Chapter 8

Harry, who continued to keep to himself that Severus and Hermione had traveled backward in time, hadn't been happy about Miranda Selwyn relocating herself. He had been putting together the evidence of her deliberate break of the Statute in the hopes of being able to arrest her. Unfortunately, "two people the Minister and I trust came from the future to tell me what's going on" wouldn't be sufficient explanation for simply taking action against Miranda. Neither was a testimony forthcoming from Lucius, as he would only speak with Severus and Hermione and not make any formal declaration to the Auror office against his cousin. Victoria Irving was protected by her status as a Muggle, regardless of the fact that she was an elected official.

The Muggle world and the wizarding world may have been erupting in confusion and desperation, but inside the high-end suite hotel where Severus and Hermione were in hiding, all was calm.

Hermione sank onto the sofa in the living room, grateful for the comfortable support. It had been another evening out of setting up non-magical illusions that didn't require their physical presence to create a distraction. The more of the prankster they put out there, the closer they were to reducing that desperation. MSAVI was beginning to become a personal symbol of hope to her. Using her left heel, Hermione started to knock one of the sofa pillows under her calves, but Severus stopped her with his hand. Taking both her ankles, he lifted her legs and sat on the sofa beneath them.

Surprise made Hermione somewhat awkward about letting her legs settle in his lap. It was a casual gesture of intimacy and trust that was not something that she would ever have expected from him—at least not at this point.

She looked at his profile, the heat from his body beginning to warm the undersides of her calves. When he looked at her, the expression on her face must have made him rethink, because he started to get up.

But Hermione locked her legs to indicate she didn't want him to leave. Settling the side of her head against the high cushiony back of the sofa, she smiled at him. Severus relaxed then, leaning back himself, and resting his left arm over her legs.

Hermione just looked at him, wondering what was happening between the two of them, and what it felt like to him. As her body grew comfortable touching his, she suddenly pictured him moving closer to kiss her, and she felt a quick flush of excitement.

Nothing quite this intimate had occurred between them since the kiss in her bedroom. They'd been comfortable working together moving about London, and researching through books. It was clear that a new level of trust existed between them.

She could see his pulse in his neck, just above the scars. Its beat was accelerated. She reached out and touched it, the pad of her middle finger pressing lightly on his skin before trailing down so that three of her fingers touched his scar.

"When I saw you the morning before all this started to happen, I admired that you weren't covering this up."

Severus didn't move, didn't speak.

"You're a survivor, Severus. I… I want for that to mean something positive to you." Hermione dropped her hand, settling back again. The look she gave him was earnest, but her posture was relaxed. She wanted him to know that it was alright, this moment between them.

Severus took a long time before answering, and it wasn't something she expected at all.

"I was present when Charity Burbage died. She asked me twice to save her before she stopped asking."

Hermione knew Professor Burbage was dead. After the war, Severus had spent some time with Kingsley Shacklebolt describing what he knew of the fates of various people who were missing. Taking into account interrogations with arrested Death Eaters and war criminals, Charity Burbage had been a name among many who were revealed to be dead. Hermione didn't know how many names came from Severus, and certainly details weren't publically released about each death. She didn't know how many deaths Severus had personally witnessed, or how many ofthose were people he'd personally known.

So Hermione didn't say anything. She figured that it was best to let him speak.

It was the wrong choice.

Severus's eyes got darker as he looked at her, and then looked away from her. The tension was coming off of him in increasing waves.

Realizing her mistake, Hermione quickly told him, "I'm sure you would have saved her if you could have."

"And how do you know that?" he snapped back.

"It's not who you are—who you became, at least."

"I didn't realize you know me so well. Tell me more about who I've become."

"Oh, don't," Hermione said, urgent and saddened. She pushed up and moved closer to Severus, scooting so that she was closer to his face, better able to make eye contact. As a result, his lap was trapped by her legs. "I'm listening. I'm here. Talk with me."

Severus made to speak, but stopped. Letting out a long hiss of a sigh, he leaned his head back against the sofa, Adam's apple prominent. "I'm trying."

