask?"

Severus smiled devilishly. "Would you care to take a real vacation?"

Hermione rolled onto her stomach so that she could look at him. "What do you mean?"

"Well," Severus inhaled to boost his courage. "I'm off over Christmas break this year. I keep a fortress up north that I go to when I'm not here. I want you to accompany me."

"Wow." Hermione breathed. "Umm...Is that allowed?"

"No one has to know. If you sneak to Hogsmeade, but don't get on the train you'll be able to pull it off. I Apparate home from the village. You can Side-Along with me."

Hermione let out a giggle of hysterical happiness. She crawled up his chest and kissed him.

"I'll take that as a 'yes'".

Hermione just smiled and cradled her head on his collar bone. "Two whole weeks alone with you, huh?"

"Is that a bad thing?"

"That depends entirely on what kind of vacationer you are." Hermione pointed out with a chuckle.

"I like to relax." Severus said. "I have a pretty fair sized library and deep comfortable couches."

Hermione hid a smile. "I guess I could stand it." She said, feigning indifferent annoyance.

"You guess?" Severus asked in mock-anger. "You guess?"

Hermione sighed exaggeratedly. "Yes, I suppose."

"I might just have to forcibly extract a 'yes' form you." Severus growled. He began to tickle her anywhere he could reach.

She squirmed and wiggled trying to avoid his hands. Soon she was giggling and gasping at the same time. "Ow, ow!" She gasped. "Stop!"

"Ah, ah, ah...ask nicely, Hermione." Severus chastised her. He renewed his attack.

"AH!" She gasped. She writhed under his torturous touch. "Please! Please, Sev!"

"Please what?"

"Please stop, Severus." She begged.

He stopped immediately. She flopped on his chest, panting. Raising her fist she pounded it into his shoulder.

He grunted. "Ouch. What was that for?"

"Jerk." Hermione mumbled against his chest.

He chuckled low in his throat and kiss the top of her head. "I adore it when you beg." He murmured.

"I adore you." Hermione said. "Even when you insist on annoying me."

They were silent for a minute. At length Severus spoke. "I never dared to dream that I would ever hear that from you."

"How long have you dreamt anything of me?"

"I always admired your intellect even if you were a know-it-all Gryffindor." He smiled to soften the blow. "By your fourth year you'd matured enough that I began to think you pretty. So it has stayed for the past three years. Then when you came back this September, you were so beautiful. I took my mind and ran with it. I could think of noting else. Then that Saturday I had you here with me and I couldn't stop myself. My feelings have just snowballed since then."

Hermione purred and stretched up to kiss his nose. She settled back down on his chest with her ear over his heart. "My first years here you scared me senseless. Then this year, Ron started kidding me about you fancying me. Suddenly I started to see you as a man not just my formidable teacher. I started to think about you more and more often. Now I can't get you off my mind."

Severus rested his cheek on the top of her head. "I need you too." He whispered.

Only a week remained until the Christmas holidays and the bustle of the castle was now almost a roar. The winter exams were nearly upon the students and everyone was busying studying, planning for Christmas, and packing. Hermione spent most of her time studying with Ron and Harry. Over breakfast that Monday, Harry spoke up.

"Are you going home, Hermione?"He asked.

Hermione swallowed her mouthful delicately. "No. Mum and Dad decided to take a cruise." She said evenly. "I'm staying here."

"Do you want to come to Grimmauld Place? The Lupins and the Weasley's are coming for Christmas dinner." Harry offered.

"No thanks. I'm looking forward to reading in peace and maybe getting some advanced Transfiguration from Professor McGonagall." Hermione lied.

Harry shrugged. "Suit yourself."

Ron made no comment.

After breakfast, on their way to Potions, Ron disappeared off with Lavender. Harry walked silently next to Hermione for a while. At last he spoke up. "Listen, whatever you're up really up to over break, just make sure it's what you really want."

"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked, trying not to let her nerves show.

"I know your not staying here...or at least not alone." Harry said. "Just don't let Snape talk you into anything you're not ready for."

"How do you know that?" She asked stunned.

"I was suspicious so I gave Sirius the evidence I had and he went to talk to Snape. He told me about it. He said seemed pretty gone for you. Just promise me you'll be careful, alright?"

Hermione's jaw clenched in fury. "How dare he! How dare you! I can handle my own life without you and Sirius babysitting me all the time! Leave me alone!" With that she stormed off to the dungeons.

Severus noted that Hermione seemed disgruntled during Potions. But she also seemed to be avoiding him. He meant to talk to her about it, but she left too quickly. Her exams kept them apart for the rest of the week, but finally on Friday night she came to him.

