Hello, my it has been awhile (again) I'm so very sorry for being away for so long, I took more writing classes than any human should be allowed to, and I've been written other things and this just sort of slipped away from me. I hope you enjoy this chapter, it sort of just happened. I suppose I should put some sort of sexy time warning on this chapter cause sexy time.
And umm yea I think that's all.
Be sure to check out my book To Free the Fox, if you feel inclined to read it it's available on Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble, and .
Sorry about the self-plugging enjoy!
*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)(**(*(*)*()*(*)*(*)*(*)*()**(*)*()**()*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)(*
Hermione set a date for them to return to Hogwarts. Snow had fallen over the grounds and Christmas was fast approaching, and Hermione couldn't see putting it off any longer.
They'd flooed back together hand in hand, since the binding didn't allow them to travel any other way.
"Hermione, Severus, I'm glad you're back with us," Minerva said happily as they stepped out of the emerald flames and into her office.
"Thank you Minerva, no better time I suppose," Hermione said, she was twisting her hands nervously, and couldn't seem to get the smile she flashed at Minerva to reach her eyes.
Severus was beside her, as quiet as ever, his eyes were staring at the portrait of Dumbledore.
"We should probably be heading to our rooms now," Hermione said, again attempting a smile. She could tell Severus was uncomfortable, and as painful as it will be to face her rooms again, she knew she'd bounce back more quickly than he would.
As Hermione neared her portrait she became aware of someone following them. Hermione placed her hand on the portrait as though she was going to open it. Then instead of swinging open the picture Hermione turned and whipped out her wand pointing it down the corridor where she'd heard shuffling foot steps.
"Who's there?" Hermione demanded loudly.
Severus was frozen staring down the hallway.
Suddenly Professor Mils' tall frame stepped out of the shadows.
"So sorry to be al cloak and dagger," He said smiling at Hermione. "I just had to be sure they actually let that monster back in here." His smile turning down into a frown as his gaze landed on Severus.
"You are so lucky I can't hex you right here and now," Hermione snarled. She hadn't anticipated dealing with him yet and he knew how to get under her skin.
"I'm sure you could try to hex me, but even if you succeeded, the only person who would suffer is that piece of filth. What a pity it would be to see him go back to Azkaban a third time. A record I think." Mils drawled. He stayed where he was and came no closer, but Hermione saw his wand hand twitch.
"Professor Mils if you excuse us, we have had a trying day," Severus said suddenly keeping his eyes on Mils and slowly pushing Hermione toward the portrait.
"Oh of course, so sorry, must get your rest. You have had quite the month I think," Mils said backing away down the corridor his tone held nothing good.
Hermione slammed into their rooms making sure the entrance was throughly warded once Severus was inside. Hermione placed wards on their portrait hole she hadn't used since the forest of Dean.
"The absolute nerve!" Hermione thundered sitting with a huff on the small couch in front of the fire place.
Severus came over and sat beside her.
"That could have been worse," He said trying to be comforting.
Hermione huffed again.
"I suppose, I just hate him so much. He is a sneaky bastard, and I'm worried he will do something dangerous." Hermione said, letting out the one fear she'd had since Severus had been carted off to Azkaban the second time and he'd had the gall to smile at her.
Hermione shivered at the memory. Then realizing where she was her eyes instantly flew to Severus' bedroom door. Or at least where the door had been.
Hermione got up and walked over to the blank section of wall.
"Umm, Severus, I think your room is missing." Hermione called over to him.
"Not missing," He said almost scaring her with his sudden closeness. "Follow me," He commanded walking over to her bedroom door.
Hermione followed him confused.
"I contacted Minerva before we returned voicing concerns about the sleeping arrangements." Severus said stopping in front of her door.
Hermione was confused, had he asked for a larger bed, because she'd have liked to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation.
"But, Severus I don't think it's a good idea to go back to sleeping together after everything that's happened." Hermione said quickly.
"I agree," Severus said opening her door and walking inside.
Hermione followed him and noticed that there was a door in her room that hadn't been there before.
Severus walked over and opened it.
Hermione looked inside to see Severus's old room.
"I had Minerva move the door, this way we can spend time together, and when I need to sleep I can just use this door, leaving it open even." Severus said looking at her with hopeful eyes.
All Hermione could do was crush Severus in a hug. He wrapped his arms around her too.
"I hope you know this won't stop me from trying to find a cure for your nightmares," Hermione said into his shoulder.
"Of course not, I'd never dream of it." Severus said into the top of her head.
