Rated M
New Beginning: The Same Refrain
Chapter 29
He hurried back to Hogwarts and lifting the wards to his chambers walked in to the sitting room. All evidence of Tobias' party was gone, the table replaced and the toys and wrappings cleaned up and put away. He was a little surprised that he missed not seeing them up and sitting before the fire, reading and waiting for him. He had grown used to the company and constant disarray and found the neatness of the sitting room now disconcerting.
He tossed his robes onto his chair and hurried to Tobias' room where he stood leaning against the doorframe with his arms folded, watching him sleep. It is so simple, he thought looking at the boy. This was all it took to make him anxious to come home, this was all it took to change the cold dungeons to some place, after all these years he wanted to be.
"He liked his gifts," Hannah spoke from behind him.
He turned and grabbed her, pulling her to him and holding her as he closed his eyes and took in her scent. "Gods witch, I have been so stupid."
"Severus," she gasped pulling away from him.
"No, Hannah." He stepped back from her and ran his hands through his hair. "I know, I was with Lucius and I smell of whiskey, but listen to me."
"Not here." She looked at Tobias on the bed and took his hand, pulling him into the sitting room.
When the reached the room she dropped his hand and turned to look at him. He saw the dark circles under her eyes, and letting his eyes run down her body, he noticed the weight she had lost and the way she clasped her arms around her body as if cold or frightened.
He stepped close to her expecting her to turn away, and then he reached out and lifted her chin. He saw the fear in her eyes when he leaned forward and brushed her lips with his. He felt her stiffen, and then relax and lean in to the kiss, which he deepened as his arms went around her and pulled her to him.
"I have missed you," he whispered into her ear as he kissed the line from her mouth to her throat. "You have been right here all this time and I have missed you more than you know."
"What happened?" She brought her hands up to his chest and gently pushed him away.
"I think I woke up," he smirked at her and raised an eyebrow.
"You've been drinking."
"Yes," he said reaching out and lifting her chin. "I told you I have had one drink with Lucius, but am by no means drunk."
"I… I don't like the smell on you. It scares me."
"Have I ever hurt you?" he smirked at her.
"No, but…"
"You do know witch that I plan on having you."
"Tonight?" she asked, only answered by his nod.
She stood up on her toes and kissed him softly on his mouth, then pulled back and ran her tongue over her lips, as if assessing his taste.
"It's about time." She laughed at his expression and then took his hand and led him to his bedchamber.
He lifted his wand in a soft Lumos, lighting only one candle that stood on a table opposite the bed. He turned her around to face him and put a hand behind her head pulling her to him with his other arm and crushing his lips to hers. He felt her hands move to undo her belt, and groaned as she let it fall open and pushed into him, pressing against his erection.
He let her go long enough to push her robe from her shoulders and smirked when he saw she wore nothing under it.
"It's what I wear to bed," she said, looking at his mouth.
"So," he said, as he began undoing his buttons. "All this time you have been laying in your room like this with me just a few feet away?"
"A girl can hope," she said with a smirk of her own.
"Hope?"
"Hope that one day you will love me."
"I have since I was seventeen." He lifted her chin again and waited until he saw her nod.
He looked at her naked body and leaned down to kiss her throat as his hands ran along her sides, stroking the outside curves of her breasts and down to her hips. He raised his head to her mouth and kissed her, unsure if the moan was hers or his.
Her hands came up between them, he hesitated, thinking she was pushing him away only to feel her undoing the remaining buttons, her hands slipping over his skin across his stomach and down to undo his belt and stroke him through the fabric of his boxers.
"If you are not in that bed in one minute I will take you on the floor." He rasped into her ear as he pulled her back and stared into her eyes, making sure that she was past her fear.
He pulled his arms out of his shirt, and stopped to watch her walk toward the bed, groaning at the sight. He hurried and kicked off his shoes, pulled off his socks and slid down his boxers as she crawled onto the bed and sat in the middle waiting for him.