She didn't run into his arms like she usually did. Instead she maintained her distance and watched him warily.

"Is something wrong?" He asked finally.

Hermione looked away and was silent for a moment. When she looked back at him there were tears in her eyes. "Why?" She asked.

"Why what?"

"Why did you tell Sirius?"

"How-..."

"He told Harry, who took it upon himself to warn me to be careful over break."

"Oh, God. I didn't know he'd go running to Harry. I'll kill him! Listen, I didn't mean for you to have to deal with this."

"So...what? You were going to hide it? You didn't answer the question. Why did you tell him?"

"I had to." Severus said.

"Why?" Hermione pressed.

Severus sighed. "He was accusing me of seducing you against your will. He would have gone to Dumbledore. I didn't want to loose you! I had to tell him." He tried to hide the desperation in his voice, but he failed. "He wouldn't believe me, so I had to show him!"

"You showed him what?"

"That night after you had the dream. He wouldn't believe me unless he saw it."

"You showed him? You let him invade your mind?"

Severus nodded. He do it the same way if he was given the choice again.

Hermione's anger melted away. She realized that he'd broken every code he had for her. "For me?" she asked.

"For us." Severus corrected. "I can't lose you."

"You're not going to lose me." Hermione promised him.

A few minutes later they were seated at his table with tea. "So what is your plan for tomorrow?" Severus asked, taking her hand.

"Well I told Harry and Ron that I was staying. My professors, minus you, think I'm going. I'm going to sneak to Hogsmeade under an invisibility spell and wait for you."

"Sounds brilliant. What about your things?"

"I can shrink my trunk down to fit in my pocket."

"Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant my stunning Gryffindor. You think of everything." Severus praised her. It was silent for a while before he spoke. "Are you as excited as I am?" He asked finally.

"Nervous excited yes." Hermione said.

"Nervous?"

"It's nothing. Its just...well...so many things could go wrong."

"But nothing will." Severus promised her.

The next morning, Hermione paced, invisible, in the street outside Brewer's Dream. As her watch clicked to ten the Hogwarts express blew it's horn. As ten-thirty struck, Severus came striding down the street. "Hermione? Are you there?" He whispered.

Hermione took his hand. "I'm here."

"Are you ready?"

Hermione felt her pocket to make sure that the dice sized lump that was her trunk was there. That done, she nodded.

"Hermione? Did you hear me?" Severus asked.

"Didn't you see my nod just now?" Hermione asked in response.

"Um, no. You're invisible remember!"

Hermione chuckled in embarassment. "Oh, right." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I'm ready."

"Good. Hold on tight." When she had a sufficient vice grip on his arm, Severus Apparated. He felt Hermione grab his arm even tighter as the squeezing feeling intensified.

Just at the point where the feeling was about to become intolerable it lessened again. They found themselves standing on a broad stone doorstep. The walls of a massive fortress towered over them. The walls of a massive fortress towered over them.

"Welcome home." Severus said, then he mentally kicked himself for saying it that way.

Hermione looked at him and smiled. "Home," she said contentedly.

Relaxing, Severus took her hand. "Do you want the grand tour?"

Hermione nodded and allowed him to lead her into the entry hall. It was surprisingly well decorated. The walls were paneled in a deep mahogany and portraits and tapestries broke the uniformity. Flameless lanterns hung five feet above their heads. As they wound their way into the fortress, Severus became increasingly animated. He was like a little kid as he showed her his home lab, the kitchen, the dining room, and several others.

At last he led her upstairs and down a long hall. At the end of the hall was a thick oak door. "This is your room." He said as he opened the door and held it for her. Hermione gasped when she saw it. The walls were mahogany paneled and there were gold accents. A fire crackled in a massive fireplace and a heatless chandelier provided supplemental light. There was a dresser with a mirror and a free standing wardrobe. But what really caught her eye was the massive four-poster bed. The drapes and comforter were a beautiful gold with copper embroidery.

"Severus, it's beautiful!"

"Then it's yours. Why don't you leave your truck here?" He suggested.

Hermione set her dice sized trunk at the foot of the bed and waved her wand over it. It quickly swelled back to its normal size. When her wand work was complete, Severus took her hand. "Come here. I want to show you the best room in the house." He led her back down the hall and down the stairs. At the bottom he turned to lead her deeper into the house. After a fairly long walk they came to a pair of towering double doors.

"Close your eyes." Severus commanded.

Hermione did as she was told.

