Chapter 74: Contemplation Of A Future

{A/N: Here's Another Update...}

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The Bedroom, The Snape Residence, Spinner's End, Cokeworth England, Muggle World...

Finding herself exhausted but incredibly content, Hermione inched closer toward her equally exhausted lover smiling at the ramifications of his latest display. She wanted to chide him for being so smug but knew all too well that he had a more than enough of a reason to be. Snape seemed to sense this and his arrogance only increased. Hermione rolled her eyes not wanting to give him the satisfaction but she knew it was futile. He had aimed to please her and he had accomplished his very mission. Although, needn't have tried very hard to begin with. Spending as much time with him as possible had always been what she wanted. The smug wizard pulled his young wife closer to him pleased that he had managed to turn things around for them. She had not been afraid of him, of course that was what set her apart from the rest of the students that had come into his life via the Hogwarts Express. Even at the age of twelve she had not been afraid of him daring to challenge him in his own domain in terms of intellect and physically when he'd been a perceived threat to her friends. As the days past, he had come to admire her quiet determination almost as much as her boldness no matter how many times she'd been humiliated or out matched by his merit and dark wit. True to her nature, she'd been a thousand times braver than he, daring to be herself when no one would dare appreciate it. He had taken to suppressing his nature in a bid to make those around himself seem more comfortable. A practice he had learned for the sake of survival when he was but a child, but she would shout her arrival to the very heavens if need be. Once more finding himself amused, Snape noted the complex and various nature of a lion and a snake. Perhaps their Hogwarts houses were a true indication to whom they had been been just not for the reasons justified by those obsessed with the traits exhibited by them.

"I take it that tonight was satisfactory, Mrs. Snape?" asked the Potions Master with something of a self satisfied smirk.

Hermione did her best to ignore it. They had so little time to spend together as it was.

"You're an arse." she said noting the amused chuckle that seemed to do away with his smirk.

"While that may be true, I know for a fact that you enjoyed yourself witch." he replied scooping her into his arms and maneuvering until she towered above him.

The increased contact had done something to them as once more both had been given to arousal in the wake of his actions. Hermione could hardly take her eyes off him, the mystery of whom he had really been so engrossing that she found herself unable to fathom what life would be like without him once the war had been over. While being married this early in her young life had been terrifying for her in the past, she wanted nothing else as she noted the numerous scars that lined her husband's lean pale chest beneath her finger tips.

"I'm alright witch." said Snape catching a glimpse of her concern. "These are old wounds."

Hermione sighed meeting his gaze once more.

"They shouldn't have happened." she said.

"Tell that to Tobias." replied Snape seeming to come to terms with her concern. "He always believed I deserved them."

"To hell with him." replied Hermione feeling a bit of rage in the wake of her husband's admission that her never met father in law had done this to his own son.

Snape sighed reaching up to stroke the cheek of his rather spirited wife.

"Hermione...there is nothing we can do about the past." he reasoned." But, I will admit that I am considering what it means to have a future for the first time in a long time."

The optimism in his tone had taken Hermione by surprise and he seized the opportunity to pull her into his waiting kiss.

"Git." she said before resting her head against his chest.

"Insufferable know it all." he replied holding on to her as they both drifted off into a contented slumber.

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The Bedroom, The Snape Residence, Spinner's End, Cokeworth England, Muggle World...

Severus Snape's unceremonious tossing and turning in the midst of his sleep had awoken Hermione Granger as she attempted to make sense of the tremors that seemed to plague her weary husband. She only thought to wake him but feared his reaction given the night before when he'd been in an uncontrollable state. Snape growled in his sleep expressing disinterest in his latest round of torment. He forced himself to awaken nearly falling out of bed in the process. Hermione dared to touch him pulling him back from the edge just in time to avoid a nasty concussion if his head would have hit the nearby wall. Gasping for breath and unsure of his surroundings, Snape immediately drew his wand glaring in the darkness like a cat poised to attack the first sign of movement in the shadows. He'd been sweating bullets and quite alert as his fogged mind attempted to make sense of what had just occurred. Hermione watched him, too shocked to move and driven to silence. She knew not if this had been her Severus or the death eater from before but she dared not startle him further.

Snape scrambled to get away from the bed his wand at the ready as his mind began to clear.

"He is angry." he said to no one in particular.

It was in this moment that Hermione dared seek answers.

"Who is angry?" she asked curious.

Snape's tone became emotionless and his gaze distant despite the darkness that surrounded them.

"T-The Dark Lord." he replied.

Before Hermione could inquire further Snape suddenly hissed nearly dropping his wand and gripping his left forearm.

"I...I am being summoned." he managed despite the apparent agony he'd been in. "GO!...return to the manor!."

Hermione knew better than to argue with him as he quickly spelled on his attire and left her behind leaping out the nearby window. He treated her to an apologetic gaze before taking his leave of her unsure what awaited him at the end of his summons.

Once again Hermione found herself alone at Spinner's End fearing what would become of her husband in the wake of his latest summons from the despot.