Disclaimer:- I neither earn anything from nor own the world of Harry Potter, I just like playing with the characters.

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A/N:- Firstly, my profound apologies that this chapter has taken so long to post. I have had some personal issues and a lot of work on, but here it is finally. There will be one more chapter after this one, and it will be posted fairly quickly after this chapter. Thank you all for your patience, and wonderful reviews, I appreciate them all.

There have been a few questions about whether Hermione was raped in her time at Malfoy Manor just before the final battle. The reason I have been sliding past that piece of information was that I hadn't made my own mind up exactly what I wanted to write. It would seem obvious that she was, and yet it's not really, so as you will read in this chapter I have finally pinned myself to tell you what happened. I will also issue a warning to those of you who may find the discussion of torture difficult, there is a little of such a discussion in this chapter, I do not consider it graphic, but it is talked about.

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Chapter 5 - Healing

While Severus was in tropical South America the big black frock coat and heavy robes were noticeably absent, in their place were black moleskins and a white cotton shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He wore his hair tied back and accompanied by a wide brimmed black fedora.

Now he was back in wintery England though, he was back to his usual attire. It was close to Christmas, and for the first time in his life he wasn't alone. On his travels he had been invited to participate in a wizarding scientific expedition, and it was during this trip that Severus had met a witch, Professor Amanda Rochester.

She was a Potions mistress in her own rights and the pair hit it off immediately. Amanda was a tall and willowy witch who had raven hair much like his own, but what made her stand out in Severus' mind was that she possessed the same startling green eyes he had admired so in Lily Evans. Those clear emerald eyes were what had first attracted Severus to Lily, and it was the same with Amanda.

They got to know one another in a makeshift lab in the middle of the jungle, and Severus quickly saw that her eyes were the only thing that was similar to Lily. Lily had had a quick mind, which Amanda also possessed, but while Lily had been jealous, vindictive and unforgiving, Amanda was confident, open and accepting.

She was Muggle-born and English, but had not lived in England. Her parents had immigrated to New Zealand soon after her birth. She knew nothing of Voldemort and the blood wars that had surrounded him. This was a refreshing change for Severus, for so long his whole life had revolved around the consequences of becoming a Death Eater.

As they worked together Amanda started gently probing Severus for information about himself, offering the same about her in return. For once in his life he found himself willing to share information, and they soon found themselves having long drinks on the veranda of the hut where their lab was situated. Sometimes the heat and humidity chased them away from their cauldrons as well, so they would move onto the veranda and discuss the theoretical aspects of their work. These discussions often migrated to personal territory and the more Snape discovered the more enamoured he became.

They were both dedicated to their work, but Amanda had a healthy cheeky streak in her as well. One particularly clear moonlit night, the sexual tension was bubbling furiously between them, and Severus had just answered one of her questions, willingly unburdening himself of a clearly painful memory. Amanda leaned across to pat his hand as it sat on his knee and ended up face first in his lap when the chair gave way.

This had been the catalyst for the deepening of their relationship, because she had been presented with the hard evidence of his desire for her and she couldn't hold back any longer. Quickly righting herself, she added a surety charm to Severus' chair and straddled his legs, unable to tear her eyes away from his enticing dark orbs as she carefully leaned in for their first kiss.

For Severus this was something completely new, when she had fallen against his erection he had been mortified, wondering what she would think. Well he found out, as he was swooped on and found himself being willingly kissed.

No one had ever kissed him before, at first he tensed, but Amanda started coaching him. "Severus, just relax. I promise it won't hurt," she crooned to him against his lips, and proceeded to show him how much she wanted him.

After a little instruction Severus became an enthusiastic partner in this activity. It was intoxicating, the scents of the damp jungle around them, the more immediate notes of Amanda's perfume wafting into his nose with each dragged breath, and the exquisite sliding of her soft lips against his were making his brain short-circuit.

He squeaked in surprise when her tongue licked his lips, and her heady giggle into their kiss at his reaction made his head spin more as her questing tongue entered his mouth. He became lost completely in the sensations and touch of another human for the first time in his life.

Tensing momentarily when he felt her hand slithering down between their bodies to cup him through his trousers, he groaned as her hand rubbed. His vocal register descended even lower though, when her hand was replaced by her hot crotch sliding in circles back and forth over his stiff cock.

