A/N:Hope people are still reading.

Chapter five- the link

Hermione scribbled away beside him in the Room of Requirement. Things had been tense between them these past two days. She may have forgiven him but she obviously hadn't forgotten anything. Severus was beside himself, knowing she was a willing, beautiful woman who loved him. He could be selfish now couldn't he? He shook his head and she caught the movement.

"Its hard isn't it?" She said clearly. Severus frowned, "What is?"

She grinned, "Fighting how much you want to kiss me."

He paled, "Hermione…"

She waved him away smiling wickedly. She was enjoying teasing him. He sighed looking up at the ceiling. No stars today.

"I mean you almost cant help yourself. Not that I blame you, I am an excellent kisser."

His brain committed that to memory but he tried not to react to her pushing.

"Hermione, stop it."

"No." She enunciated coldly but then her face was light again.

"It only bothers you because I'm right."

He sighed again, "I wasn't thinking about kissing you."

She grinned again, "More than kissing? Wow Severus you surprise me."

Now he flushed with anger, "Stop it will you!"

"But its so much fun." She pouted with a false frown. He stood up and grabbed his things.

"Send me a message when you're ready to go tonight. We need to hurry, for all we know he could already have taken it." He was at the door when she sent a stinging hex at his shoulder. He turned on her and took out his wand. She wanted a fight and he would give it to her.

She dodged his hex by ducking behind a table. She was cackling and shooting hex after hex. He grazed the side of her cheek and only felt a little bit badly about the spilled blood but that mean he won.

"Fine, your certainly a sad winner." She sauntered up to him and was a breath away. Her eyes were alight with lightning from the fight and he was breathing heavily. She took his right hand for a moment and turned away. Losing his mind he pulled her back and brushed her cheek where her blood dripped from the wound.

Without thinking he took out his wand and healed it. She moaned just a little and coughed as she stepped away from him.

"What is it? Does it still hurt?" He asked worriedly. She shook her head her neck and chest red. Then he remembered what his healing magic could do to her.

"I forgot." He muttered, uncomfortable. She had a grin and approached him again. "Any time you want to do that I'm game."

He shook his head and then frowned when he saw a thick scar on her cheek. He reached out and traced it. Her eyes held his for the longest time.

"It left a nasty scar. I didn't think it would." He explained and she just nodded.

"I have many scars, one more doesn't matter."

He sighed, "It matters because I hurt you and I couldn't fix it."

"I'll be fine. I'm not exactly the prettiest witch out there so I don't mind a scar on my face. I have no one to impress. Well besides you." She said cheekily.

"You're wrong." He said seriously. "You're beautiful."

Her eyes teared up and she swallowed stiffly. Severus regretted his words only because they made her cry.

"Well thank you. You know, lets just go now. Is the poly juice potion ready?"

"Yes its back in my lab."

The two of them walked back to his rooms and she hooked her arms in his, which she was doing more often. She seemed dedicated to as much physical contact she could muster and that made everything that much harder for him. He melted at her touch but he couldn't let it show.

"It should be simple enough I think." She was saying but all he could focus on was her arm in his. Was her touch supposed to be this warm? She continued noticing not a thing.

"Severus, what happens if were caught?"

"We will be sent to Azkaban awaiting a hearing." He shivered at the thought of returning there.

"Well you know the plan is to use the time turner once we've retrieved it, so we don't have to worry about an exit."

"True but there are so many ways for this to go wrong. This spell you developed may not hold."

"It'll hold. Don't doubt me. Are you okay performing the imperious curse?" She tightened her hold as they neared his rooms. Before he could answer she practically bounced into his rooms while he was struck dumb. He walked in and sealed the door.

"How did you do that?

She turned to face him with her now scarred face. "Its because of the bond. I didn't do it on purpose. I…forgot. I'm sorry." She looked a little afraid and he couldn't see why. Was she afraid of him?

"Hermione, I am not upset, just surprised." He was upset just not with her. How many times would this soul bond affect him?

"Do you want me to tell you what all it does?" She asked cautiously. He didn't want to know but he needed too.

"Yes."

"Our Link can be used across any distance because of the bond, our skin heats at eh others touch, when I'm in pain, you'll feel it in some form, usually only emotional pain but severe physical pain could also be felt. There's more but it has to do with sex so I'll leave that out. We're sympathetic to each other. Connected, " she nodded, "We're connected and its irreversible."