They were silent for another minute. Hermione's back was beginning to strain from the awkward position, so she slowly started to ease her legs down. Severus lifted his head, a touch of panic in his eyes. She shifted her hips nearer to his, indicating that she wasn't leaving. But dammit, that hurt her back, too. Frustrated, she got right up and straddled him. Surprised, Severus automatically put his hands on her hips.

Hermione pinned him in place with her gaze. "I know that you've been through a great deal. I also know that we would not have won this war without you."

Severus only stared at her.

"I do not know everything that's happened to you. But if you need to talk, I'm here."

When he continued to be silent, Hermione lost her courage. What was she doing? She wasn't… what if she was wrong about the trust and connection she'd been feeling? This was Professor Snape whose face she was getting into, and oh, whose lap she'd gotten onto.

Hermione started to beat a retreat, but Severus tightened his grasp on her hips, keeping her in place. She froze, her breathing becoming heavier as she looked at that dark gaze and hooked nose. Severus's right hand came up behind her neck. The fingers moved into her hair, gently pushing it back. Leaning forward, he kissed the very spot where her own pulse, she realized, was beating rapidly.

Letting out a bit of a small, somewhat strangled gasp, Hermione put her hands on his hips to balance herself, and just let him keep kissing her.

He lingered on her neck, moving along it slowly with each kiss. She leaned into him, running her hands up his back at the same easy, exploring pace. She turned to allow him access when he reached her jaw, and her eyelids shut.

Severus had a bit of stubble that made his kisses a bit rough on her skin. It only enhanced Hermione's awareness that this was happening. He was close…they were touching…and maybe talking wasn't what was needed right now after all.

Their mouths came together naturally. She felt her hair pull a bit as his fingers tightened their hold on her. The rush of excitement made her hips slide forward without conscious thought. It was all lips, and hands, and quickening breath.

Hermione started to wonder if she was ready for more than this. The possibility of sex hung in the air, and she wasn't sure if this time, maybe, it was too soon. What was going on was clearly more than just a one-night stand, though what would happen beyond that she didn't know.

Focusing on the here and now, she ran her tongue along his bottom lip, tasting salt and tender skin. When Severus open his mouth and touched her tongue with his, she knew that this was not a mistake. He retreated quickly and she felt his mouth curve upward. Hermione smiled, too. She repeated the lick, to his upper lip this time. And again, when their tongues met, she felt his smile. A small giggle in her throat came with the realization that his tongue was ticklish. This also meant, at least she thought, that he probably hadn't kissed like this in a while.

And that made her feel powerful.

Her hands pressed his shoulders into the cushion behind him and she mated her mouth to his, tongue and lips and teeth. She felt his hips rise against her inner thighs more than once, but she ignored them, giving all her focus to holding Severus down and kissing him well.

The plan changed when he grabbed her and turned her so that she lay on the sofa. Severus lifted himself so that Hermione could straighten the leg that had ended up bent beneath them. His fingers worked the muscles in her back, making Hermione moan with aching relief. It was a quick caress over too soon when his hands slid out from under her to run across her torso. He curved his palms around her breasts, which elicited a different kind of moan altogether.

Hermione closed her eyes, only to open them again when she realized that Severus had stopped moving. He hovered over her, watching her.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

"No," he answered in a voice she'd never heard from him before.

"Good." Hermione arched her back, pushing her breasts against the hands that cupped them. Severus made a small noise like a hiss. After a quick press, his hands left, only to be replaced with his teeth that plucked at the material covering her. With a groan, Hermione pulled at the Muggle shirt she still wore, ready to take it off. It had risen up off her hips partway when Severus gently stopped her.

"Not here," he said.

Looking into his eyes, Hermione realized this was the yes-or-no moment, to either slow it down maybe try for more tomorrow, or to see through what the rest of the night had to offer.

"Alright," she answered.

When he stood up, straightening his tall and lean frame, Hermione was struck by just how attracted to him she was. It was incredible, that such a thing could happen in so little time. Severus held out his hand to her, and she took it, following him into his bedroom.

The door shut behind them, and when he turned to her Hermione immediately put her hands in his hair and pulled him down for a kiss. She let her fingers trail down his neck, onto his shoulders and to his chest. A brief moment to breathe, and they were kissing again; Hermione started working on his buttons.

