A/N: Hello Everyone. Thank you for the wonderful reviews you left me. I did my best to answer them all, minus the ones I couldn't due to them not signing in. Warning to everyone since I didn't give one up front last time. You will probably need to keep those tissues handy for this chapter. The end is what will get you. One last thing, I am terrible at writing how Hagrid speaks, so please forgive me now for it. Take care all and Please Read and Review.
Special Thanks to Kristine Throrne, my rocking Beta. You have done tremendous work on this and I'm thankful. I know you're busy and I'm glad you still had time to work on my story.
Special Thanks as well to PandaHeart for looking this over too. I appreciate the time and effort you're putting in on this too.
Chapter 26
The next morning Hermione was sitting at breakfast. She had forced all of her despair over leaving away. It had been hard and took a lot of effort, but she told herself she was just going to act like it was any other day.
She was dressed in her uniform since they were supposed to have classes. Even if they got the next few days off, she couldn't dress like she knew about it. It would look suspicious if she showed up in jeans the one day they got a break.
Severus gave her a smile when she walked in, since he was already seated at his table. She smiled back and gave him a wink. Taking her seat between Remus and Lily. Sirius tried to flirt as usual, but she playfully told him that he didn't have a chance in hell with her.
Sirius barked out a laugh, drawing several people's attention to him. Hermione was chuckling softly as Remus snickered beside her.
She felt a push at her mind, and let Severus in to the small part she always did. What is Black barking about this time? Severus asked her.
Hermione smirked. Same as always. He seems to like getting rejected constantly. She told him.
She saw him chuckling softly before he sent her another thought. Are you feeling better?
Her gaze met his, her brows knitting in confusion to his question. Hoping she hadn't somehow let something slip. Better?
Lily said you were not feeling well. She thought it was a cold or allergies. He thought back, curious as to her slight hesitation before.
Hermione smiled. You asked about me? See I told you that you were nice.
She saw his lips curve just a bit. Only to you. So is that a yes on feeling better?
She nodded slightly. Not sure if he could detect a lie with just her thoughts. What would you like to do today?
He raised an eyebrow at her. Did you forget we have class? Or are you suggesting we play hooky. Both of us missing might be noticed.
She smirked. I mean after. Though playing hooky with you does sound like fun. Noticed or not.
She saw him glance away from her for just a moment before meeting her eyes again, his lips curving more. Lily is looking at you oddly. We've been noticed already and we haven't skipped a single class yet.
Hermione looked over at Lily who was smirking at her. "What?" Hermione asked.
Lily shook her head. "You two are funny is all. You look like you're having a whole conversation just with your eyes."
Hermione bit back a laugh. "I have no clue what you're talking about." Doing her best to keep from jumping when Severus pushed a new thought into her head.
You are such a terrible liar. We need to work on that. It's almost embarrassing how bad you are at it. He told her, while she did her best not to look at him. Though her lips quivered a bit to keep from laughing.
Lily, having no clue about their internal conversation, went on talking. "I'm sure you don't, but it's very cute to watch. I just wonder, with how much I see you two disappear sometimes, how soon after graduation we will find you two with a tiny Severus or Hermione."
Hermione's eyes widened. "What?" She asked startled so much her fork clattered to her plate, all the while hoping he didn't see that comment in her mind.
What? He pushed in quickly. That's not…that's not why you were out yesterday is it? While he wondered if that was why she had run to McGonagall's office and stayed in there for so long.
Hermione sighed, her hopes crushed that he missed it. Though she did feel his mild panic over it. She shook her head. No. She thought. Lily's just being…well, Lily. I think that is her way of asking if we're a serious couple.
"You heard me." Lily said, wiggling her eyebrows and making Hermione groan.
Thankfully she was saved from having to respond in any way by Dumbledore standing and getting the students attention. Though she did still hear Severus push one last thought in. Are we?
Hermione met his eyes. Severus, I love you. How much more serious can I get than that? She thought just before the Headmaster spoke.
"I want to wish all you students a very good morning. My announcement is only for the seventh years though. With N.E.W.T.S so very close, I urge all you students to take the time to prepare properly for them. If you need more study time then this should help you. I am letting the seventh year's take a small break from their classes for the next few days. This will give you time to study or relax, depending on your needs. I urge you to study, but only you know how fully prepared you are. The staff will not bother those not studying either. You all know how important your N.E.W.T.S are. If you feel you need the class time, then your professors will still be available during your normally scheduled classes to offer a hand if they can. I ask all professors to do what you can to take a few minutes for each student. Today is now Wednesday, so seventh year classes will resume on Monday. That is all." Dumbledore sat down again.
Hermione knew he had done this for her, especially since he met her gaze and smiled. She gave him a small smile in return before going back to her breakfast. She hoped that meant she had till Monday to say goodbye.