He joined her, pushing her back and laying over her, his knee pushing her legs apart until both of his fit between hers. He rested his weight on one arm and his other hand stroked her cheek as he lowered his head and kissed her softly. He waited until her felt her lips part, and then tasting her with his tongue and swallowing her moans, he crushed her lips against his and slid his tongue deeper. Her arms wrapped around his back as she arched her back and pushed into him, wanting him to hurry, and needing him closer.
"My gods, Severus. I have missed you so."
He raised his head enough to look in her eyes, and pushed her hair from her face. She looked up at him, her mouth half open, and her breasts rising in time with her breathing as he lowered his head and kissed her neck, and let his hand slid down her side. His mouth found her nipples, gently nipped, and sucked as his hand found her wetness.
"My gods," she breathed, throwing back her head on the pillow. "Please, hurry."
"Hannah, look at me."
She turned her head and opened her eyes watching him as her pleasured her, running his fingers through her folds and back up to her wetness and back down again. She felt the tightness that she had missed and dreamed of and only wanted from him.
"Severus, please."
He lowered his head and kissed her as his fingers slide inside her, and felt her soft inner walls and wetness. She gasped and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him tightly to her and tried to push up her hips for contact, her finger nails dug into his flesh and mouth sought any skin she could taste.
"Now, please Severus."
He removed his hand and slid into her, closing his eyes and feeling tears behind them. He had felt this before, under the coaster, and at Spinners End, and in the dirty Inn in a small town she had hidden in. He had not recognized it then, and now he knew that without her love he would die.
He opened his eyes to see her gasp as he stroked into her again, and yet again. He felt her clamp her legs around his back, raise her body up to meet his, and whisper his name as a prayer as she cried out his name in her tears and her climax. He did not even think of his impending release as he came in her, pushing deep and gathering her into his arms and he tried to breathe as wave after wave shot through him.
He held her as she cried into his chest, still in her, not wanting to slip out and end this yet. This connection that he had not identified before was so simple now. He rolled to the side and pulled her with him, not wanting to let go, and not needing to talk, and not understanding why he felt tears forming in his eyes. They lay together until he heard the steady breathing that told him she was asleep before he gently untangled himself and left the bed.
He found his wand and cleaned himself and thinking to clean her as well, he walked to the bed but only lowered his wand. He pulled up the blankets; wanting to keep his smell on her thinking it somehow marked her as his. He dressed slowly and left the dungeons to find Albus for a request he would plead for with what was left of his life.
.
.
.
.
.
"I tell you Albus, I can do it." He paced the Headmasters office and hated himself for the begging tone that crept into his voice.
"It is dark, almost considered black." Albus shook his head. "No, you don't understand what it can do. To hold it in you hand, to want its power."
"I don't want the power old man. I just need to infuse its power into the potion."
"Severus, if it could be done don't you think someone would have already tried it?"
"They have, I am sure of it. Look at its history. Look at the age of Nicolas Flamel. He must have been able to use it for more than just longevity. Was he ever ill? What of his family? No, I know it can be done."
"Severus, I will not risk loosing you again."
"If I don't do this we will loose Tobias, and I can not let that happen." He turned and frowned at Albus. "I know now what I need. I know why I am here and it is for this, only this. I need to do this for them."
He continued to pace as Albus leaned back in his chair watching him intently knowing that his Potions Master had finally come home.
"I want this for someone else, not me, not my power, not for what I can gain." Severus looked at Albus and sneered. "Don't say it old man."
"I would not dream of telling you it is about time." He chuckled as he stroked his beard.
"If this works, and the child is healed, what happens then Severus?"
"I send them away."
"You know it is the only way to ensure their safety." Albus nodded his agreement. "I am sorry Severus."
"When can it be collected?" Severus ran his hand through his hair. "He does not have long Albus. He is failing faster than we thought."
"I had thought to send Hagrid when he collects young Mr Potter."
"He will not make it that long Albus. I will need it sooner."
"Have the potion ready, I will not collect it my self as I can still feel the lure it has. However, be assured I will have it here when you have need."
Severus nodded and hurried to the stairs, taking them two at a time in his haste to return before Hannah woke and found him gone. He found her in his bed, but not alone. A small tow headed boy lay in her arms, with a hank of her hair twisted around his fingers.