Severus's hands were rubbing down her back, moving to her sides. Gripping the edge of her shirt, he slowly slid it up. He broke the kiss when her shirt reached the hills of her breasts. Dropping to his knees, Severus pressed his mouth to her stomach, to the slight rise just below her navel. Hermione gripped his shoulders for balance, and let out a small gasp when he ran his tongue over the same spot. He proceeded to explore all across her abdomen with his mouth, and Hermione felt herself run wet when she realized why he might be so focused on this part of her body.

She moved one hand to trail across the bit of his skin she'd gotten exposed undoing his buttons. There was a slight amount of chest hair that began between his pecs and trailed down, but Hermione couldn't reach to follow it. She made a small whimper of frustration, to which Severus responded by dropping his hands from her shirt to her hips and tugging her closer.

Accepting his current wishes, Hermione used her free hand to curl into his hair, scratching lightly at his scalp. His finger dipped behind the waistline of her jeans, running around the edges as his tongue gave another long lick to the dip just there. Then he pulled back to undo the button and zipper. Hermione took advantage of his distraction to pull her shirt the rest of the way over her head. Soon she was exposed, wearing nothing but mismatched bra and panties and socks.

Severus leaned back to appreciate the sight and Hermione tugged on him to stand. Once he was, she finished off the buttons, putting her fingers triumphantly on his treasure trail and kissing his neck. His hand was in her hair, his other arm around her, and Hermione had the sense of being wonderfully lost as her mind focused only on him and exploring his body.

A couple steps forward and she had them both stumbling onto the bed. Socks were gone; shirt was gone, and Hermione was helping Severus undo her bra. His hands massaged and squeezed her bare breasts, a bit awkwardly at first, but his confidence grew until his mouth and teeth were on them.

She thrashed, loving the feel of him over her, the rough fabric of his trousers against her legs. Her hands were in his hair and trailing across his back. Her breathing was heavy, creating a symphony with his.

And then everything slowed. His body was aligned over hers, yet not touching. His arms braced on either side of her. Her hands were near, had been ready to go for his trousers until he'd pulled back. She looked at him, waiting.

His long hair was falling forward, just enough to create a curtain around his face. His lips were parted, his nose prominent, and his gaze was focused on her face. "Hermione…" he said, in the same tone he'd used earlier in the living room.

Hermione placed her hands on his slim hips and gently pulled them down against her own. He let out a huff of breath that told Hermione more about what he was feeling than any words he could have used. She made her own noise when his lips touched her neck. After that, there was no more hesitation.

She worked his trousers off, unbuttoning, unzipping and shoving down over his hips and thighs until he kicked his legs free. Wasting no time, she freed his erection from his underwear and fit her hand around it, her other cupping his balls. She rolled them as she stroked his shaft with her rounded grip. He bucked against her hands, saying her name in something between a whimper and moan. Lifting her face from watching what she was doing, Hermione kept the pace as she placed an open-mouthed kiss to his shoulder line before sinking her teeth in lightly.

"Hermione…" he moaned her named aloud again. This time he seized her upper arms and pushed himself onto her. Hermione had to free her hands from between their bodies, releasing him. But she followed by opening her thighs and lifting her knees, giving him a place to settle.

"Severus," she said on a gasp when she felt his cock against the small strip of panties that still covered her.

Severus lowered his head, pressing his cheek next to hers as he said in her ear. "Say it again."

He rocked into her and she obeyed. "Severus. Oh…" Hermione raised her hips and rubbed herself against him. She should do more. She should kiss him, touch him. But her hands were bracing her as she continued to rub off on him. They created a rhythm, frotting like they couldn't get enough, intensity increasing with each rub and moan.

"Hermione," he hissed into her ear again, breathing heavy and almost out of control. "I know you need more, but I can't wait. I promise next time…"

"Next time," she agreed, nodding. His finger pushed aside the fabric; her hands lined him up with her, the backs of her knuckles hitting the cloth still on him. She realized that they were going to do this both with their underwear still on, but she didn't care. After a few thrusts, she'd make sure…

"Wait," he growled. "Protection."

Oh, right. She'd been thinking about… "I'm all set with birth control," she said as he sat up, going after his clothes for his wand. Severus paused, and Hermione sat up, too. "As for the other, I'm clean. You?"

"Yes," he answered.