Never once did Amanda make him feel uncomfortable when it became obvious that he had never done this before, she just did everything she could to encourage him. "Just follow my lead, do what you feel," she murmured against his neck. "Allow me to bring you pleasure." Her hips kept sweeping in seductive circles over his lap, as her body teased him.

He suddenly moaned at the loss of her, until he realised what she was doing as her hands carefully pulled his rigid erection from his trousers. Without any further fuss she arranged herself and positioning him, they both groaned when she sank down on him. "Just do what you feel," she encouraged in a husky voice before covering his mouth again with hers and starting to move.

That beautiful moonlit night in the jungle, opened up a whole new world for Severus Snape. He had never been cared for like this by a witch, and as he shuddered into his climax his prodigious mind almost closed down from the pleasure surging through him.

When he had regained the higher functions of his brain once more, he enclosed Amanda tightly in his arms, encouraging her to wrap her slender legs around his waist and he took them to his hut. Enlarging the bed, so they would both fit, and she found he needed no further encouragement.

When she was naked Severus spent precious minutes merely drinking her in with his eyes. He never said a word, and he would consider later that he was lucky that even part of his brain was functioning, but his mouth certainly managed to work even if words would not come. Of course even if he had never known the physical aspects of sex, he wasn't without knowledge of what to do, and his mouth set off on a path of discovery.

Soon though, the urge to be inside her again won out, and he revelled in the tight heat that enveloped his manhood, and this time instinct took over and he thrust into her with abandon, urged on by Amanda's cries and moans of encouragement.

xox

That was two months ago and now they were back, Severus was very much rugged up in his self-imposed woollen uniform and heavy robes. He was currently Amanda's guest at the wizarding branch of Cambridge University, where he and his fiancé were busy studying more of the medicinal properties of several of the orchids they had returned from Brazil with.

After months together in the jungle filled with research, discovery and heated sex, Severus had proposed to Amanda on their last night. He was determined to claim her completely before they returned to civilisation. His rational mind told him that she was his, after all she had told him enough times during that last months, but he needed that one last guarantee; that one outward symbol to the world at large that he had claimed her.

Initially Severus had been uncertain what he was going to say, but he soon found words spilling out of his mouth. "All my life I have searched for my equal, and I have led a lonely life doing so, but now I have found you, I wish to keep you. I know I still have many issues, but I love you, and I don't want to give you up."

"I'm not going anywhere. Severus, I have never found a mind that works so well with mine, nor a body that meshes completely with me. I love you as well." Amanda rolled on top of him, and leaned down to kiss him.

After allowing this for some moments, Severus deftly switched their positions and nestled himself between her thighs, reflecting that out of everywhere he could be, this was his favourite place. He filled her in one stroke, but then held himself still. "Will you marry me?"

"Oh," she groaned in response to his possession of her body, and again as he dragged himself out of her and slammed back inside.

Severus paused his movements then and stared intently down at the witch writhing under him. "We don't have to marry quickly, but I wish it to be known that Amanda Rochester is my witch."

Pulling his head down to hers, she whispered against his lips, "I am your witch, Severus" and this affirmation had him thrusting once more. Her answer to his question after that was more of a hissed, "Yes," as their coupling continued and they lost themselves in each other.

xox

Eventually a slight limp when she was tired was the only external symptom that Hermione Granger had of her ordeal at the hands of Death Eaters; she was otherwise glowing and healthy. The mental scars however, well they were far more serious.

Lucius Malfoy, the supposed cold hearted wizard, had lovingly tending her as she recovered. Hermione was now discovering in return that the wizard who had saved her, meant everything to her. Their one problem was that they didn't quite know where to take their relationship from here. They both knew that they wanted more, but were hesitant, Lucius because he knew what had happened to her, and Hermione because of what had happened.

Just being friends with Hermione was starting to wear Lucius down. She seemed to have come to terms with the no children pronouncement, but he was uncertain of how he should attempt to deepen their relationship. The approach of Christmas however, answered the question of how to take it to the next level as they were under the mistletoe in the entrance way of the newly finished Malfoy Manor.

Without thinking Lucius took Hermione into his arms, his thumbs stroked her cheeks lightly, and he murmured, "I'm glad the old place burnt. I never wanted to set foot in it again, and I would definitely never expect you to." Inhaling a shuttering breath through his nose, his head descended towards her lips.