Sounds like we get to play hooky after all. The pushed in thought brought her back to her friends and lover.
She gave him a smile. Sounds like it.
Does that mean I get you all to myself for the whole break? He asked her.
Hermione wished she could. It means you get part of that time alone with me. I'll have to spend some times with my friends too. You could join us. I'd like for you too. She thought, giving him a grin.
She saw him sigh. If I must. But only if you promise to make the time I spend with your moronic friend Black up to me.
She grinned. That can be arranged, I'm sure.
He smirked. We could duel again. Winner is the one that gets the other naked first.
She snorted out a laugh, making Remus and Lily glance her way. She told them that a funny thought popped into her head. Making them both simply shake their heads at her.
You've already seen I can get you naked with just a few flicks of my wrist. She thought to him, still smirking.
He chuckled again. Then, I set an easy challenge up for you to win. Where is the downside in that?
She finally pushed her plate away. She wasn't hungry anyway. I guess you'll have to see. Now wont you? She sent him a wink and told her friends she'd see them later and stood up, heading for the doors of the hall.
She was walking down the hall when she felt him grab her arm, spinning her around. Her eyes were dancing a bit. "What? Did you mean now?"
He gave her a quick kiss and instantly headed for the Room of Requirement. Her soft laughter echoing off the walls. He pulled her into the room, which held nothing but an extremely large bed covered in satins and silks.
He found the down side to his challenge quickly. She was having fun simply messing with him. Every time, he removed an article of her clothes, she'd flick her wrist and add it back. By the fourth time she did it, his eyes were narrowed slightly.
She was fighting back a chuckle and let him get her almost naked, when he found her suddenly fully dressed again. His eyes were smoldering and when he raised an eyebrow at her finally, she let her soft giggle out.
"You said it was a duel. I'm assuming my blocks would be to put my clothes back on. So…I'm dueling." She told him, still smirking a bit.
His lips quirked, and after another ten minutes of her simply putting her clothes back on, he gave up on magic. He pulled her against him and kissed her passionately. Divesting her of her clothes manually, one piece at a time.
She couldn't focus on using her magic, not that she wanted to stop him anymore. He had her body flaming after only a kiss. She didn't know how he could do it, but she loved it.
When she was down to only her knee socks and her knickers, she did her best to focus and with two quick flicks of her hand, he was naked. She felt him smile against her lips a second before he pulled away.
"I say you cheated. But either way, I still win." He told her as his eyes roamed over her golden skin.
She frowned slightly. "How do you figure that you won? I got you naked first."
He smirked and swung her up in his arms. "I get to have you. So I win either way." He told her before placing her gently on the bed.
It was a long time before they left that room. When they finally did, they searched out and found her friends.
Sirius gave her a knowing grin, which made her blush as she realized her robes were not buttoned and her vest was buttoned wrong in her haste. Refusing to use magic to dress, considering it lazy. Severus had shaken his head and used magic on himself.
James sighed at Sirius embarrassing Hermione on purpose, and smacked Sirius in the back of the head. Lily was smirking at both Sirius and Hermione. Remus was doing his best to pretend that he had no clue where the couple had been or what they had been doing.
Severus flicked his wrist and fixed Hermione's clothes while doing his best not to laugh at all of them. If any of the others noticed him do this, they kept silent.
So they spent the day wandering the grounds, where they bumped into Hagrid. He was building his cabin and she had headed that way when she spotted him in the distance while the others followed curiously.
They were all surprised when Hermione greeted the large man by name. "Hello, Hagrid." Noticing all eyes turned to her in surprise.
"Well 'ello there, 'Ermione. 'Aven't seen you in awhile." He said, pausing in his work.
She smiled at him. "Hagrid, I'd like you to meet my friends." She introduced them all one at a time. Grinning when they all seemed puzzled on how she met the man.
She explained how she had bumped into him one day out here. Making Hagrid smile at her. "I did tell the girl not ter say anything, but I guess she's stubborn. Thanks by the way for talking ter Dumbledore about me. 'E came ter find me a while ago an' offer me the job of game keeper."
Hermione smiled. "I'm glad you took it. Let me give you a hand with the cabin." Once again surprising everyone.
Hagrid smiled at her. "You don't have ter do that. Tiny thing like you couldn't lift any of these here blocks of wood anyway."
Hermione grinned and flicked her wand. Sending everything to building itself. Saws cutting wood, then the wood was floating itself into place as the hammer nailed them down.
Hagrid's smile grew. "Well, I guess you can. Thanks. You're a sweet girl."
They stayed and chatted as Hagrid's cabin built itself. Slowly turning into what she knew it to be, though she did add a little bit more space to it for him. Knowing how crowded it would be in her time.
Hermione noticed Severus glance her way a few times, a small smile gracing his lips as admiration filled his eyes. She squeezed his hand each time she noticed it and went back to talking to others.