He knelt by the bed and saw her eyes open and look at him. Leaning over to kiss her, he tasted the salt, and felt the tremble of her lips.
"Hannah?"
"He has a fever and can't walk. I had to carry him."
Severus slid one arm under Tobias' knees and another under his head and shoulders and picked him up gently. He lowered his head and kissed the boy's head then turned to take him to Poppy, leaving Hannah to dress and follow him. As he walked to the hospital wing, he felt a calmness that he had not felt before and looked down at the sleeping boy wondering what his son would have looked like. He smiled thinking he would look a lot like this, with Hannah's eyes and chin, and it was enough.
He turned around, pushing the door of the infirmary open with his back and walked to the nearest cot, laying the small boy down. He heard Poppy's footfalls hurrying from her office at the sound of the door opening and saw the worry in her eyes.
"I have a potion to brew. I will leave him with you and I am sure Hannah will be sleeping here as well."
"You have found something." Poppy grabbed his arm and looked at him, narrowing her eyes.
He smirked at her, and then nodded. Reaching over he put his hand on the boy's cheek and sighed. "I need a vial of his blood."
"Blood? For a potion?"
"Yes and …" He stood up and looked at her, knowing what he would ask for next would upset her. "I need some of his bone marrow."
"You do not expect me to do that?" She shook her head. "No, those Muggles that do that don't care about how they treat their patients. Do you have any idea what that entails?"
"Poppy, put him to sleep then, I am sure you know a spell or two." He smirked at her.
"I won't do it. No Severus, I won't."
"Won't do what?" Hannah asked pulling the curtain open from around the cot.
"Tell her Poppy. Tell her you won't do it." He frowned at her.
"He wants me to extract bone marrow." Poppy folded her arms and glared at Severus.
"What is the problem?"
"He thinks he as found a cure and he wants…."
"My god! Severus." Hannah threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down to kiss his cheeks, his forehead, laughing and crying until she felt her knees weaken and the just clung to him and sobbed.
"Fine." Poppy huffed, and folded her arms. "I guess I have no choice."
Severus held her, watching Poppy walk angrily to her office over her head. When the mediwitch was out of sight, he pulled Hannah away and led her to the chair next to the cot.
"Listen to me and listen carefully." He frowned as he saw her smile. "I think this will work, but I can not promise. I can not tell you for sure."
"But there is a chance? You think it will work?"
"Yes, but I want you to do something for me."
She blushed red and looked back to Poppy's office door. "I would love to do something for you."
He smirked and leaned down to kiss her lightly. "That is not what I had in mind."
She looked at the bulge he was trying to hide under his robes and snorted.
"Hannah." He raised his eyebrow and frowned at her, then smirked and pulled her close.
"Fine, then there are two things."
"Two?" She laughed and moved against him.
"Do not be here when Poppy takes the marrow." He pulled her away from his erection and gently shook her.
She was suddenly serious and fearful. "Severus?"
"It is painful to watch. Poppy will not harm him, but I do not want you here."
"I know how it is done. Remember?"
"Promise?"
"Where will you be?"
"Brewing the potion. Now promise." He frowned knowing she was avoiding his request.
"If he wakes he …"
"Promise." He sighed knowing he was getting nowhere. "Fine, I will have Poppy take you back to Spinners End before she does the procedure."
"No, I promise. I will go back to the Dungeons, I'll read, I'll… you wouldn't do that." Her eyes were filling with tears at his threat. "Please, I promise."
"I will have Millie keep and eye on you."
"Mum," Tobias tried to sit up, and rubbed the heels of his hands into his eyes.
"Here sweetness." She hurried back to the cot and leaned over, resting her forehead on his and saying a prayer that what ever Severus was doing would work. She looked up and saw him looking at them.
"Severus," she said, as she straightened up. "You gave me your oath. I will understand, but don't break you oath on this."
He locked his eyes on hers and stood silently until she looked away, and then leaving them, he hurried to the lab to begin brewing.