*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*
They fell into an easy rhythm after that. They would both wake up for breakfast, stay in the library until close, Hermione reading voraciously about nightmare suppressors. She'd found a spell that she thought might actually have a positive effect, but she was afraid to approach Severus with the idea. The binding would him if the spell failed and he attacked her, and she wasn't entirely sure that Severus could handle that trauma yet.
She wanted to be with him, and to be able to sleep beside him with out worrying about either of their safety.
She wasn't sure what Severus was supposed to be reading but she hadn't seen him turn more than three pages a day, which meant he was thinking.
After two weeks of living in their new quiet schedule, Hermione decided she wanted to do something new.
"Severus?" Hermione said softly drawing his attention away from the book he wasn't reading. He turned to look at her. A student ran up to the desk asking for a book he couldn't find, and needed immediately. Hermione didn't question it but found the book and returned to her desk.
"You were saying," Severus prompted still waiting for her to talk.
"How do you feel about dinner in tonight?" Hermione asked.
Severus looked at her strangely. "I'm sure it would be adequate." Severus said.
Hermione took the word adequate as a good sign and smiled.
"I figured since the students would be going home for winter break tomorrow morning we could celebrate." Hermione said smiling. She was a Gryffindor at heart, but sometimes she could be a like a snake.
Severus nodded at her and went back to his book.
Later that night after shutting down the library for break and retiring back to their rooms Hermione accidentally spilled an entire jar of ink on Severus. She was quite proud of how elegantly she'd tripped right as she was passing where he was sitting on the couch. He cursed and grumbled, and Hermione convinced him that the only way to get the ink out of his hair would be a quick shower.
While Severus went to rinse out the dark staining substance, Hermione hurried to transfigure the room the way she'd imagined it in her head.
Hermione was setting their room up to resemble something vaguely romantic. She had a white clothed table complete with steaming food and two small glowing candles. The fireplace was giving off its own soft light. Hermione transfigured her clothes from her usual professional work robes to a simple black dress. She had a thought once everything was set up that this was all too much, and that she was going to scare him, or anger him, possibly both.
Hermione decided she was going to put everything back before Severus came out and saw how silly she'd been.
She looked up suddenly as she heard a door open, and he was standing there staring at her.
"I'm sorry, I was juts about to put all of this back it was stupi…" Hermione started to say before being cut off by Severus's mouth descended on her's.
She felt her legs hit the back of the couch as he kissed her hard.
She kissed him back just as hard once she came back to herself. She let her hands trail up into his freshly washed hair, the dark strands still wet. She let her body meld with his and felt something she hadn't expected to.
Severus broke away from lips to breathe.
Hermione looked up at him, each time they kissed it always tossed her brain out the window and the poor organ had to crawl back in to start thinking again.
"It's lovely," Severus whispered to her after looking around the room again. "I've wanted an excuse to kiss you again." He said smiling like he hadn't in a long time.
Hermione smiled back, "You know you don't need an excuse," She said batting him on the arm playfully.
"I do now," He said his face coming back down his lips meeting hers, this time tenderly. They stayed like that for a bit longer, Hermione enjoying his lips and his tongue.
"The stasis charm on our food will probably ware off soon," Hermione said after they broke apart for more air.
Severus nodded and lead Hermione over to the table she'd set up. He made a big gentlemanly show of pulling the chair out for her, and then took his own seat.
They ate in companionable silence, sometimes Hermione would make a comment about the food, and sometimes Severus would ask for the salt, but other than that conversation stayed to a minimum.
Once both had finished their food and each had a lovely glass of Cabernet, Severus stood and helped Hermione out of her chair.
"Shall we?" He asked motioning to the couch.
Hermione's heart sunk a bit as they rested on the sofa, she'd been hoping he'd take her to the bedroom they mostly shared.
Hermione's disappointment vanished as soon as Severus started kissing her neck. Hermione melted into him. He moved to recapture her lips and they snogged for awhile. Hermione eventually managed to have them lying down on the couch Severus on top of her still kissing her senseless.
She wanted to make the first move and grind her hips into his, but she was worried she'd scare him away, this was new to him, and she needed to remember that.
He continued to kiss her his thin body towering over hers.
Hermione eventually decided to leap into the unknown and let her hips arch up to meet his. She was rewarded with a sudden gasp, and Severus's tongue plunging into her mouth.
Her tongue eagerly battled his, as her hips moved in time with his. She was driving herself as crazy as she was sure she was driven him.
"Do you want this?" Severus suddenly whispered looking down into her eyes, his hips flexing against hers to emphasize what he was talking about.
"Yes, Severus." Hermione said looking up not his dark irises. He closed his eyes and let himself go.