A/N- I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, for those who celebrate. Here's a chapter for you all, and then next chapter some rather interesting things happen, along with the plot being kicked into gear. This chapter gave me a bit of trouble, and I rewrote it a dozen times, and I still don't think its exactly right (these things happen.), but I hope you all enjoy it nonetheless. Thank you all for the reviews, I can't believe you guys have given me 200 reviews. I can't tell you how much I absolutely love to read each and every one, and I hope you continue to review!
Hermione looked up as Severus entered, and grinned at him before returning quickly to her papers. She was currently researching everything she could find on Patronuses. Watching her silvery otter bounce around the room the other night had put her on the track, and Hermione didn't know exactly where it would lead, but she had a gut feeling that it would be something they could use.
Severus moved to sit in his armchair, until Hermione quickly gestured for him to sit by her. Settling himself, he peered over at what she was writing down. He knew that she was studying Patronuses; she had approached him a couple nights ago with the idea and he had readily mulled it over with her. Consequently she had spent a good portion of the past day and a half researching anything she could find on the subject and the mechanics behind it. "Any luck?"
Hermione heaved a sigh, and leaned against Severus for a moment, ignoring how he stiffened momentarily. "No. Nothing, really. I just...I can't help this feeling that it's going to lead somewhere. I mean, anything dealing with erasing magical holds on the mind is something to be followed, right?"
Severus nodded, painfully aware of how nice Hermione felt pressed up against him. Since their shared kiss a few nights ago, every second he spent in Hermione's company was almost unbearable with the urge to thrust her against the wall and shut her up with an entirely new method. It was irritating to him, but he couldn't stay out of her company, as Hermione was constantly searching him out for one thing or another, and then doing things like this, hugging him or something of the like. "Indeed. Where do you think this could lead?"
Hermione straightened thoughtfully, considering the question. "Well, you know how the Patronus draws on an unbelievably happy memory to perform properly? I was thinking that you know, maybe it doesn't have to be as complicated as we think. It could just be a strong, happy memory that could help release the curse's hold on the subconscious...but how, I can't quite figure it out. It could just be that a Patronus could help bolster the positive magical energy needed to fight off the curse. There are many possibilities for it."
Severus nodded, inwardly musing over Hermione's words. In theory, it was solid, and very approachable. But how to harness the capabilities of a Patronus spell, or that of a good memory, would be difficult, but Severus figured it was most certainly worth a shot. "The potion has to simmer for another three days before it will be fully combined, and at that point the potion's magical properties will be the highest. Most potions are far more complicated, but as we have only a few specific symptoms to cure, it may just be done. None of the ingredients are poisonous, and I have performed extensive revealing spells. It could be tested next week."
Hermione grinned at him. "That is spectacular news! Perhaps when we visit I could see about the Patronus theory, and if even casting one in the same room as the victims could help in any way. It's worth a shot, and if anything it provide a slightly more bearable experience for us both," she finished with a slight shudder, recalling the last visit to St. Mungo's, and the horrible nightmares that had followed.
"I will book the visit then. In the mean time, I wanted to ask your help on something."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "If you need my help, of course you'll have it. I don't even see why you feel the need to ask."
"I don't see why you see the need to be so cheeky, but alas, there are greater mysteries than that in the world to spend my time on. I have an idea, but I do not know if it will come to fruition. It is worth a shot, as is everything else, but the job requires two people," he replied vaguely.
"Well, whenever you are ready to go, just tell me what I have to do."
Severus nodded, and glanced down at his pocket watch. "It's a quarter to midnight. I am going upstairs to sleep, as I need to prepare for what we have to do tomorrow evening."
Hermione nodded, and before Severus could stop her with one of his customary glares, she kissed him chastely on the cheek, blushing slightly and turning back to her papers once she had bid him good night. Severus paused after Hermione had turned away, and inwardly fought with himself over the ridiculous urge he was feeling. Growling at his thoughts, he shook his head and grabbed Hermione's shoulders, turning her to face him. Before she could squeak in surprise, he captured her lips with his, and Hermione's eyes fluttered close. Without pausing to consider it, she melted into the kiss, returning it eagerly as his mouth moved gently against hers.
Severus felt something stir in his groin, and he berated himself mentally, and pulled back. Hermione groaned at the loss of contact, and looked up at him questioningly. He returned her gaze steadily, and the heated intensity in his eyes caused her to inhale sharply. Reaching out, she placed a hand on his chest, grabbing at his shirt to pull him closer. Severus watched as she bit her lip, and heaved a sigh of frustration; he couldn't do this to her. She would regret anything they did if they continued right then, and he didn't want her to leave.
Hermione vaguely realised that if someone could have plucked at the air between them, it would have twanged, it was so taught. She didn't know exactly what she wanted, but she knew that she wanted the man in front of her in some way, and the realisation startled her momentarily before she readily accepted it. It wasn't difficult to believe, she had spent the better part of a month and a half living with him, and before that working closely with him. Even though he was a rude, snarky, incorrigible bastard, she wanted him right then.