He reeled in shock and dragged his hand through his hair nervously. She reached out and took his hand.

"You aren't being asked to do anything Severus. I'm…sorry this isn't what you want. If I could give you an out I would. I don't want you tied to me if you don't want to be. I'm just sorry."

She had it all wrong. He wanted to be tied to her, forever. He clutched her hand in his, taking in her warmth. She sighed sadly.

"Its not the worse thing in the world Hermione. We'll be great friends. I have no objections to that."

She scooted closer to him, smiling. "Really?"

"Yes, really."

She didn't say anything else so he pulled her into the lab where he would bottle the polyjuice potion.

"How long do we have, a few hours right?" She asked curiously.

"We have three hours with this dose."

"That enough time. Let's go."

The plan was to change into the first two people they saw about to head into the bank and then to discreetly imperio a goblin, preferably one in charge. Severus was able to find out from Lucius that the dark lord used Bellatrix's vault at the bank which made this easy. Well as easy as it could be.

"Okay, are you ready?" She asked turning to him. He nodded and took her hand as they apparated to an alley across from the bank. She reluctantly separated their hands and went to watch for the first two people. Severus watched with her and saw her expert eyes combing through the crowds of people. They chose this time because there would be so many people. While he was being thoughtless she had stunned a man and woman. The man was thin and scrawny, not someone who would be threatening. The woman was average looking and slightly overweight which wouldn't draw attention.

Hermione plucked the hair from her woman and Severus did the same with the man. He detested taking polyjuice potion. It was vile. But Hermione knocked hers down easily but he couldn't help his scowl at the taste.

"Don't be a baby. Lets go." He glared at her words but followed her into the bank. No one gave them a glance which put Severus at ease just a little. She was walking so different to her walk it was comical. Was she adjusting still?

They head to the small restroom where Severus went in and by enormous luck used the imperious curse on the bank manager. Hermione waited outside and Severus let the Goblin lead them to the elevator that would take them down to the vaults.

Bellatrix's vault was number 720, again from Lucius. He was easily manipulated once drunk. Severus followed to Goblin keeping his wand hidden so no one gave them a second look. Once to the door the Goblin opened it and Hermione walked in staring at all the galleons and jewelry.

"There!" She pointed to a high shelf. He let the Goblin go and came to assist her. It took her getting on his shoulders and using her wand to capture the cup. His foot caught on a galleon and it burst into five more and closed his eyes in annoyance.

"She had a duplicating charm in place. Don't touch anything." He warned her but it was too late. Her elbow had touched a necklace and it was bursting. She toppled off his shoulders he caught her before she lit the ground.

"Hurry." He said as the room filled and filled. She had the time turner out and around his neck, then they were spinning.

Once they landed Severus ended their changed forms and then she was in his arms jumping and spinning around.

"We did it!" She said and he smiled at her antics. She gripped his robes and kissed his cheek, "Thank you. Come one lets go."

It had been about a month since they have been to this room and he found Tatianna, Albus and Molly waiting for them. How did they always know? Then he remembered she had links will all of them.

"You succeeded? Wonderful. May I?" Albus asked holding out his hand. Hermione held it out and the five of them headed up the stairs and into the clearing.

Hermione handed Albus the blade and just before he pierced it black smoke erupted from it. It took form of an older Tome Riddle no longer a teenager.

"You old fool. You think you can save your precious future? One you ruined? I'd like to see you try!"

The smoke flung Albus back and he saw Hermione grab the blade and mash it into the cup. It screamed and the smoke obliterated. He waited for her to turn and celebrate but she fell over. He was at her side in a second and saw the blade had somehow got shoved right threw her hand. She had passed out from the pain.

He rolled her onto her back gently and ripped the knife out clean. She woke with a scream and panting.

"Fuck." She stuttered settling her head back on the ground. She was losing blood and he took his wand and healed the gaping wound. She flexed her hand and raised it up.

"See, Severus, another scar. This one's nasty." She remarked and sat him leaning against him. The other three were staring at them strangely and he didn't appreciate it.

"Hermione. You didn't say…"

"What business is it of yours, Huh? Fuck off." She hisses and for once Tatianna growled in response.

"This is my future too. That's how it's my business. If you two don't do what's necessary then we're all lost." She yelled and Hermione deflated.

