A/N: Thank you all for the reviews! Sorry about the long delay again. I just gave 3 hour-long presentations in the past two weeks, so I didn't have any time to spare during my prep stage. I will be working on the next installment of Bound to Him this week and will hopefully have something ready by Thanksgiving.

Hope Reawakened

-5-

After squeezing her kneecap, he let his hand rest upon her thigh for a long moment while he studied the line of photographs. Sucking in a nervous breath, Hermione set her hands on top of his and cleared her throat. "It's a bit after the fact, I know, but… Severus, I need to know how you feel about children."

Sensing the seriousness of her question, the wizard straightened in his seat and winced briefly after jarring his knee. "To be honest, I never really thought about the prospect."

"And now what are you thinking?"

An uncomfortable expression was on his face as he considered it. After a long moment of silence, he began speaking. "I hated my father growing up – I still do – and for a long time I resented my mother for always taking his side. I realized several years later that she likely thought that by appeasing him, she could spare the both of us more beatings than she could by standing up to him. She was probably right, and I regret that it took me so long to recognize it. My father was a horrible man, and I never wanted to follow in his footsteps. I've caused so much pain in my life that I don't want to cause any more."

He sighed deeply and met her teary gaze. "I don't know anything about dealing with small children, and you know how worthless I was attempting to deal with older ones. I am well aware that most students hated me, and I would never want my son to look upon me as I did my own father. I would not abandon either of you, but if it would spare either of you potential pain, I will accept a more limited role in his life. In either case, I vow to abstain from alcohol and to better control my temper."

Realizing that he was leaving the decision to her, Hermione sniffled loudly. Picking up his hand, she kissed his palm before placing it against her chest. "Severus, I trust you. I could see how it ate at you to have to do everything Dumbledore expected of you. I know how hard you worked to keep Harry safe, and I know that you would work twenty times as hard to protect your own child. Raising your own children is so much different than teaching someone else's, so that doesn't concern me. I know it will take time to be comfortable with it, but I know you'll manage it. Merlin knows I'm still learning and making mistakes daily. I don't know what I would have done without Molly and Arthur."

"Are you certain?" he whispered.

The witch nodded emphatically. "Brendan loves you."

"He doesn't know me."

"He'll get to know you," she argued, pulling his hand back into her lap. "It doesn't matter that he just met you – he loves you all the same. He asked me to tell you as much before he fell asleep."

As the wizard silently stared at her, Hermione quirked a small smile and traced a fingertip over his knuckles. "At Christmas, Brendan offered up his Godric Gryffindor and Queen Maeve cards to Bill's daughter, Victoire, for her copy of you. Ron and Bill tried to explain to him that his cards were more valuable since there's a boatload of Wizarding Wars cards currently in circulation, but he didn't care because he said you were worth more than all of the other cards combined."

Severus blinked quickly and shook his head. "I'm not…"

"But to him you are," the woman explained before donning another smirk. "Ron had a bit to drink that night and happened to blurt out that you weren't the greatest chap in the world. You should have seen the scowl on his little face – it's almost as intimidating as yours, I swear – and then Harry jumped in to try and smooth things over. He told Bren that Ron just meant that sometimes you would call them names – dunderheads and what not – and I kid you not, your son crossed his arms, glared at them both, and told them straight out that that was probably because they were dunderheads."

His father chuckled quietly as he closed his eyes.

"They're all convinced that he had to have been you reincarnated," she smiled. After a moment, she squeezed his hands. "Bren's the reason you found us, you know. He wanted to spend his birthday with you, even if it meant just staring at your portrait for a few minutes. And do you know what he wished for when he blew out his candles?"

Snape hesitantly shook his head.

"The thing he wanted the most in this world was to have a conversation with you. He was concerned that the reason your portrait wouldn't talk to him was because you didn't like him." Taking in a deep breath, she shrugged her shoulders. "If you just continue to make an effort with him, he'll be happy."

Tears trickled down his cheek as he leaned forward and held his head in his hands. "What if I cock it up?"

"I'm sure you will," she smirked, rubbing his back. "Just as I'm sure I will, too. But we'll figure out what we did wrong, apologize, and then do it better the next time. Brendan is just as much your son as he is mine. He's resilient, and stubborn, and incredibly smart. He'll be perfectly fine. And if I ever think you're out of line, I won't hesitate to tell you."

The wizard chuckled softly and glanced back at her. "I give you full permission to hex me."

"I would do it, permission or not, if the situation called for it," the woman claimed.

"I believe you," he smiled, sitting back against the cushion.

"So you're going to stay with us?" Hermione asked hopefully.

The man nodded as he looked to her. "I don't want to be alone any longer."

"I don't want you to be alone either," she replied.

Holding his gaze, she pushed forward until her lips met his. As the short hairs on his chin tickled her face, she giggled quietly and wrinkled her nose.

"What is it?" Severus asked.

"Sorry," she mumbled. "I just… I'm not quite used to you with facial hair yet."

"I see," he replied. "I wasn't ready to be recognized yet, so I didn't entirely remove it. I will certainly do so if –"

"No, no! It's… I don't mind it." Hermione cocked her head as she ran her fingertips over his well-trimmed beard. "It's different, but I think… I think you should leave it for a while. It suits you."

The wizard offered her a smile as he tucked a smooth curl behind her ear. "Well, I think your hair suits you remarkably well."

"I suppose that's another thing you can thank Brendan for," she smirked. "I never realized that pregnancy would solve the issue of my uncontrollable mane. It was a bit more time consuming and expensive than a bottle of Sleekeazy's, I grant you, but so far it seems to be permanent."

