Disclaimer: Nopety nope. Not mine. Not ever.
A/N: My darling faithful readers. Here is the promised next installment. Sorry for the delay. I am still writing entirely from my phone. I hope you enjoy where the story is taking us. I want to thank you so much for the reviews and continued support. You are absolutely fabulous. a brief update, for those that care: it appears I will have to have surgery on both legs, but hopefully it will help me to walk. I am putting it off as long as i can, opting for physical therapy before we go sawing my femurs in half...I do not have time for that! Any who, I am otherwise happy and well. I hope you find yourself in good spirits - know that you matter and are loved.
All my love, lil
They had spent their evening back at the house, small beautiful orbs of light casting a warm glow around the room. Severus leaned back against the arm of the sofa, having decided to sit downstairs a while, fresh tea on the cart beside them offering her something to hold, to focus on, to retreat into when she needed. They spoke for hours, honestly and openly, on both sides. Slowly, he noticed, some of the tension that seemed to have held her up for the past few years began to ease from her. It was as if small tendrils of guilt and self hatred that had secretly woven themselves into every fiber of her being were finally unraveling from her core; causing her at once to sag without their strength to hold her, and to rise without their strings to bind her.
It wasn't something, he knew, most could notice. Her shoulders vibrated against his chest, as she had so quickly insinuated herself between his legs once they had settled, and her breaths slowed and evened out, the rise and fall of her chest easily seen from his vantage point. She seemed much as any woman in the aftermath of an emotionally charged discussion, tears slowly following the paths already paved by those that had dropped before.
He knew though how to see the subtleties that set her apart. The small fluttering movements of her fingers, devilishly dancing on his thigh without her notice, was easily understood as her subconscious efforts to feel right within her own skin now that she had let so much go. He could sense the way her magic responded and rebuilt within her where at once she was strengthened by what also was breaking her. It was not as if the guilt were entirely gone, and self hatred was even harder to abolish, she was however free of some of those tendrils of shame and anger and hurt that had warred with her very being while building on her ruin. He knew she would not have progressed so far so quickly with those emotional ties had he not laid bare his own struggles with those same demons.
She sat, silently crying, her back sinking into his chest, while he told her his story. It was of course a heavily condensed version of the Severus Snape story, a blip of his unwritten mental memoirs, but it was a beginning. It was an understanding shared between two souls who could feel each other's pain and healing each other because they suffered from the same afflictions even if they had initially came upon their pain walking on separate paths. He shared with her pieces from his childhood that he had only ever shared with Albus, painful memories of his Muggle father and his growing desire to be a greater man. He told her of his utter lack of understanding of what truly was the measure of a man, his desire to grow his power to defeat his own childhood monster and the path it began to take him on. He told her of his guilt and his hatred that took root so early on, how desirous he had been to take the darkness he had allowed to root within his soul and use it to crush his father - only to be beaten to his goal by the sudden impact of car on car, tangled metal and bones and flesh and fire. It was an utterly Muggle way for the man to leave this world. It had been guilt over those very thoughts that began to silently rage and war within him, at odds with the hatred that had been there for so long.
Hermione had turned then, craning her neck to look into the deep violet, velvety depths, of his eyes. She placed a soft chaste kiss on the corner of his lips, almost more kissing his chin really from her odd twisted angle. She told him she loved him, and that perhaps if he could forgive himself she could try to do the same. It wouldn't be easy or immediately apparent, but she would try.
She would be stronger than the woman she had become.
When Hermione awoke in the morning, feeling slightly renewed and still somehow shattered, she found Severus lying beside her in her bed, and not on the couch she was certain she'd fallen asleep on. A curly lock of her hair was twined in his grasp as he stared straight through her, his thoughts far away. She didn't say anything, just let her eyes rest on his features. In moments like these she could almost see the shadow of the man he had been before; before he was Severus, before he was hers. She could see the traces his past had left imprinted on his soul and she wondered if that was what he saw in her; that haunted shadow of her past.
She could tell he was lost in his thoughts and she couldn't blame him after everything he had shared with her the night before. She felt like they had reached a new level of understanding in their relationship. It was obvious that he truly cared for her, more than she had really let herself believe. Severus Snape was such a secretive and a highly private wizard, he was also incredibly giving and passionate when he had someone he loved and trusted. Hermione felt a renewed sense of hope and joy at the realization that it was a truly wonderful thing to be loved and trusted by Severus Snape.