"He doesn't want me Tatianna. I've tried, I'm not going to force him. So we'll have to do without that part."

"What are you talking about?" Severus asked confusedly. Hermione patted his chest and used him to stand up.

"Nothing. It's nothing Severus."

"She's lying to you." Tatianna said crossing her arms. Severus was done with secrets.

"Tell me." He said to Hermione, not Tatianna.

In response she got out the time turner and raised it over his head.

"Not here."

She left everyone behind and they appeared in his rooms. She stepped away from him and put distance.

"Do you trust me Severus?" She asked and he rolled his eyes.

"Of course I do."

"Then trust me when I say you don't want to know."

"Nice try. Tell me. I hate that you keep things from me."

She wrung out her hands and swore. "There's a prophecy about us, I told you that. It…mentions a child. Between us."

"You aren't serious are you?" He pleaded. He gave up on having a family a long time ago.

"Yes I am. But I know better now. You don't want me, much less a family with me. So don't worry about it, it doesn't matter."

"Good." He said stupidly. She winced and shook off her pain and then he felt it in his chest. A sharp prick right near his heart. This was part of the bond wasn't it?

"I felt that. I'm sorry." He whispered and took a step toward her. She for the first time in a long time stepped back and held out her hands.

"How much do you think I can take?"

His resolve fell and he gripped the side of her face as gently as possibly and kissed her forehead then rested their heads together.

"I'm sorry." He said again she tipped her head up to look into his eyes. He leaned forward and then their lips were touching and fire spread through him. She gasped into his mouth and the kiss deepened. She moaned against him and kissed ferociously. Teeth knocked together and his lip busted with the force of her kiss. He gave back as much as he got until she pulled away. Blood was all over her teeth but she was grinning.

"I fucking knew it. You bastard." Then she kissed him again. His heart swelled and raced and he couldn't get enough of her. Her around were around his neck and that's how Harry found them.

"For fucks sake, really Mione?"

Hermione pulled away and wiped the blood from her lips. She glared at Harry. "You know how long I've been waiting for that. We destroyed it by the way I was going to tell you later."

"So all that's left is me and the snake right?" He shifted uncomfortably and Severus wiped his own mouth and took a seat. Hermione frowned at him but turned back to Harry.

"Yes. We'll meet tomorrow to discuss the last phase of the plan. I take it you're ready."

"I've been ready for six months Hermione."

She spoke sharply, "What? You were only supposed to be in for two!"

"We'll molly wouldn't let Ron leave and I couldn't leave without Ron. It's a mircale we ever made it out. We learned a lot though so I guess its alright."

"You didn't read it did you?" She asked sadly.

"The thing you gave me, no I was too busy."

"Do you see this?" She stepped forward and showed Harry the long scar on her arm and he knew what it was right away.

"They room made me do this because if was there so long. You shouldn't have been there that long. I'll be watching you Harry, and Ron."

"Merlin, I'm sorry. I feel fine though. I'll look out for Ron. He doesn't talk much anymore."

"I know. I'm sorry I'm not around more often."

Harry grinned, "I know you're busy."

"Harry." She warned and he held out his hands in surrender and left the room. Hermione turned to Severus and smiled revealing her own split lip.

"Sorry, I… aggressive."

"I wasn't complaining." He remarked and she smiled with bright eyes. He hadn't seen her so happy. Had he done that?

She came to stand next to him and pulled up a chair. " No pressure Severus…I want you for you and that's it. If anything else were to come of it fine but its not set in stone."

"You wouldn't actually have my child Hermione, I know that."

She stared at him for a long time. "You don't know everything, Severus."

"Don't say things you don't mean." He snapped, uncomfortable. She sighed and took his hands.

"I would be honored to give you a family if that's what you wanted. With the future at stake I think about mine a lot. I want one with you. Is that so hard to believe?"

He felt his jaw drop in astonishment. This young beautiful woman was offering him what he always wanted.

"This is…a lot. I wish I could give you the answers you're looking for." He said at last.

"Do you love me? Be honest."

He thought about lying just to not have this conversation but then he knew how much it would hurt her to lie.

"Yes. I do. I have for a long time."

She squealed and showered him with kisses. "I love you too. Thank you Severus."

She crawled into his lap and he let her. It felt so right to be close to her. For now he wouldn't let his worries and beliefs get in the way. He loved her and right now that was okay.