He gave a quiet laugh and eyed her thoughtfully for several seconds.

"I've missed you," he whispered before pushing forward to press his lips against hers. When he gently prodded her, she immediately granted his tongue access to her mouth. While she fell deeper into the kiss, her hands gripped his collar, and his moved smoothly along her spine. Pressing farther into him, she greedily attacked his mouth as though she were trying to absorb all taste of him. Responding in kind, Severus slid his hands down to her bottom and pulled her closer. As she moaned into his mouth, the witch raised herself onto her knees and then swung her leg over his lap. Upon straddling him, she ran her hands up the back of his neck until they were buried within his hair.

"Mmmgods," she groaned before peppering his face with butterfly kisses. "I can't believe… I have you back. I've missed you… so much. Please… please, don't leave me again. I can't lose you again."

"Never," he gasped, touching his forehead to hers and kissing her nose. "I don't ever want to let you go."

Hermione shook her head. "Don't. I need you. Severus… we need you."

"And I need you," the man replied, cupping the back of her head as he seized her lips again.

As their kisses gradually turned salty with their tears, the witch felt a desire rising within her that was stronger than anything she had ever experienced. She had been in love with him for eight years – had grieved for what he had to do, had longed for his return to her, and had mourned for his loss. The moments he had spent with her in the past had never been enough, and even though she had known that the odds had always been against them, she had still held on to the belief that they would find each other after Voldemort fell. That hope had been ripped away from her in the Shrieking Shack, leaving her with an ache in her chest that had not diminished with time.

But now, by some miraculous twist of Fate, Hermione had him back. The pang of loss had vanished, and the hope that had abandoned her had suddenly returned with a vengeance. It was burning so vibrantly that she felt she could burst at any second. Severus Snape was alive. He loved her. He was hers, and she was his. He accepted her son and wanted to keep him safe and happy. He wanted to stay. He would not leave her.

Her feelings were overwhelming to say the least. It was becoming too much to bear. She needed more of him. Lips and hands were not enough to relieve her. She needed to feel him against her. She needed to feel him inside of her.

"Severus," the woman whispered, grinding herself against his arousal. As he groaned into her neck, she bit down on her bottom lip and rocked against him with greater urgency. Her core felt as though it was on fire, and she clutched onto him tightly and began to whimper with pleasure. When his lips attached themselves to her throat and one of his hands cupped her clothed breast, she came entirely undone with a muffled cry.

"Gods," she panted, sinking against his chest. "I didn't… know that was possible with… clothes on."

Snape gave a rumbling laugh as he slipped his hand beneath the hem of her shirt. "If you're wanton enough, it is."

"Oh, you have no idea," Hermione moaned before propping herself up enough to nip at his jaw. When he began to push up her shirt, she gave a small groan and shook her head. "No… bedroom."

"But we're here now," he whispered.

"I know," she sighed, pulling back a few inches. "But if Brendan wakes up… Learning his father is alive is one thing, but I'm certainly not ready for him to learn how exactly his father became his father."

The wizard exhaled deeply and leaned his head against the back of the sofa.

"Come on," the witch murmured, carefully dismounting him and holding out her hand. "I can't lock the stairs or his room, but I can lock my bedroom door."

"Give me a minute, witch," Severus mumbled, wiping a hand over his face. "I need to coax some of the blood back into the rest of my limbs first."

The woman giggled until she caught sight of his cane lying on the floor. An uncomfortable feeling gripped her stomach as she eyed him soberly. "Severus… can you manage the stairs?"

With a disheartened sigh, he glanced over his shoulder at the staircase. "I suppose we'll find out."

"I could apparate –"

"No." He shook his head and slowly pushed himself to his feet. "I have to attempt it sometime. It might as well be now."

"Okay," Hermione murmured, bending down to pick up his cane before offering him her arm. As they reached the staircase, she cleared her throat uncomfortably. "Severus… you are okay to… I mean, it isn't going to harm you if we –"

"I assure you, that part of my anatomy is fully functional," he sneered.

She snorted softly under her breath while helping him with the ascent. "I had noticed that yes, but the rest of you is also required. I don't want to injure you."

"Any pain I encounter shall be well worth it," he ground out. "Though… you'll likely have to do a bit more of the work this time."

Though she blushed, her eyes continued to hold concern as they noticed how he grimaced with every step. "I hope you realize that we will be going to St. Mungo's tomorrow to fix you."

"I do hope you're referring to my leg," Snape quipped while pausing at the top of the stairs.

The witch let out a surprised laugh and then smiled up at him. "Of course! I won't let them do anything that might jeopardize my getting laid."

"Neither will I," he murmured as he bent over to massage his aching leg.

"Are you alright?" Hermione asked, touching his shoulder.

The wizard sucked in a slow breath before nodding his head. "Never better."

She snorted quietly and then squeezed his arm when he stood upright. "You used to be a far better liar."

"I'm not lying," Severus stated while glancing down at her.

Her mouth parted slightly as she rose onto her tiptoes and kissed him. "I love you."

"And I you," he replied, wrapping his arms about her waist. "I would suffer every pain if it meant I could be with you."

A tear trickled down her cheek as she seized his lips. A soft squeal escaped her as he placed his hands beneath her bottom and picked her up. Releasing his mouth, she stared at him with wide eyes. "Severus! You shouldn't –"

"Don't tell me what I can and cannot do, witch," the man murmured. "Just tell me which door leads to your bedroom."