***Chapter Seventeen***

May 1984

"You look concerned," Severus said after dinner when his wife had been unusually quiet.

He knew days at the Ministry could be long, but she was usually at least animated with both of the children at dinner. She always wanted to hear about their day. Everett's days were far less exciting than Harry's of course, but she still listened and asked questions.

"Will you walk with me?"

"Of course," he said.

They both ensured the boys were busy and Paw was aware they would be outside. They collected their cloaks, as being May it was still cool.

"I have been offered a job," she said once they were well outside their home.

"Oh?"

He frowned. Why was she concerned about a job offer? Concerned enough to leave their home? He couldn't imagine why she'd feel the need to tell him about a job offer privately.

"This was expected, yes? Arthur told you, and repeated in January, that they were thinking of making you head of your division."

"Not that job. I mean, I was offered that job, too. They offered me a second job."

"Okay."

He went over in his head the conversations they'd had about jobs. He knew initially she'd mentioned wanting to work with the Department of Mysteries but being concerned, rightfully so, about any background or character reference check that might be done on her. So, she hadn't applied, or told anyone but him she even might be interested that he knew of. He knew she didn't want to work where she was forever. She felt as if the praise she was getting was somewhat deceptively earned since she was a muggle, so coming up with muggle excuses wasn't a hardship for her. The only thing he could think of that would give her pause would be something that would require travel, time away from them. Her family.

"I'd be an Unspeakable," she said.

"Ah," he said with a slight nod. "The time room?"

He chuckled as that would be fitting.

"No, I wouldn't take that position anyway, you know that."

"I do," he said with a nod.

Of course she wouldn't. She wouldn't want to tempt fate anymore than was necessary. He did know that, and she wouldn't even bring such an offer home to him.

"The love room could be appropriate given our soul marks."

"Space or brain," she said.

"Ah, both appropriate for you."

"I'd never be able to talk about my work, Severus. To you, to our children."

"Yet people do it." There were married people who worked in confidential jobs, not just in the wizarding world.

She huffed, clearly he was missing something. People worked as Unspeakables all of the time and had families. Friends and families of those people just took it as a given that they'd get little more than "work is fine" out of them. It wasn't like they wouldn't let her be married or anything.

"I can't keep secrets from you!"

"Ah," he said, now understanding her quandary.

They were capable of sharing their thoughts in their dreams or, even, unintentionally as part of their connection. Of course very little was actually known about soul marks since it had been a couple of hundred years since the last pair had found one another. So he stated the obvious, which he knew she'd already thought of. He realized this was the point of her dilemma. She'd feel as if she was being dishonest, more than just about her identity, if she didn't tell them.

"They don't know that, though, or they wouldn't be offering you the job."

"Correct."

Both were quiet, thinking about that, and the repercussions of it. In the brain room, she could be working on some very touchy things. The space room, probably not quite as much. Still the expectation of secrecy would be there. She would never willingly violate that expectation. And what would happen if they discovered that they could share thoughts and dreams? What would happen if it cost her her job, her reputation?

"So, do I not say anything? I mean, we're the first known soul marked couple to have found one another in like two centuries and there's no documentation on it. So they wouldn't know that we share thoughts sometimes."

"Mm, and yet, you think that would be untruthful."

"Yes," she said softly. "I'd like the brain room I think, if I were to choose."

"As I would expect."

"The space room does have interest, too. To bring my muggle knowledge, and that knowledge from 1998…"

"Yes, that would hold appeal for me as well."

"You probably know more about space than I do anyway."

"Why do you say that?"

"You were alive during the first moon landing and stuff, Severus. Are you saying that didn't interest you?"

"It did. You're right, and I ate it up. Everything I could get my hands on. It was about the only thing Dad and I watched together."

"Why would you think I wouldn't know that?"

"I forget," he shrugged.

It was easy to forget how much about him this witch knew.

"So, division head of Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, likely primarily a desk job or the brain room?"

"Yeah," she said, sliding her hand into the crook of his arm to tug him a bit closer.

"Oh, Hermione," he whispered.