It didn't take long for the cabin to build itself. He'd had it almost framed out to begin with. Hermione had simply used a spell to make the wood stretch in a few places to add to its size. She thought about adding a spell like the one most wizards used on their tents, making it bigger on the inside. But since his wand was broken, she didn't want him getting into trouble for it.
Lily had fun decorating the place. Adding in curtains from a box filled with material Hagrid had given to him by Dumbledore. Making Hermione smile as she saw the curtains and bedding looked the same as when she had visited as a child. The boys had furniture built for the giant man, Severus included.
They had lunch together as they all talked. Just a small picnic that Hermione asked the same little female house elf for. Happy to find they'd appear way out here too. The elf had been nervous at seeing how big Hagrid was at first, but was less so after Hermione introduced Hagrid as her friend.
The others had wondered how she was able to call to the elf, but she shrugged and said she guessed anyone could if they knew the elf's name. She saw Lily and Severus both raise an eyebrow at her when they spotted her lie. She smiled with a shrug and went back to talking to everyone else.
When the cabin was done, Hagrid smiled at them all with a slight glistening to his eyes. Thanking them for helping and inviting them to come by when ever they wanted.
When it was time to go, Hagrid bent down and gave Hermione a hug. Thanking her once again for being so nice.
Doing her best not to wince when the half-giant squeezed a bit too hard. Severus noticed but since she was smiling over it, he left it alone. He did pop into the large mans head, wondering just how friendly he hoped to get with the petite girl. But saw only normal friendliness towards her and smiled. Knowing Hermione had made a friend for life with the big burly man.
They all went to dinner and afterward, Hermione told her friends she would see them later. They nodded, knowing where she planned on spending her night, or at least with whom.
She pressed against Severus' mind, and told him to meet her after dinner in the Room of Requirement. He gave her a smile and nod, then went back to his meal.
She bumped into Dumbledore on her way out of the Great Hall alone. He pulled her aside and said she had until Sunday to say her goodbyes, though he knew she couldn't actually say goodbye. She had to leave Sunday evening.
Telling her too that no one patrolled the Room of Requirement, so if she happened to be in it after curfew, no one would know. Nor would they know who might be with her. Assuming no one left the room after curfew, of course.
She had smiled and thanked him. Knowing he was trying to give her what time he could. She did appreciate it. She told him she was sorry for being angry with him the last time in his office.
He told her he understood and for her to forget about it. Then, the old wizard nodded towards something behind her and left. Hermione turned and saw Severus standing several feet away, having just come out of the Great Hall and saw Dumbledore leaving her.
He looked curious, and made his way over to her. "What did he want?"
She smiled at him. "He was telling me some of the oddest things. He's trying to figure out how to get patrols to the Room of Requirement. No one patrols it ever. It never opens for a patrol. So if anyone were in there after curfew, they'd be safe as long as they stayed there until morning."
Severus frowned slightly. "Why would he tell you that?"
Hermione shrugged and grinned, her thoughts hiding her lie. "It does give me an idea though."
He raised an eyebrow at her. "What idea is that?"
Hermione simply grinned and pulled him along with her. Heading to the Room of Requirement.
When they opened the doors, Severus saw their small sitting area, along with a small table with a few books on it. There was a door that was closed against one wall, and the same large bed they had used many times.
He quirked an eyebrow at what all he saw. She turned to face him. "Severus, I was wondering if you'd like to spend the night with me again. I'd like to sleep with you holding me. If you want to, that is."
His eyes met hers and warmed a little. Not with desire, but with his love for her. Though she was sure she'd see desire sometime tonight.
He reached up and cupped her cheek. "I want to. I liked waking up next to you in our room at the Three Broomsticks. I've wanted to do it again, but didn't think I'd have the chance to before graduation."
She smiled at him. "I liked it too."
She gave him a small kiss and led him to the sofa. She grabbed up a book and told him to get comfortable. She intended to read to him this time. That caught his interest and he quickly settled on the sofa.
She smiled when his head ended up in her lap.
She opened her book, the same one Dumbledore gave her for Christmas and started to read to him. She waited to see if he commented on it, but he never did. Simply listening to her soft voice as she read, the words weaving an image into her mind.
She felt him nudge into her mind and knew he was watching what she saw while she read. Her hand slipped down and lightly stroked his hair as she kept reading. She heard him sigh as her fingers sifted through the soft and delicate strands.
Able to look away from the book and keep telling him the story with as many times as she had read it. It was Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream. Her ideas of what the fairies looked like making him smile as the pictures shifted in her mind, pictures he still saw.
From scene to scene he watched it in her head as he listened to her words. Intrigued by a story he had never heard before. The words were as beautiful as the person reading it. He chuckled softly at hearing what mischief was caused between the couples. His attention never wavered from Hermione's face as she told him the tale though.