"Hi," she whispered softly, slowly pulling him from wherever his mind had taken him. "What are you thinking about?"
Severus' deep violet orbs met her chocolaty ones and immediately softened, small lines crinkling in their corners as his lip tipped up slightly into a small smile.
"I was thinking about you. About recovery," he started. She could tell he contemplating something. "Did you sleep well?" he asked, changing the subject.
Hermione sucked the corner of her bottom lip between her teeth, thinking for a moment before answering. "Pretty well. It was a heavy sleep, but I don't remember much. Almost like I'd taken a dose of dreamless sleep. I feel rather rested though," she told him honestly.
Severus leaned in, closing the small gap between them, and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. His lips seemed to ghost over hers reverently, his love and compassion pouring through his lips in that brief, soft exchange.
"I'm glad," he told her, speaking to more than just her restful nights sleep. "I am certain that you will need all of your energy today," he said, his tone teasing.
Hermione kissed him then, slowly at first, but growing more sure and passionate as he responded. Her lips parted as she moaned slightly. Severus took the opportunity to deepen the kiss for a moment, moving his mouth more firmly, his tongue tasting her.
She pulled away from him slowly, a playful glint in her eyes. "Need my energy today indeed," she laughed.
Severus smirked. "That is not what I was referring to madam, though I am certain I can accommodate." His tone was so light as he bit back a chuckle that Hermione couldn't help but let out a small inelegant snort.
"Why of course good sir," she teased lightly "and if not so I can be ravished by your attentions, why ever do I require more energy?" she almost giggled at the growing ridiculousness of their exchange.
Severus shook his head, he couldn't believe he was joking so early in the morning. Loving Hermione was truly life-changing in so many ways.
"While that sounds thoroughly enthralling Hermione, I was, obviously, referring to the lunch you have planned with our erstwhile Minister and his little bride-to-be."
Hermione bolted up. "I nearly forgot its Wednesday already. Everything gets so jumbled," she explained, mostly to herself. She chose just to ignore the fact that he'd called George a bride. Frankly George was probably referring to himself as such. "I need a bath, and to do something about these," she joked, gesturing wildly at her engorged chest.
Severus sat up and grabbed his wand from the bed side table and flicked his wrist. Before she had even put her feet on the floor to go and retrieve it her breast pump supplies were soaring into the room and settling themselves on the small table on Hermione's side of the bed. "Take care of what you need, I'll go prepare you a bath then head downstairs and ready something for breakfast; before I head to the shop. Why don't you relax here this morning; you can accompany me to the shop after lunch. Take some time for yourself Hermione, you need it."
He kissed her softly before he left her alone to pump. Hermione found, as he stepped out of the room, that both her breasts and the corners of her eyes were leaking. He was a wonderful man and she was so lucky he found her. She wanted to protest and go with him straight away, she wanted to look over one of his notebooks she had left on her desk there, but she knew he was right, it could wait.
After her bath they ate a light breakfast. She was starting to wonder if the wizard was bad at anything, between those divine bath crystals and more of his wonderful omelets she was starting to think there wasn't. She was certainly feeling lucky that he was perhaps slightly too surly for most people to desire much time in his company. If more people knew who was hiding behind the grumpy facade perhaps some lucky witch would have snatched him up years before she had an opportunity.
After they shared a pleasant meal talking animatedly about the article in Potions Weekly Severus had just read, Severus found himself having similar thoughts. If this was what each morning with his witch was going to be, enjoying quiet moments in bed together before he made breakfast, a task monumentally more enjoyable when there was someone to share the meal with, and then simply discussing the mornings post or talking about their plans for the day, he could be quite content.
Before long Severus had to pop back over to the shop to check on things in the lab. Many of his potions would need checking on after only a few hours away. It was perhaps the downside to the current arrangement; even with the flue, or apparition, it just wasn't as easy as a quick pop downstairs when he had potions to tend. And it certainly did not make sense for Hermione to need to be in the lab with him every time something required a short stir. There were so many things he worked on that required his attention at odd hours, after all. It wasn't too terrible an inconvenience however, and he didn't need to be gone too long. There were a few cauldrons to adjust the heat on, and one required a few lacewings, while yet another needed twenty stirs with his glass rod before he removed it from the heat and placed it under a concealment charm to rest for the next fourty-eight hours. He managed to attend many potions in just the few hours before heading back in time for lunch.