"Well then." And Hermione took her panties off. Now she wouldn't have to worry about the edge giving him an abrasion. She saw his erection move in response to her nakedness, and she crawled over to him. "May I?" she asked, looking up at him from his lap. "Just a little, please?" she added, remembering how close he'd been to not being able to delay just a moment earlier.

His assent was a strangled noise and a slight nod. Hermione wrapped one hand around the base of him, and put her mouth over the tip. This time the strangled noise he made was louder. She moved slowly, learning about his size and taste, in which direction he liked her hand to touch. She licked around him when he was more fully into her mouth, and reveled at the way his stomach sucked in, revealing his lower ribs, and at the noises of pleasure he made as she worked him. Not too fast or hard, just a little, as she'd promised. Once her mouth had a good grip on him, she freed her hand to tug on the waist of his underwear. Severus arched up, and she let go of his erection just long enough to pull the cloth down, and she was sucking on him again.

Her hands worked the cloth off as far as it would go at this angle. Severus pulled her up and put her on her back. He stood up to free himself and, completely naked, climbed on top of her.

Hermione spread her legs and returned the kiss he gave her with fervor. He made to line his erection up with her opening, but she dodged and ran her clit along him once more, this time skin on skin. She loved the way that lined up just right. But once was all she gave herself before spreading wide and letting him into her. When he pushed in, they both were loud—him wordless, and her a clear "Oh yes!"

He was in and out once, twice, before another full second had passed. Then he slowed down and looked at Hermione, stroking her hair. She smiled up at him and swept some of the hair out of his face as he thrust in again. He turned his head and kissed her wrist. Hermione moved her hips against him on the next thrust, and watched as his mouth opened and his eyes closed. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she pulled him down closer to her, her legs up and around him as well. "Keep going," she said, and held on for the ride, crying out as his thrusts got harder, encouraging him until he lost control while calling her name.

==S==S==H==G==

He made sure to get her off the second time, thrusting his fingers in and out of her, using her responses as clues as to how to touch her just right.

It had already been the wee hours of Monday morning when they'd gotten started on their lovemaking. They slept through the beginning of the day, just a few hours, and rose for a late breakfast and to check the internet for MSAVI's status, and to create more articles explaining recent broken enchantments that were reported. They also checked with Lucius and Harry to see how things were going for the wizarding community. Lucius declared that things were fine and to wait for him to contact them. Harry admitted that there were some problems, and that Muggles were beginning to arrive at the Ministry in increasing numbers, but that they were handling it. Nothing was as yet out of control, and the Board had been formed to discuss options.

Hermione fretted. "Have we really changed anything?" She scrolled through news articles on her laptop. Anything related to magic were equal amounts prankster as belief it was the genuine article. Their explanation for the Knight Bus had been the least accepted of their decoy stories, as people had been in their cars that leapt out of the way.

Behind her, Severus rubbed her shoulders. "What do you think?"

"I'm not so sure—Mm, that feels good—Maybe we should get out more with the MSAVI signature. It shouldn't all be done from this laptop while we're shut in a hotel room, Sev...er…ussaaaah."

Working his thumb into a particularly tight knot, Severus leaned down and kissed her neck. "There have been some advantages to the situation."

Hermione had relaxed into his ministrations when he abruptly gave her a quick nip and she squeaked. "Vi!" He chuckled and pulled away before her admonishing hand could hit him.

"Hmm," she gave him a signature look that only she could pull off, the thoughtful stink-eye. He was watching her warily now.

"Do I need to take out my wand?" he asked, somewhat harshly. She knew he wasn't serious, but irritated. His wand would already be out if he suspected a hex was coming.

"No," Hermione shook her head and dropped the glare, which had only been for show anyhow. "I was just thinking about what you said about the room. It was flirty and fun, but…"

Severus did not look like he was comforted by her reassurance.

"But," she continued. "No, never mind. I'm going to make some tea. Go ahead and see if there are any more articles we should debunk this morning."

He followed her into the kitchen. "What would you think about having dinner?"