There was no time for hesitation, because by the time he had realised what he was doing she had closed the gap between them and his lips tenderly touched hers. Surprise at her bold move made him pause, holding his breath as he waited for her reaction. When she didn't instantly pull away, he whispered, "At last," and he stroked her face once more. "You make me so happy."

"And you, me," was all she'd managed in return. Their souls that knew no age and had been flung into pieces by their respective plights before entwining on that awful night in the dungeons at the old Manor tugged at them now to repeat the kiss, and they did.

Lucius kept his kisses light, and allowed Hermione to guide what happened, and this first time she kept them chaste. Afterwards, as they sat snuggled up by the fire his heart was lighter than air though, as they had finally taken a step in the right direction.

Hermione had moved out of the master bedroom once she was well, and had not moved back into Lucius' bedroom yet, as she was still very uncertain of intimacy. She counted herself fortunate that she had not been raped during her time at the old Manor. Well not be a male anyway, but her virginity had been stolen from her by Bellatrix's wand as the mad witch cursed her internally. This was also the reason that the curse damage to her womb could not be repaired, the act had been so thorough that nothing could be done to fix it.

It was also to do with this heinous act that saw her frightened of another's closeness. Even though she knew Lucius would never harm her, she remembered the weight of another person holding her down as she was cursed in this way, and pain so indescribable that she was still amazed that she had survived it. It was this she associated with being held under someone; excruciating pain, and it was going to take her longer to work through that aspect of her ordeal.

This had been the last and most horrible secret to be revealed between them. When she had finally broken down and told Lucius all this, he was so angry that he wanted to raise the mad witch from the dead just so he could kill her again, of all the disgusting and twisted things he had seen his sister-in-law do, he had never seen her do that to anyone before.

All Lucius could do was hold Hermione while she cried over this last act, but eventually it dawned on him that he was holding her, and so he asked her, why it didn't bother her when he held her.

"You're you… and you're not pinning me down so that I can't get up," she told him plainly. "But I can't let you… I don't know if I could be intimate," she mumbled. "After what's happened, I just couldn't… I mean, perhaps you don't want… but…"

"Shhh," Lucius hushed her. "It's all right," he kissed her head gently. "I can assure you that I most certainly do want to, as you put it" Placing a finger under her chin so she could see how earnest he was, he reminded her, "But we have all the time in the world."

She looked pained for a moment and then said in a rush. "But I've always thought the man had to be on top," and she blushed heatedly and shrugged. "I don't know," she muttered coyly.

Lucius moved his finger and took her face gently in his hands as he sighed. "No, it doesn't have to be that way. When you're ready I can show you many ways that it will work where you are not under me."

"Oh," she said. This was the extent of their conversation on the subject at the moment. However, now that kissing was a normal part of their relationship, Hermione was starting to think about these things more thoroughly. How would it work exactly? She felt like such an idiot that she didn't know, but she hadn't really taken much of an interest in that sort of thing even before she had been assaulted. The one thing she knew was that she trusted Lucius, and even if she wasn't ready to commit to more than kisses and cuddles at the moment, she knew he would guide her when the time came.

Soon it was Christmas Eve on their second Christmas together, and it was going to be a special one. Harry and Draco were returning from their honeymoon, whilst they hadn't been married as such, the ceremony had occurred in the chapel on the French estate, and they had been bonded together and exchanged rings in a ceremony that contained more love, Hermione thought, than most marriage ceremonies she had attended. After this they had left for an extended vacation, so it was as good as a honeymoon.

The bonding ceremony had also been a stressful time for Severus. He and Amanda had stayed with Lucius and Hermione for the remainder of the weekend before they left for Cambridge again, and bringing his fiancé to meet his 'family' for such an important event he been stressful for him. However, he needn't have worried because Amanda had fitted quite well into their little group.

xox

Six months later, Hermione and Lucius were back in France for the summer holidays, they had just returned from New Zealand where Severus and Amanda had been married. Despite deciding not to rush into anything, Amanda's mother had had a health scare and the raven-haired witch had become very insecure over it, prompting their decision to move things along. It was Severus who suggested that they all go to New Zealand for their nuptials.