He apparated as usual straight into the garden, impressed once again with the improvements since he had first seen it. It was quite private, and the large elm offered a wonderful shade canopy, and he could see that once her mother had been quite fond of her roses. They had been horribly neglected over the years, but Hermione had done wonders when she had worked in the garden. There was one bright yellow bloom, beginning to open and showing signs of what the roses could be if they continued to be well tended. He remembered the bud she had left for him just a few days before from the same bush and decided to return the favor. He pulled his wand and cast a quick severing charm, taking the bloom inside with him.
Severus walked back in through the kitchen and music filled his ears. He took the single rose with him into the living room, expecting to see Hermione sprawled out onto the floor with books all around. The room was empty when he entered, so he continued to follow the music to its origins. He finally found her down the hall a ways, bustling about in the den with boxes everywhere about her. The music was being pumped out of a black muggle radio. She appeared to be sorting out various books and trinkets that had filled the room when her father had been its most frequent occupant. He stayed, leaning quietly against the door frame, watching his witch as she gingerly packed up the desk that had once belonged to her father. He couldn't tell what made her put a large plastic tooth in one box and some sort of award in a different, or why each held books and other odds and ends that he had noticed filling the shelves when he'd first seen the room. It was obvious she was sorting but he could figure no method. Severus just enjoyed the sway of her hips as she stood with her back to him, sorting through the contents of one of the desk drawers.
"What are you working on Hermione? I thought you were going to take today to relax and recuperate, as much so as one can do when they are hosting the owner of a joke shop for lunch, that is," he asked.
Hermione jumped a little at the sound of his voice. She spun around, her sundress fanning out as she did. "Oh Severus, you're back! Well, not that you were gone long, but I was thinking while you were gone about working on some revision for Arithmancy, and then that got me thinking about a proper workspace at home, and I would rather not shut myself up in my room all day at that little desk when I do work from home, and then I was thinking about my dads desk, and how I needed something like that, and well really it isn't being used, and not that I want to erase my parents from this house, but I suppose it makes sense to make it more ou...mine, and so. Well, I'm redecorating, well - reorganizing really. The den seemed a good place to start," she blurted. I really hope he didn't hear me say ours. Not that it wouldn't be amazing to build a life and a home, but surely it is too soon. I mean, yes, he hasn't actually been sleeping at his flat, and it is a wonderful home, and the neighborhood is rather quiet, mostly older retirees and a few young families. There is ample space, and the cellar is wonderful, it would make for a great lab actually - whoa there Hermione get a grip - he's staring. She just smiled shyly as the thoughts raced through her brain.
Severus, to his credit, had managed to catch what she had said, excited and rushed though it was. He was fairly certain she slipped and hadn't meant him to know she was thinking about the possibilities of the home for them, together, long term. It wasn't that he was at all opposed to the idea, but surely such a decision needed time and thought before it was made. Severus was not a man of impulse. "The den seems a good choice," he offered. He made a show of looking around at the progress she had made, as if he'd not already been watching for several moments before he announced himself. "So tell me what all you are doing. Perhaps I could be of assistance, a fresh flower is a good start to livening a space up, or so Minerva used to insist every other time she visited my quarters in the castle," he told her, offering her the stem.
Hermione's face brightened at the gesture. "Thank you, its lovely." She looked around a moment before she found a small crystal paperweight inscribed with the name of a toothpaste company on it, a gift from some colleague of her fathers she was sure, and she transfigured it into a small but lovely little vase. She dropped the blooming bud in and cast Aguamenti to fill the vase with a little water, smiling as she felt herself settling slowly into her magic again like coming home after a long time away, and feeling like you are finally where you belong.
She smiled and then continued to tell him what she had been doing while he was away. "Right now I am sorting through the desk; the book shelves were fairly easy. I'm simply sorting into three sets; stays in the room, goes to the local thrift shop, and things I don't need but can't seem to part with, like the tooth," she explained. "In here the books were all my dads, this was his space mostly, dental texts for university and an assortment of crime novels, the basic biology and chemistry texts I find interesting, but the book written entirely from the perspective of a tooth or the entire collection of 007 novels can all go. There weren't many books of his I fancy keeping actually, his Tolkien and Foust, although I think he got those for a literature class he took in university, and not out of a real desire to read them. Luckily for me, the fact that we didn't enjoy the same books means that there is more room for me to amass a larger collection of my own," she joked. He could tell it was still a painful subject for her, but each time she opened up to him about her parents more was a small victory itself.