Hermione looked at him in surprise. "Are you…?" But she didn't finish the sentence when she saw the look on his face. This wasn't easy for him, but he was offering. If Hermione was going to accept—and oh, yes, she wanted to—she was going to have to deal with the emotional baggage there. The history he hadn't quite opened up about yet, though he'd tried. The admission of emotional attachment he was dodging around now, unwilling to bear the vulnerability of her clarifying that he was asking her out on a date.

The truth of the matter was that she was already too far gone to possibly say no now. It might be that she would prove unequal to the task of holding a long-term relationship with him. But that was a risk every couple started out with. She was no picnic either, she knew, with her bossiness and, well, "insufferable know-it-all" behavior. At least they both were going into this with awareness of the other's faults.

He was waiting for her answer.

"I'd like that very much."

==S==S==H==G==

They followed another night of setting up illusions with sex. Exploring what their bodies could do to one another was a whole new level of knowledge they were both eager to study at. Severus had even taken her in a position she hadn't had previous experience in. The mere memory of it made Hermione's body flush.

It was late morning, and Hermione was very happy to be where she was, pressed up against Severus in bed.

"You're awake earlier than I expected," Severus said, kissing the back of her shoulder.

"Mm. My sleep schedule's been completely thrown off since we came backward." Hermione wiggled against him, allowing his lips access as he kissed her back. "Something woke me up, though…"

Hermione clued in when the bracelet she'd failed to take off last night warmed. With a sigh, she rolled over onto her opposite side so that she and Severus could read it together.

Just in case you're curious…

A red elephant made of bronze with a castle turret on its back has recently come to life.

They were immediately out of bed and getting dressed. "He didn't say where. Do you know what he's referring to?"

"Yes," Hermione answered. "Accio socks! It's in front of the Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre in central London. That whole area's known by the same name, or just as 'The Elephant.' Used to be something up until the 60s but now the area's fairly run down. Lots of people will be there, though."

"I didn't require a textbook answer," was Severus's dry response before he mused aloud, "Mirrors and digital graphics…"

"As long as there aren't mass injuries, that works for me." Hermione felt the cold trickle down her neck of Severus Disillusioning her as she pulled on her final garment.

Hermione turned and did the same for him. "This'll be tricky as it's right on a road junction, and I'm sure people are panicking." She felt for his hand, and he quickly grasped hers.

"Bring us to the safest approximate location you can," Severus said.

"Right," Hermione pulled him into Side-Along Apparition. They were promptly bumped into when they arrived.

"What?" said the confused man who'd fallen over, but he got to his feet and kept on running.

Clutching hands and careful where they maneuvered, Severus and Hermione made their way around to the front of the store.

"Oh, thank goodness," Hermione breathed.

The elephant, which was up on a pedestal before the store, had not climbed down. It stomped, extended its trunk, rumbled, and swayed its head, but it did not make any motions to get closer to the people who were either running away from it or gawking at it. Naturally, there were several mobiles out.

Hermione aimed her wand at the statue and the trunk rose. Out trumpeted a three-note sound, stressed like a speaking voice. Mm-SSAA-vi!

"No one's going to get that," Severus murmured.

"They might on replay, especially after…" Her voice trailed off and she swished her wand again. Text, as though typed onto a computer screen, appeared above the statue's head, spelling out MSAVI. Then, with a Finite Incatatem, everything returned to normal. Cheers and applause broke out among the spectators. Once it died out, however, the unhappy cries from inside the building could be heard.

They had to push and sidestep their way into the shopping center, as there was a rush to see what was going on. People everywhere were either sitting on the ground or holding their feet in pain. On a few of them, Hermione saw what at first she thought looked like claws.

Severus swore under his breath, and Hermione felt him push her toward the side as realization clicked. "It's that toe-nail hex from the Half—from your old potions book."

"I'm going to need a vantage point to take care of this many people. Stay near this pillar."

Hermione didn't have a chance to agree before Severus flew from her side. She could feel the wind from the flap of his robes.

How are we going to explain this one? Hermione wondered. Powder on the floors? Miranda had certainly delivered on this one. And Hermione had already claimed the elephant for MSAVI. A prank like this would only increase distrust. Not that popularity was the concern, just plausible denial of the wizarding world. Either way, Muggles would distrust MSAVI for the unpleasantness of the "hex" inside, or because they'll doubt whether the prankster is actually doing it.

Hermione felt her hope fade.

(Eight)