It had been a lovely ceremony on a cliff top looking out over a stormy sea. The day had been crisp and clear, but Lucius couldn't fathom why they picked that particular spot in winter, even if somehow it suited them.

He spent much of his time at the wedding and beforehand, wearing his patent scowl and feeling sorry for Hermione, because Amanda had a sister who was acting as her bridesmaid. Lucius hated Hermione having to watch him escorting the sister everywhere, as was tradition.

His gentle witch smiled and said she didn't mind, but he could see the pained line between her brow, and he knew what he thought as well and if his discontentment was anything like hers, and he knew it was, she minded very much that he was being fawned all over by this spinster witch.

Amanda's sister, Virginia was all bones and about seven years older than her sister. She had buck teeth and beady eyes, she was quick to anger and almost a squib and Lucius shivered every time he looked at her. Unfortunately to make things worse, her disposition was that of a blatant flirt.

Lucius took no notice of her coquettish head-tosses and eyelash fluttering, but he did have trouble with her wandering hands and short of threatening to hex her there was little he could do. Even Severus had trouble with that, and he and Amanda apologised profusely to both Lucius and Hermione for Virginia's behaviour.

Draco was livid at the witch's behaviour as well, neither he nor Harry had a good word to say about her, and Lucius wondered if she had made a comment about the two of them. They didn't say, but they made their opinions very loud and made very certain that while Lucius was busy with his 'duties' that Hermione was never neglected.

Somewhere during the reception after the speeches were over and most of his obligation was discharged, Lucius arrived at Hermione's side looking for all the world like a scared puppy. "You'll n-never guess what j-just happened to m-me?" he stuttered. "I-It was horrible," and he shivered dramatically.

Draco, Harry and Hermione were instantly concerned, considering the look of him and his stuttered words, because nothing fazed Lucius Malfoy. "Whatever is wrong, love?" Hermione enquired, alarmed.

"S-She said she needed air." They all knew who she was. "I took her out on the terrace, a-and she… there's only one zipper in that dress, and she w-wasn't wearing…" he turned almost green, and he didn't get to finish his sentence before Hermione was up.

In hind-sight it probably did more for her confidence than anything that could have happened. She accosted the witch in question near the open doors that led to the terrace. "I hear you need some air," Hermione said, pushing the drunk woman back outside.

Below the terrace there was a large swimming pool, and the spell left her lips as she saw the other witch reaching for her wand was filled with the anger she felt, and before her menfolk could even reach Hermione they all heard the splash.

The force of Hermione's disarming spell had toppled the inebriated witch over the guard at the edge of the terrace and into the pool below. When Lucius, Harry, Draco and Severus arrived, Hermione was leaning over the rail yelling at her. "Lucius Malfoy is my wizard, keep your skinny hands to yourself, you bitch." Ignoring the splashing and shrill screaming below, she turned to Lucius and said, "May we please go home now?"

"Yes, my darling. You can do anything you want," he said grinning at her as he pulled her into his arms.

Hermione smiled, and grabbing Lucius' hand they went over to Severus and Amanda who were stifling smiles at their friend's revenge, and she hugged them both. "Congratulations you two, I couldn't be happier for you both," and she handed Amanda, Virginia's wand which she was still holding. "Please forgive me for my display of temper."

Hermione felt Lucius' arms come around her from behind as Amanda cuddled up to her husband and patted Hermione's arm warmly. "She had it coming. I'll send Roderick for her in a while," and Amanda peered over the edge at the still screeching, floundering witch. The metres of green taffeta and tulle in her dress had risen around her making her look like she was in the centre of a lily pad.

xox

As they climbed the stairs towards their adjoining rooms, Lucius cuddled Hermione into his side. "Do you wish me to tuck you in?"

"No, I wish you to take me to your room and claim me properly," she told him, with only a slight tremor in her voice.

He stopped dad on the stairs, pulling her up with him. "Are you certain, love?"

"More certain than I've ever been," Hermione said, boldly holding herself straight.

"Well you go and get yourself ready and I'll be waiting for you." He kissed her and opened the door for her.

xox

Lucius now stood in his silk sleeping pants at the closed balcony doors of his rooms. Just like their first night together in the dungeon so long ago, the moon was once again full and dancing elusively in and out of the clouds as they were pushed around by the winter wind.