"Well," he smiled as he stepped further into the room, "you are making excellent progress then. Why don't you take a break from this, and help me prepare lunch for your guests, then later, if you'd like, I could help you finish up in here?" he suggested. He still thought she should rest more, especially if she was going to the shop with him later, and with the menace and his tramp still out there, she would not be staying home alone often.
Hermione smiled and gave him a soft kiss and a small nod, before turning, her small hand in his, and leading the way through to the kitchen. "Are you certain you don't need to be at the shop more until later today?" she asked as they started preparing a salad and assorted sandwiches for lunch.
In all honesty there was more than enough work to be done at the shop, but most things that needed his personal and immediate attention had been seen to after breakfast and his orders were all set for delivery or pickup, and frankly Hermione had been the only customer he saw fit to deliver to personally. Mr. Brandishwine was handling the actual shop till three and Severus had made sure to thoroughly ward the doors to the lab before he had left the old wizard alone. "Anything that was time sensitive was seen to, and I was hoping we could both spend the afternoon in the lab, following lunch of course. I had envisioned a productive evening, if you would consent to spend some of your revision time brewing with me. It would be a good opportunity for you to work on multiple disciplines at once. I checked the Wolfsbame while I was there, and it will be ready for the next stages of brewing this evening. It will require constant attention for several hours, and I thought in that time you may choose to brew the Pepper-up and Calming Draughts for the Hogwarts account. Is that a plan you find yourself amenable to, Hermione?" he asked, smirking at her as she gaped at him a bit like a fish.
"You are meant to prepare the tuna Hermione, not emulate one. Quit gaping, it is a poor use of your mouth," he teased, cutting off her protest by showing her what constituted a good use of her mouth.
His words were teasing, but his kiss was soft, and Hermione melted into him like a long lit candle. When finally she pulled away, a little breathlessly, she smiled and shook her head. "Prat," she called him, swatting him lightly on the arm. "Do you really think I could brew, its been so long since I've really done any on my own, and well, they are for a paying client. Hogwarts! Really?" she asked, still feeling like there should be a joke buried in there beyond his gentle teasing. It seemed so long since anyone had much faith in her to do anything.
With Severus everything was different.
Severus kissed her forehead sweetly and went back to slicing vegetables. "Darling, you were more than capable of those brews in your second year I dare say, though I wouldn't have admitted to it then. I have every faith that in very little time you will be more than adequately prepared to sit your NEWTS and receive the scores you no doubt feel you need. I still maintain that you could sit them today and receive top marks, but I appreciate your thoroughness, I find it a truly admirable quality. One of many I find in you."
"Alright." Her simple response was as meaningful as his lovely words, she would trust him, and start to trust in herself. Slowly, she would heal.
Before long they had lunch on the table and George and Kingsley were rapping on the front door. Hermione practically skipped to the door, happy as she was to see her dear friends. She flung the door open before Severus could stop her and had thrown herself into George's arms. "Damn it Hermione," Severus called from behind her. "Perhaps you could show a modicum more care as there is in fact a deranged daughter of a Death Eater and her drugged and dangerous partner out there hell bent on your destruction. Wards do no good if you simply fling the door open without so much as asking who it is." He tried to sound stern and angry but she made it difficult when she was smiling so beautifully at him. He looked past her out the open door at the two men standing on the porch. "Kingsley, George," he greeted.
"Awwww, don't be too hard on her Snape," George said as he lifted Hermione into a tight hug. "My girl here is one bright witch she is, wouldn't dare let in any 'ol beggar. Secret knock and all, became habit, even after the war, and well, after that one Wednesday, and Miss 'Mione here seeing much, much more than she had bargained for we decided on our very own secret knock. Never taught another soul. So you see, perfectly safe." George planted a big sloppy kiss on top of Hermione's head as he set her down between himself and Kingsley, moving to pat Severus on the arm as he brushed past him into the house. "Now kiss Bear here hello and lets get inside so you can show us what you've been doing with the place. Nice to see you bathed this time, by the way," he teased.