He stopped walking, turning to face her. He slid a hand to her cheek. He searched her eyes. He loved how she looked at him. He loved the feel of her skin underneath his, even at times like this. Those whiskey brown eyes saw all of him, knew him, accepted him, loved him. He might doubt the knowledge part from time to time. He found it astounding he had anyone to allow this close to him. However, the acceptance and love part were never up for debate. She'd traveled to the past for him, knowing full well she was getting a man who'd taken the Dark Mark.

"Would I be proud of you?"

"I don't know, are you?"

"That's not what I'm asking, and you know it. I find myself incredibly proud. I'm wondering if that me would have been, too?"

"I believe so, yes, of course."

"I would say stay away from the time room."

"As I said, I wouldn't consider it, truthfully. What I want to know, though." She sighed. "I'd thought of applying for the Department of Mysteries when first thinking of going to the Ministry. I told you that, that I thought that Leandra's credentials wouldn't pan out. That hasn't changed. She exists on paper only. Why are they offering me a job in a position like that?"

"Because you've proven your worth? Because Albus and I have spoken highly of you, as have all of the other staff at Hogwarts."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"I had no idea."

"I guess I didn't realize why they were being questioned. I assumed it was for the division job. It seemed a bit odd that they'd go to that extent for a desk job, but I just thought they were being incredibly thorough. Thinking of the future and whether you were someone they'd want as a division head, knowing that leads to advancements. Usually anyway."

"Evidently not. You said nothing?"

"What was to say? You knew they were considering you for the job."

"True. So, do I take it?"

"Do you want it?"

"I think I do."

"Then do it, Witch. I will not tell a soul that our thoughts bleed to one another on occasion."

"And the fact I can never tell our children what I do? You don't think that might draw more attention to me later?"

"Ah, you're thinking of when you get to Hogwarts."

"I am," she said.

"Actually it would probably go better toward why you're not seen very often by anyone but our family."

"I guess."

"Sleep on it. Obviously they didn't make you decide then and there."

"No, because they offered me my choice."

"I'm surprised it was only two jobs, truthfully."

"I'm also thinking of you."

"Me?"

"Yes. You. Before. The toll having to live a secret life took on you. I realize you still did, but a few years isn't as much as over fifteen years. That was the reason that you visited me over the years. You wanted someone to believe in you because you knew by that point Albus had asked you to kill him. You knew everyone would think you were truly on Voldemort's side. You felt betrayed."

"I remember the memories, yes."

"It wasn't easy. This would be the rest of my life. Or could be anyway."

"You have me, though. I had no one for those years until I gave you that book. You will not be alone. Yes, you will be prohibited from telling people what you're working on, but really Leandra, would anyone understand it anyway?"

"Well, put like that," she said, smiling widely. He loved that smile there. He loved that he was responsible for it.

"I love you."

"And I love you," she said, reaching up to kiss him.

"I see Narcissa's elves have been busy," she said, gesturing to the area that was theirs outside of the walls.

"Yes, I told her they could start anytime. I figured if they got everything cleaned up then we can go from there."

"Good idea. You're coming around to it."

She sounded incredibly proud of herself. She was right, though. At first the idea had been preposterous. However, the more research he'd done on this area, this land. Well, the more he realized it wasn't such a farfetched idea. It would be nice to bring a piece of history alive again and make it work.

"I like the idea of giving people in this area something that's theirs, yes. Creating something we can leave for our children."

"Mm, softie."

He scoffed and nipped at her ear. "Come back inside with me and I will show you that is, in fact, not true in the least."

"Mm, the tent is still set up from the weekend when the boys and I used it," she said, gesturing to the area he knew the tent to be.

They'd bought a second one to keep here at the house because the boys liked to play in it so well. He knew there would be no convincing Leandra to leave hers here. He wouldn't ask her to, honestly. He hadn't lived what she'd been through, but he saw her memories and read enough of what she brought with her to know she would likely never get over thinking she needed to be ready to disappear on a moment's notice.

And who was he to say she wasn't right in being paranoid? Who was to say that someday, somewhere, someone wouldn't find something out that would cause them to need to flee? He didn't think her blood status would cause that any longer necessarily. However, if someone were to find out who she was and, more importantly, when she was really from. Well, that could cause problems.