Standing up abruptly, Severus nodded stiffly to the witch, and walked out, ignoring the look of disappointment on her face. Even if she wanted him, he wasn't ready for anything right then. He found himself wondering again at Hermione, and how she never ceased to throw him off his guard. Walking up the stairs quickly, he waved his wand at the door to his bedroom, casting a complicated spell on the door that locked it to anyone but him, for which it will swing open when he desires to enter. Tucking his wand neatly under the door, Severus quickly transfigured into his animagus form, and bounded downstairs; eager, despite himself, to curl up next to next to the bushy haired witch, and forget the tension that had been so palpable between them earlier.
After watching him leave, Hermione tried to shrug off her disappointment at his departure, although the small, niggling voice in the back of her head was telling her it wasn't time for what most certainly would have happened had Severus not left the room. Willing herself to forget about it, she returned to her research.
Hermione's face was inches from the paper as she focused on scribbling down what she had read, and didn't notice the lithe little black cat leap onto the back of the couch. Severus started to lightly paw at one of the curls that hung down her back, and Hermione jerked up in surprise, twisting to see who was playing with her hair. Smiling jubilantly when she saw who it was, she had to restrain herself from greeting Severus in his feline form.
She still hadn't told him that she knew his little secret, and she didn't quite know when it would happen. So for now, she feigned ignorance, and greeted the cat with her usual rub behind the left ear. He favored that spot greatly, and Hermione had no issues obliging with a scratch or two. His reappearance alleviated the moodiness that had sprung up after he left; he obviously still wanted her company.
Severus turned around once and settled in Hermione's lap, flicking his ears occasionally as he watch Hermione write with diligence. Whilst watching the quill scratch back and forth across the paper, Severus let his thoughts wander to what Hermione had proposed earlier, trying to take his mind off how delicious Hermione's lips tasted. Her theory was very interesting, and Severus was sure it held some merit; however when and where that would be found was still a bit shady.
A Patronus works by feeding off the positive energy from a happy memory, and the curse took hold by subduing the active mind, and bringing the victims worst fears to life in their own head. A dementor sucked the happiness out of a person, which was along the same route as the curse. The Patronus charm had to do something to counteract the curse, even if it were only to give the victim a momentarily easier time of it.
Sighing, Hermione put down her quill and rubbed her eyes. Wandlessly she cast a quick spell to check the time, and inwardly chided herself at what she saw. It was nearly two in the morning, and she needed sleep desperately. Leaning back, she stretched, groaning as she felt her back crack several times.
Severus looked up at Hermione, and was quite pleased with the view of Hermione's chest being thrust out by the force of her stretch. Purring appreciatively, he waited patiently for her to be done.
Standing up, Hermione scooped the cat up and walked upstairs, letting it go at the top of the stairs. Severus watched her walk away, and decided to follow her. Once she got to the door to her room, Hermione unlocked it, and looked down, surprised to see the cat still there. She left the door open, as she figured Severus would leave when he was done. The window seat in her room afforded a magnificent view of the grounds, and Hermione sat down and watched the moon cast shadows over the snow covered ground, the cat beside her.
Severus didn't quite know what he was still doing in Hermione's bedroom, but something was stopping him from leaving. Besides, the witch didn't know what he actually was, so Severus figured he was safe to stay in her company until the morning at least.
Yawning, Hermione got up and went to the bathroom that was connected to her bedroom, and quickly divested herself of her clothes, and changed into the long black nightshirt that Severus had given her the first night she stayed at his mansion. It was still the most comfortable thing she had to sleep in, and she loved how it felt. Padding back out, she climbed into bed, waiting for Severus to bound out so she could close her eyes.
Severus eyed the witch sleeping on the bed, and lightly hopped onto the end of it, and carefully made his way to where Hermione sat, not noticing the strange look she was giving him. Once he reached the pillows, he curled up and sat facing Hermione, his ear twitching as he waited for her to settle down.
Hermione used all of her will-power to restrain her open-mouthed shock as she watched Severus curl up next to her, his yellow cat eyes seeming to glare at her with their brightness. Hermione wondered briefly if Severus had been imperiused, but quickly decided she didn't care. Most of the time, Hermione refused to acknowledge the niggling voice that told her she wanted more with Severus, as she was sure any advance she could make would be rejected. But this was something Severus was doing himself, and Hermione was more than alright with it.
Hermione didn't quite know exactly what it was that drew her to the man, but it was hard to ignore. Hermione kept replaying the night they had kissed over in her head, and then on the couch; it had been amazing. Severus hadn't exactly shut down the possibility of more, but she knew deep down that he most likely wanted to keep a level of professionalism, especially as they were working so closely on the potion together. But then again, he had been the one to instigate just then in the sitting room, and the look in his eyes had spoke volumes to her. However, the voice of reason was telling her something different, despite what she wanted to believe. Hermione shoved the wave of disappointment at that thought down, it was well enough that they now had a solid friendship, she didn't need to go ruining it with thoughts of a romance that Hermione didn't know if Severus even faintly desired. It was all so incredibly confusing to her, she didn't know at all what to make of Severus and the things he did, and her tired mind wasn't helping in the least bit.
Severus calmly waited for Hermione to slid down under the duvet, and then he uncurled himself and moved closer, as the warmth from Hermione's body was comforting, and lulled him almost instantly to sleep. Hermione followed soon after, the confusion of her thoughts causing her to forget to cast her Patronus that night.