Hermione laughed, and did just as he suggested, giving Kingsley a warm hug while Severus shook his head in exasperation.
"You are certain you wish to bind yourself to that for eternity?" Severus asked Kingsley as he ushered him and Hermione back into the foyer.
"Absolutely," Kingsley answered earnestly.
Severus huffed and followed them all in. Hermione showed George to the den, telling him eagerly of her plans for the space as he continued to tease her. Severus asked Kingsley to help him set the table as an excuse to talk with him about Hermione.
"I suppose congratulations are in order Kingsley. I see that some of George's theatricality has rubbed off on you, if the description of your proposal in the paper was even remotely accurate. Though I must applaud your masterful manipulation of the press. You truly were made for politics my friend," he said.
Kingsley smiled broadly. "Thank you Severus. It was time, and I rather think George enjoyed the spectacle of it all."
"I'm sure," he drawled. "Now, is there any news on Cane and the weasel? Have Potter and his team found anything else? I may actually consider the dangerous undertaking you ask of me should I know I have them to test it on."
Kingsley looked pained. "I wish I had better news. So far the trail runs cold in Las Vegas, though we are certain they've long since gone. They found the room they were staying in, it was entirely stripped. Much more thorough job than she did here when they first left. It's obvious she's pulling the strings, though it doesn't release him from his guilt. It is however, Verity Cane that has us most concerned. I've a team here that has been working in tandem with Harry's team. They are a part of the task force we set up to take down the distributors of the laced potions really. They have been going through her place with a fine tooth comb. Poor Goldstein was saddled with her journals. It seems they decided he already read more than anyone else on the team so he got the pleasure. Harry had already said that what he'd read was sick, but Goldstein's well and truly squicked by the inner workings of her mind," Kingsley began to explain the on goings of the investigation.
By the time Hermione and George joined them in the kitchen Severus knew that very little of actual use had been learned, not that he was terribly surprised. They did have a better understanding of what the plan for Hermione had ultimately been in Verity's mind and it was not something Severus was willing to risk. He knew that Verity would not give up and simply start over in the states. She would come back, on that Severus and Kingsley agreed. Severus and Kingsley dropped the conversation for lunch, seeming to agree that it was not polite to discuss while people were attempting to eat. Though Severus found it difficult to focus entirely on the talk at lunch, his mind full of images of Hermione broken and beaten with a cackling witch standing over her laughing madly.
"...was just standing there staring, I mean it was the most skillful, scandalous, and absolutely brilliant mass manipulation I've seen his whole career. He's been very stubborn about not abusing his power and manipulating public opinion just because he can, very honorable for a Minister. I had rather thought that manipulation was a part of the job, but Bear says no," George was excitedly telling the story when Severus' attention snapped back to reality. "No manipulation, not for years. Just honest to goodness leadership. Until, that is until our beautiful little swot needs him, and then, in one swift move he manages to manipulate the crowd so magnificently I couldn't have planned it better myself. What more could a man ask for? After all, my proposal made the front page!"
Hermione slapped George's arm. "You know you didn't need to do that, not for me. I mean, not to say that you shouldn't get married, or bound, I just, I'm rambling. I love you both. I'm so happy for you." She was happy for them, extremely so and felt more than a little silly assuming she was really the reasoning Kingsley would ask George to be bound to him for eternity, simply to save her a little embarrassment in papers that were already hell bent on making her look like a twisted witch. "Sorry," she muttered.
Kingsley was quick to reassure her. "Hermione, darling, while I admit to appreciating the opportunity to keep the press off of your back for a little while longer, that was truly only the cherry on top. I should have asked George ages ago but have let my fears control my actions. George may be content with sharing a quiet life with me, but we all know he certainly appreciates a show. I was able to surprise him, which is hard enough to do, and make it a loud and boisterous affair, just like he prefers."
"Absolutely. So no more talk of this 'sorry' nonsense," George laughed, winking at her from across the table.
"Now that we have all agreed George is rather fond of being utterly obnoxious, and finished with our lunch, shall we perhaps discuss the situation Hermione has found herself in so that we can all be prepared? After all we will need to get back to our respective jobs before too long and as much as I wish there was no need for such a conversation it seems one is unavoidable." George didn't even protest at being called obnoxious, and besides, Severus was right, they needed to figure out what they were going to do, even if no one wanted to talk about it, least of all Hermione.
