Chapter 4
Severus felt unaccountably shy with Hermione, who had been his wife for the better part of three years. The circumstances had been very strange. The pair shared a blood-bond while in the Shrieking Shack. Their history suggested that they were more than equipped to withstand a long-term arrangement. Responsible to each other, combined with a depth of understanding of each others' daemons, they saw their union as a natural progression. No one in the Wizarding World would have understood so soon after the War. As a consequence they hadn't told anyone about the bond.
Hermione had returned to her childhood home following Severus rescue. Hermione busied herself readying the house for her parents' return from Australia, during Severus convalescence.
In this new Wizarding Era free of Voldemort, they were eager to have a regular life. Hermione and Severus wanted only to live freely and openly, taking advantage of new opportunities. Unfortunately Severus' convalescence took longer than expected due to Nagini's venom, he suffered internal damage. His vital organs took longer to heal than the muscle and connective tissue.
When she'd returned to their home she found the place a wreck; the furniture was over-turned, drawers pulled out, contents strewn everywhere and Severus was taken. The place had been searched and none too expertly. Everything had happened so quickly. Severus while under the Imperius curse marched into Muggle London firing curses which included the Cruciatus curse. Even if they had been willing to take the story of Severus' abduction seriously, the Priori Incantatem revealed half a dozen Avada Kedavra curses. The evidence had been damning enough for them to execute Severus. At the last moment the Minister called for a stay of execution. There wasn't anything Hermione had been able to do. When she had come forward to intervene, the Wizengamot dismissed her testimony out of hand. It was likely because he had murdered one of their ranks, Albus Dumbledore.
Harry was able to have Severus exonerated of Dumbledore's murder, but no one would recognise his crucial role in the downfall of the Dark Lord no matter how loudly Harry bleated. Former Interim Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt was unwilling to intercede on Severus' behalf despite Harry's repeated requests.
Able to avoid all public scandal Hermione set about to ensure Severus' safety. Hermione pulled some strings and was inserted as administrator of the prison. To show she was more than capable of the job; she instituted many changes to better serve the general public, and reduced Azkaban's tax levy. Initially this had been a great success. Like everything else when you exceed expectations, those elevated expectations become the new standard. Or as Warden Granger was fond of saying; 'the better you bake the more they take.'
"Love it's time to get up." He purred. "We need to get started."
The scent of coffee wove its way into her sleep-weak brain. Slightly disoriented, she pulled her wand on Severus. Jabbing the wooden tip above his convulsing Adam's apple. "Why did I have to wake up? I might have done myself a favour if I had stunned you and dragged you back to Azkaban. Maybe I still will."
Holding out the mug of coffee, "ah, ah, ah, you can't. I've invoked the bond. You can drink your coffee, then you can snog me senseless. If your in a hurry, I'll let you skip the coffee." His irises glistened like bubbling tar.
Lowering her wand Hermione clambered to a sitting position. "Thanks," Hermione muttered and accepted her mug. Studying the dark contents, she savoured the strong coffee. Facing the fire, drinking the hot brew single-mindedly. Snape it seemed, had other plans. Taking advantage of her still nude body, Severus commanded her attention for the next couple of hours.
#
"Give me a minute, stop being so pushy." Hermione swatted at Severus as he was reading over her shoulder.
"Are you going to be done soon?" Severus pressed. "Can you do that bent over?"
"No, now cut it out, you walking hard-on. You got your fill, or empty; depending how you want to look at it." Hermione's eyes pricked with tears, the stabs of nostalgia tore at her. She sniffed reflexively.
Snape enveloped her murmuring words of comfort. "Hermione, I've had nothing but time to think. In the showers back in Azkaban I'd let it out, I expect I wasn't the only one. It'd grip me sometimes. If someone made a lewd comment about you, or something threatening I'd..."
"Pound them to a pulp, I figured that out. You didn't have to do that." Hermione had a better handle on herself. "One of the level four guards witnessed that happening, he told me about it later. He found it rather odd, but strangely he came to the same conclusion as you. That you would have been in a dire situation had it not been for me. He dismissed it as gratitude."
Severus levelled his gaze on his wife. "It wasn't gratitude. It was love. Whatever you did my position wouldn't have changed, because I knew that you loved me. You proved that back in the Shrieking Shack." Hermione's stomach rumbled. "I'll find some breakfast."
Returning to the letter, she looked it over to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything. Recognising the inadequacy of the missive; Hermione included Snape's invocation of the bond, what Snape wanted to do to clear his name. And her assurances that if they chanced upon additional Deatheaters, they'd be left alive for pick-up. Apologies and regret were flimsy against recent events. As a post-script, she promised to send a two-way mirror, so they could communicate. "I hope they give us a double cell in Azkaban when this is all done."
Severus walked in from the kitchenette two plates held aloft, erection jauntily bobbing along. He joined Hermione at the little table. "Thanks." Hermione forked off bits of burnt pancake to sample. "You're much better in bed than in the kitchen."
Looking indignant, Severus stood crossed his arms and walked over to Hermione. His cock pointed at her accusingly, "perhaps you'd benefit from my other skills."