It was late when she finally put the book down. Still stroking his hair softly. His eyes were locked on hers, but in them she saw how peaceful and relaxed he was. It made her smile to know she had given him some form of peace while she was here with him. Knowing she had never seen that look in his eyes before.
He slowly sat up and kissed her softly. Pulling away, helping her stand and then lifting her up in his arms, he carried her to bed.
He loved her slowly that night. Never rushed at all, even while peeling each layer of clothing from her skin. Not allowing her to rush as she undressed him either.
This was new for her. Since their first night he hadn't shown her any slowness or extra soft touches. He normally hungered for her in a way that amazed her. His desire always stirring up and sweeping her along its heat filled tide.
But tonight he was gentle, and he was thorough in every inch of her that he loved. Tonight wasn't about passion and heat. They had plenty of that. Tonight was about the love they shared. The magic it evoked from them both made tears sting her eyes.
When he brought her to an easy climax that was more fulfilling than anything she had ever known, she felt a tear escape her and slide down her cheek. She wiped it away before he could see it and gave him a tender smile when he finally sat up enough to look down into her eyes again.
That night, after he fell asleep, she eased away. Knowing finally what she wanted to write in her letter for him to read in the future.
A desk appeared silently, holding a lit candle to see by, holding several long sheets of parchment, quills, and ink. Even an envelope to seal the letter inside was there as well. She stared at the paper for a while before starting to write.
'My dearest Severus...' She wrote with the ink dipped quill.
She felt many tears escape her as she wrote her letter to him. Wanting to put a lifetime of love and emotions into nothing but a few pages. She told him as much of the truth as she could.
She started it at the end of her fifth year. That was the time she and Minerva had decided on for when to tell him. Figuring he would need sometime before getting her note from Dumbledore. She prayed he didn't hate her after learning the truth.
At one point her tears were falling so freely, she couldn't brush them away fast enough and it blurred out some of her letter.
Knowing what she had written, she knew it was probably for the best. It had hinted too closely to her losing him. Asking him to be careful and not trust that Voldemort would always believe him to be a faithful servant. To take whatever precautions he could to keep himself safe.
When she was done. She sealed it and vanished it to her trunk. Knowing her trunk was locked and warded to keep anyone from opening it. She would give it to Minerva later.
As soon as it was gone, the desk disappeared, but the candle stayed floating for her, since her tears wouldn't stop. She sniffed quietly as tissues appeared in her lap. She smiled as she took one and wiped at her face. Grateful to the room for providing exactly what she needed once again. Thinking that if she were smart, she'd escape to the loo, so she didn't wake Severus.
The hand on her shoulder made her jump. A small cry escaped her as well. She looked up and found Severus standing beside her. Concern in his sleepy eyes at seeing her tears.
She dug down deep, finding every scrap of courage and resolve she had ever possessed and used it to stop her tears. With a flick of her wrist, her face was back to normal. All traces of tears gone.
"Why are you crying, love?" He asked her, squatting down in front of her.
She gave him a smile, a real smile, and shrugged softly. "It's silly. I had a dream and was thinking of my friends and family back home. I guess I was just missing them. I got up so I didn't disturb you. I'm sorry if I woke you."
His liquid onyx eyes studied hers, seeing a hint of sadness in them still. He stroked her cheek lightly with his thumb. "Do you want to talk about it? It might help."
She felt her eyes sting again at his words. His sweetness surprising her, yet making her love him more all at the same time. "No. I do want something though."
He smiled softly at her. "Anything. If it's within my power, it's yours."
Her breath caught at hearing his words. So many thoughts came flying through her mind at his statement. She wanted to ask for him to be careful. To ask that he always carry some kind of potion with him, just in case. But knew she couldn't ask any of that. He wouldn't understand and it could risk so much to even ask such a thing. He'd ask questions she couldn't answer.
Instead, she asked for the only thing that she was sure wouldn't change anything. Something that she did really want. "Will you make love to me?"
He searched her eyes again, looking to see if she was merely trying to distract him. Seeing that it was indeed what she truly wanted, he smiled at her. "I guess that is within my power. Though I think you should have really thought about it a bit longer. I was willing to give you anything you wanted."
She smiled, though it trembled slightly. "You are what I want. All, I know, I'll ever want." Fighting the tears again as she spoke the truth, knowing he would be all she ever wanted.
Her softly spoken statement made his heart clench in his chest, but he didn't understand why she seemed so sad when she said it. He stood and carried her back to bed, where he loved her gently all over again. Tears escaping her again, but she was able to hide them.
He was all she'd ever want, but something she'd never be able to have after she left.
A/N: Okay, I'm getting low on tissues. lol. I so don't want her to leave, but I know she has to. Please leave me your thoughts, I love reading them all.