Severus pushed the door open and guided her inside. At his command Hermione opened her eyes and could have screamed. She found herself facing the most amazing library she'd ever seen. All four walls of the colossal room were books from floor to ceiling. Old fashioned sliding ladders were stationed at regular intervals to allow better access to the upper shelves. In the center of the room were row upon row of free standing book shelves. On the far wall there was a break in the endless books for a fireplace. Over the mantle was a great silver clock framed in serpents. In front of the fireplace were two deep squishy-looking, green velvet armchairs, and a matching sofa.

As Hermione stood gaping at the sight before her Severus moved to stand behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, "What do you think of my humble home?" He set his head on her shoulder gently.

"It's incredible." She breathed. "You must have more books than Hogwarts even."

"Oh, yes, by a good couple of hundred I should think." Severus said proudly.

Hermione just breathed a sigh of amazement and continued to gaze around.

"What are you thinking?" Severus asked after a moment.

"I'm wondering where I should start." She explained.

Severus laughed. His warm chuckle vibrated pleasantly against her shoulder. "You are welcome to read as many as you like. I'd love it. They need to be read. I'm not here often, so they don't get the work out they need." He joked.

Hermione was about to respond when a loud CRACK echoed through the room. She jumped and whirled around. Severus did much the same. Standing behind them was a short, knobby house elf.

"Master, you're home!!" The elf exclaimed jumping up and down.

Severus smiled. "Yes, Licha. I've been here for the past hour."

"My apologies, sir. Licha was just out gathering winter vegetables from the garden." As she said this, the elf noticed Hermione standing behind Severus. "And you've brought home a young woman!" she squeaked.

"Yes. Licha this is Hermione. She's going to be staying here for a few weeks."

Licha turned to Hermione, a glazed look on her face. "An honor, Miss. You must forgive Licha. Licha is only happy. Master has been far too lonely these years. Just Licha for company. It is an honor. Anything you need…anything at all…just ask."

"Oh, that won't be nece—" Hermione began.

Licha cut her off. "Even the smallest of things, Miss."

Hermione sighed in resignation. "Alright. Thank you."

Licha beamed. Hermione was reminded of Dobby's fatal attraction to Harry and began to worry.

"Licha, it's 11:30. I'm going to show Hermione the grounds. Have lunch for us at 12:30 please."

Licha nodded. "Pleasure to meet you Miss." She said again, then she Disapparated with a loud crack.

When she'd gone Severus wound his arms around Hermione. "She likes you." He whispered.

"You two get on well." Hermione commented.

"We should. She was my mother's house elf before I inherited her. She used to babysit me when my parents were out."

"Aww…I bet she could tell loads of stories about you in diapers and you being a naughty boy." Hermione said devilishly.

"I'll swear her to secrecy." Severus threatened lightly. "Come on. Licha likes you, but you haven't gotten the dogs' stamp of approval yet."

"Dogs?" Hermione asked curiously.

Severus nodded and tugged her hand. "Come on."

Most of the immediate backyard was a massive grassy lawn. On the edge of this was a forest that stretched for several miles to the base of the range of even higher mountains that framed the bowl that the fortress sat in. Severus whistled and was answered by two resounding barks. To massive Doberman pinschers came barreling around the corner, barking and jumping. When they looked in danger of running into them, Severus raised a hand. Both dogs stopped dead and sat.

"Hermione, I'd like you to introduce you to my boys. That one is Salazar and the other one is Vader." At Hermione's odd look he shrugged. "It's from a Muggle film."

"I know what its from, I just didn't expect you to have seen it." Hermione said.

"My father was a Muggle. I take quite an interest in their cinema and music." Severus said, as though he was divulging a deep secret. He turned back to the dogs. "Boys, come meet Hermione!" Both dogs stood up and walked calmly over to them.

"Uh, which one is which again?"

Severus chuckled. "Salazar has the green collar and Vader's is black."

"Right. Got it." Hermione said, kneeling to face the dogs. "Hi, boys." She said gently. Salazar came up first and licked her face. Hermione stood up quickly. "I hope that was the stamp of approval that you meant." She moaned, wiping the spit from her face.

"Yes, that's what I meant." Severus said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her. "If the dogs like you then I have an excuse for my behavior."

"Is that what you think?" Hermione chastised him playfully.

"Mhmm." Severus murmured.

"You really think that you need an excuse?"

"Don't I?"

"Not in my book."

"Prove it." Severus challenged.

Hermione kissed him and then relaxed in his arms. She rested her head on his chest and wound her arms around his thin, but muscular chest. Severus held her and laid his head on top of hers. He sighed. Contentment flooded him.

Suddenly one of the dogs, probably Salazar, felt left out and jumped up on them. Over balanced by the extra weight, Severus and Hermione toppled. They burst out laughing as both dogs swarmed over them, vying for attention. Severus secretly found himself wishing for more moments like this.