"You're going to take my eye out if you're not careful." Hermione swiped her thumb along his shaft. "Best not." Turning away decidedly from the obvious offer. Severus sat back down. "We need to find a Pensieve, then we can examine the memory in detail. There may be clues to who we're looking for, you said you didn't remember seeing their faces."
Tapping the tines of the fork against his lips, "I know where one stands, if it's still there." Snape didn't seem to be in a hurry.
"What are we waiting for?" Hermione went to dress.
Snape's words came out slow and measured, "well, I have no doubt that Aurors are scouring the country looking for us as we speak. Can you still perform the invisibility charm you used on your clothes?"
"I'm sure I can. Though I'll need some time to meditate before, it's terribly draining." Hermione repaired to the shade of the trees outside. Snape had seen her meditate plenty of times, he always felt left out somehow.
Severus luxuriated on the sofa, soaking up his freedom. Had it been a good idea to invoke the bond? Hermione was complicit now. Would both of them end up in Azkaban, as she suggested? Did the means justify the ends? If he got them both killed, would it be worth it? This thinking wasn't getting him anywhere. Hermione had changed, there was no hint of the feral girl who killed with impunity. Had she lost her instincts? Had she in fact been dulled by the bureaucratic machine? And who had she taken up with? She didn't kiss or make love the way she used to. And her personality didn't project the same way either. Who had taken that from him? Had he used his time to soften her, soothe her? Had he been the one to comfort her when she'd done everything she could for me? She hadn't taken to the drink, so had he been her weakness?
"Are you deaf?" Snape jolted from his reverie. "I've been trying to get your attention."
Not wanting to make the same mistake twice, he came out with it. "Hermione who was he? Who did you take up with?"
Storm clouds erupted in the brown eyes. A green haze cast over them as the tornado touched down. "I'm not discussing it." She turned and walked back out of the cottage. On the mossy turf under a tree, she ran through several sets. Reacquainting her lungs to the exhausting physical output, she worked harder. Grabbing hold of a low hanging branch, she swung her legs up onto it. Crouched on the limb she could rain-hell down upon anyone below her. As part of her muscle training, she had to learn how to assume and maintain uncomfortable positions. In the tree she stayed.
"Come down. I want to talk to you." Severus knew better than to get too close to the tree.
There was a long pause before Hermione consented to drop from the branch. Her face was impassive as she approached Snape. "Yes?"
Severus took hold of her upper arms. It was really a matter of form, he knew he couldn't hold her if she resisted. "Who is he? I want to know."
"Severus what is knowing going to give you, another vendetta? It's not going to bring you peace, I know that much. What is it really?" She was fierce in her stance.
"True, nothing good can come with that knowledge, but how do you think it is for me knowing that you let someone into our bed and possibly your heart?" He saw it plainly reflected in her eyes, she had loved him. Hurt and betrayed he demanded, "I'm your husband and you're my wife, how could you? I could understand needing physical release, I can, but for him to take your love from me, it's despicable." Snape turned from her, then turned back. Raising his voice, "why didn't you let them execute me? Why? Did you think you were doing me a favour? You weren't!" Snape returned indoors.
Following Severus inside, Hermione watched his movement. Severus sat at the table looking a lot older than his forty-one years. Hermione stood behind Severus. More than anything she needed Severus to know that her feelings for him had never diminished. She had simply found room in her heart for two. Pulling out her stiletto, Hermione drew the blade fatally up the length of the inside of his forearm. Calmly she sat next to the shocked Snape. Setting the stiletto aside, she took up his profusely bleeding arm as it pumped and flowed. Waving her wand as blood crept across the table, she sung the words her heart gave her. Full of love for the man she healed. Severus watched rapped as the muscles, connective tissue and skin knit and the bleeding stopped. Meeting his gaze, "I never stopped loving you, not even for a moment. Don't you forget that, and don't doubt it, ever. I love you Severus. You are beautiful, powerful and the first and most important person in my heart. But I did find room in my heart for another."
"Where does that leave me?" Severus didn't want to ask, but couldn't, not ask.
"Where you have always been, I want to be with you, I have no hope at all that we'll be successful in clearing your name. But our fates are intertwined; your fate is mine as well." Hermione was mentally exhausted.
"My wife." Severus pulled her to him. Breathing on her neck he reiterated, "my wife. All mine. Forget about him, I'm not giving you up ever." He closed his lips on hers. Fingertips on bare skin, their clothes melted away as they returned to the love they found together so many years ago.
~*~ Laying skin on skin in the sunset of their heated lovemaking. "You know Severus, I think you've mellowed."
Looking down his grand nose at her, "are you're trying to tell me I'm old."
She smiled mischievously. "No Severus, that's not what I meant and you know it."
Cocking an eyebrow, "do I? How do I know you're not taking pot-shots at the old man?"
Rolling her eyes indulgently, "an old man couldn't have done what you did. No, I was referring to the conspicuous absence of retaliatory swats. I had expected you to whip me to welts."
"Oh," he mused. "I could whip you now," he offered.
Hermione kissed him affectionately, "the moment has passed."
"I'll remember for next time." Snape promised heartily.