"Severus, I can't," she told them, her voice small.
"You can. Certainly Kingsley and George can be trusted. They will understand. Perhaps not like I can, but they will not abandon or judge you. Trust them," he told her as he reached across the table and grasped her smaller hand in his own.
"That's right 'Mione. You're our best girl. We love you," George assured her. Kingsley mirrored his sentiment.
Before long Hermione was a quietly telling her story, with tears staining her cheeks while George and Kingsley listened with rapt attention and tried to absorb what she was telling them. She told them how it started, the self loathing and hatred. She told them of feeling like she would never be a real witch, never have real power or control. There were no words that could really explain that the two emotions collided and caused her self destructive casting. She hated who she had become, and craved the proof that she could be a powerful witch. She remembered the sick feeling of power that coursed through her core when she cast the killing curse during the battle, and she remembered the crippling pain of Bellatrix's Cruciatis. She craved the power and believed she deserved the pain.
George and Kingsley were shocked, and horrified. They were also battling the guilt that they had never seen how completely miserable she had been all these years, that they hadn't been able to help her.
In the end there would be no avoiding it. As Hermione had in fact cast the curse, the Unforgivable Curse, she would have to face the Wizengamot. She would need to testify to her actions at the hearing and would need excellent council. Psychology was not something oft discussed in the magical world, and that was perhaps something that was a part of the problem.
Kingsley agreed to use his influence to delay her hearing as long as he could while they thought of options for her defense because as the law stood, it mattered not who the curse was used against, or even if it ever hit a target, it was the casting in itself that was punishable. She could still potentially face time in Azkaban.
"Now, no one will be carting my girl off to a dark dungeon prison like that, well 'cept maybe Snape here, we always thought he rather liked his dungeons, great bat that he is. I suppose if you're determined to be snogging Sevvy here you may just want to prepare for dank dark spaces anyhow. You never know," he joked as Severus cocked an eyebrow warningly at him. "Kidding, kidding," he said quickly, his hands up in a gesture of surrender. "Honestly though 'Mione, we wont let it come to that. We will think of something. Hang in there love."
"While that little speech could have perhaps done without making insinuations about my sexual preferences," Severus drawled, "I think we can all agree on the sentiment. You will not spend a day in that forsaken place. I will see to it."
"Anything I can do, I will Hermione. Now that I know what we are dealing with I am in a better position to guarantee a favorable outcome. For now, I know a few wizards who could potentially serve as your council, if you would allow me to I would glady see if one of them would be up to the task." Kingsley's offer was appreciated, but Hermione was reluctant to allow anyone else to know what she had done yet.
In the end it was decided that Kingsley would look more into how the laws pertaining to Unforgivables were written. George would see what he could do about swaying public opinion, no matter how wrong it seemed that it should matter, they all knew that it would. Severus vowed to keep her safe, from herself as well as outside sources. They would work to rebuild and when the time came they would defend her against her past so that she could be free to have a future.
They agreed to get together for lunch again the following Wednesday. Hermione told George that she didn't think they would make it to Sunday dinner, she used the excuse of the Wolfsbane but truly she just didn't think she was ready for another dose of that insanity quite yet. She loved the Weasleys and her friends dearly, but right now she thought it best to visit in small groups and not in such large masses.
They said their goodbyes, and Hermione and Severus both congratulated Kingsley and George on their engagement again, wishing them a life of happiness. Once it was just the two of them Hermione went to pump while Severus cleared up after their meal. Before long they were sharing a warm embrace and a soft but passionate kiss before Severus prepared to apparate them out of the back yard and straight to the lab.
As he held her close, her soft curls blowing in the wind and tickling at his neck he knew his promise to be true. He would not fail to protect the witch he had come to love so deeply. Not this time. There was no force, magical or otherwise he would allow to harm her. She had already saved him in all the ways that mattered, he would move the heavens to do the same for her.
AN: Thank you all ever so much. I hope you've enjoyed it. Please do review. Hopefully I will be able to get more writing done soon, I should be getting myself a real computer this weekend. No more writing on my phone. I cannot tell you how much you have all come to mean to me. Thank you, as ever for your continued support.
Things are going to be heating up in the coming chapters in more ways than one!
All my love, lil