She assured him the time turner did not look like a time turner, certainly not one known about in 1984 and summoning "time turner" from her bag would not work. He told her under no circumstances, ever, was she to show it to him. He didn't want it in his mind for anyone to ever view. She had understood why he made that request of her.

However, if it was discovered that a time turner was here. Who was to say that someone wouldn't go back prior to her arrival and change things yet again? Who was to say they wouldn't go back to her arrival in this time and assassinate her before she could get to his home? Or before they could embark on their quest? Add into things like the fact that they were the guardians of Harry Potter. Well, her preparedness and wanting to keep her family safe had evidently rubbed off on him.

They had already set a place in Finland, near where the nomadic Sami lived so not seeing someone every day didn't necessarily stand out, to meet should the time come that they needed to flee. As much as he wanted to assume they would be able to do so together, he knew that may not be true. Matteo Rossi owned a home there as of last summer. Use of an unauthorized portkey and just Severus going on the trip, no one was even aware he'd even left Britain. The modest home was on the outskirts of muggle areas and was now unplottable. He had purchased an elf, much to Hermione's dismay, to ensure the home would be cared for in their absence. They weren't planning on spending much time there so an elf was necessary as far as Severus was concerned.

It was furnished with the bare minimum. Two bedrooms had furnishings, as the boys could share a room, regardless of their ages if they were truly on the run. A living room had a sofa, chair, and a couple of tables. The kitchen had the bare bones required as far as pots and pans and the like. There was also a table that seated four with chairs in there as well. The dining room at the moment stood empty. He ensured there were a few sets of clothes for the both of them as well as some summer clothes for the boys a little bigger than their current sizes. There were documents there for them if needed.

He would not take the chance. He had no idea who would discover what, or who would be keen enough to realize his Leandra was Hermione Granger when she got here.

If they never needed it?

Great.

They could, of course, use it and tell others they were going elsewhere for summer and holiday trips. That might prove difficult with children, but they'd talk about that next summer. And if their children had to attend Durmstrang Institute? Well, so be it. It was a reputable school. Keeping his soul mate and their children safe was his priority.

Admittedly, he thought of retirement, too, when they decided on a safe house. He imagined by that time, getting away from Scotland and frigid winters would be welcome. She'd argued, and he eventually catapulted, that their safe house and their retirement plans should not be the same house. It was valid, and retirement was years from now, so they had plenty of time to pick out that home.

So, did it bother him that his wife would likely always be ready to not just flee but survive said escape at the drop of a hat?

Immensely.

He hated that she lived through such an ordeal, something that he himself had a hand in her having to go through, that she found it necessary to live like that. However, he accepted it was so and wanted to be prepared himself in case her worst fears came to be.

The tent in question was used a few times over the winter, but taken down each time so that it would not get ruined due to inclement weather. Now that it was spring and they were fairly assured snow and freezing would not be so prevalent, they could leave it up for the boys (and evidently them) to use. The new one wasn't outfitted nearly as extravagantly as the one she had in her bag. It was nice, certainly something they could take with them to quidditch matches and such if they wanted to and be comfortable for a long weekend or a week. Her original tent, though, was outfitted to survive … well, a war. She even had things for him in it these days.

"Did I help you decide?" he asked as they walked in the direction of said tent. His fingers were laced through hers and she squeezed his hand.

"You did. As long as you know not to say anything, I think we'll be fine. I'm not going to purposely tell you anything."

"Oh, I bet I could get you to tell me something on purpose."

She snorted, slapping his arm with her free hand. "If you want me to talk about work while we're having sex, I guess if that's what excites you."

"Hardly. I assure you."

They got to the tent and both ensured the door was as secure as a tent's door could be.

"I'm not sure I believe you," she said, making her way to the room that was now designated as their bedroom.

"I actually prefer rendering you incapable of using your brain while making love to you."

"Me, too," she said, waving her hand so they were both without clothes. "Now, make that the last thing I do with my brain for a while."

"You drive a hard bargain, my witch."


NOTE: Happy Wednesday! Hope you're having a good week. Thank you for reading. ~Susan