However this time the broken man was almost whole and waiting in comfort for his love. He turned hearing the soft rustle of silk as she approached and his heart leapt into his mouth. "You look exquisite," he murmured, gently taking her face in his hands.

Hermione was wearing a pale pink silk negligee, and it was the most flattering attire he had ever seen. Claiming a tender kiss, he swept her into his arms. "We will stop if you need to, I will know," he told her, and walking over he placed her gently on the bed.

Deliberately walking around to the other side, he climbed on and Hermione smiled softly as his face appeared above hers blocking out everything else. She raised her hands and caressed it, then ran her fingers up through his shortened hair. He had cut his trademark locks to be Severus' best man and Hermione thought it made him look years younger. She pushed his hair back, tucking it behind his ear.

Lucius took in the peaceful smile on the face of his love and suddenly knew what he needed to say. He hesitated until she saw his pause and he heard her whisper, "I promised I would lie with you til the end, my love."

He smiled and then the words were leaving his lips before he'd had a chance to think any further. "I love you, Hermione."

Her smile widened, and her hands pulled his face towards hers. "I love you too," and her familiar soft lips met his, kissing him deeply. Placing open mouthed kisses around to his ear, she whispered, "Make love to me, Lucius, and I want you to be on top."

Lucius smiled, this was the final ground between them. "Hermione," he whispered, stroking her face. "I want you," he told her softly, his mouth worshiping her neck and collarbones, "but are you certain?"

"I want to do this properly our first time, I want to see you and feel you inside me, Lucius. I know you'll never hurt me," she said, and she drew his head back up to hers.

Lucius felt the soft silk under his hands while he lovingly caressed her curves as he kissed her, quickly becoming lost in the sensations of touch and sound.

Somewhere below them, probably at the reception, a guitar was playing in counterpoint to Hermione's pleasured sighs.

His fingers slipped under the flimsy shoulder straps of her nightie and pushed them away. Soon the garment was around her waist and his mouth was leaving a tingling trail of sensation as he adored her breasts, paying homage to each rosy peak in turn.

Her hesitant sounds of desire encouraged him, and still met his ears as his fingers ventured further into the soft silken flesh at the apex of her thighs, so he knew she was comfortable with this step as well. She was already so slippery and ready for him, and her pleasure in him became his undoing. Fumbling with his pants, Lucius sighed and asked her one more time for her permission.

Hermione nodded, not trusting her voice, she had never felt sensations like these. The needy ache had taken her by surprise, and she found herself desperate to have it appeased. They both shuddered in delight as he positioned himself and slowly slid as gently as he could into her waiting heat, watching her face for any sign of discomfort as he did so.

Hermione had never experienced a man and was mesmerized by what she felt. She had only felt torture and pain in her most intimate flesh and the cruel words of a mad witch as she taunted her prey before cursing her yet again. "We can't have filth like you producing iddy-biddy ickle Mud-bloods now can we?"

These burgeoning sensations of delight however, enveloped her completely and brought tears to her eyes for the things that she had been stolen from her. Hermione lost herself utterly in the sensations and feel of Lucius filling her so perfectly, and she found that the pain and suffering were lessened in the face of these wonderful sensations that tingled through her like electric charges. His love and their joined souls were cleansing them in this new act of love.

Lucius kissed her face, and urged her to only concentrate on him and this moment. His mind momentarily wandered back to their talk before Christmas, and he took great pains to make certain she was not pinned by his body in any way. "I love you, sweetheart, and I'll always protect you," he proclaimed, as their passion rose higher.

His words saw a previously unknown pleasure rise in her, shuddering she groaned his name as he moved within her, stoking the fire higher with each stroke, and her urge to meet him equally, heard him grunting as his own climax approached.

Just when she thought that the pleasure she was feeling was too much for her, Hermione's world exploded around the point where they were joined, and then shattered into a million pieces of fractured colour. Lucius felt her fluttering and convulsing walls clamp down on him and it had been too long, he was unable to hold on longer and he followed her into the age old abyss of delight.

They were complete and finally together in every sense of the word. With great difficulty Lucius managed not to collapse on top of her, and as soon as he had recovered enough for his limbs to work again, he shakily pulled her into his arms, where they lay in the afterglow before giving in to blissful slumber.