Back in the privacy of their room at the Leaky Cauldron, Hermione flopped down on the bed with a sigh, resting her head forwards onto her hands in an exasperated move.
Severus wanted more than anything to comfort the witch, take her into his arms and hold her reassuringly tight, but deciding that his heart was lurching ahead of their interactions so far he resorted to simply lowering himself next to her and placing a comforting hand on her back. Murmuring in a deep, resonatingly comforting voice, Severus assuaged Hermione's worries as best he could; "I'm sure it isn't anything to worry about, Hermione. Everybody changes as they go through life, and by the time you're our age, we're very little of the people we were when our wands first chose us. Most just don't seek novel wands, else this wouldn't be such a phenomenon."
Warmed by his attempt to comfort her, and encouraged by his close, warm presence, Hermione hesitantly dropped her head to Severus' shoulder, shuffling closer across the end of the bed. Freezing for only a breath, Severus stretched his hand from her mid back until his arm was comfortingly around her shoulders, subconsciously drawing circles on her arm as she nestled in, whispering; "I'm sure you're right. I mean, you also have a different wand now too… I'm almost feeling guilty for my other wand in all honesty. At least most who get new wands lost theirs originally!"
"House elves and wands, what other ridiculous causes call your guilt, witch?" Severus mocked, warmly - earning him a slap on the chest from the witch. Continuing more seriously, resting his chin on top of Hermione's fuzzy head in a very natural move, Severus voiced thoughts as realisation struck him; "Hermione… Our wands being largely the same, is that what's worrying you?"
A small pause in which Severus' heart stopped was broken by Hermione's soft response, "I wouldn't say worrying, but I'm certainly curious. I guess that sharing my soul with you all that time ago may have something to do with it…"
"That makes sense, the wand does bond the soul of the wizard - or witch. Hermione -", Severus tentatively reached a finger under Hermione's chin, tilting her head back to look into her eyes searchingly; "-do you regret it? Sharing your soul with me?".
To Severus' surprise, her response was first to wave her hand in his direction. Assuming she was shooing him, he began to move away from her until he saw black locks of hair sweep through his peripheral vision. The witch had… changed him back?
Confirming his pondering, Hermione stated matter-of-factly, "I would much rather have this conversation with the man whom it concerns".
Now she was confronted with the dark featured wizard she had come to feel familiar with, Hermione felt flutters throughout her body at the proximity of their faces, her heart beating wildly. Severus really had the most stunning eyes, inky black but swirling with care, wisdom, something else - an emotion she couldn't place straightaway. The place where his finger was gently supporting her chin heated with the most magical warmth that spread through her veins, through her soul. Realising he was still waiting on her answer, she breathily replied, "I wouldn't regret sharing my soul with you in a million years. I'm so very glad you're here, Severus."
Severus' heart melted, unfamiliar tears of joy glassing over his eyes, and he barely managed to voice "thank you", before they each intuitively leaned in, closing the space between them until their mouths were separated by a breath. Sharing a deep, meaningful gaze from inches away, they melted towards each other, their lips meeting with a delicate, magical press. Hermione immediately found his lips again once it broke, the kiss heating up as her hands reached confidently for his face, pulling him closer, and granting him access to her mouth as his tongue flickered over her lips. Breaking only for ragged breaths, they devoured each other somehow combining passion with a delicate caring. Light nips of Severus' lips here, and slow, maddening sucks of Hermione's lower lip there, heat surged through their bodies - attraction and some deep, animalistic connection taking control.
Suddenly a burst of blue light appeared through the window eliciting a yelp of shock from Hermione, who grasped Severus' hand tight in fear, pulling back otherwise from the deeply annoyed wizard. "Whoever sent this patronus is hex practice for my new wand." He growled, earning a warm laugh and light kiss from Hermione - immediately melting away his harsh intention.
"Agreed, however this is Minerva's cat so perhaps less of the hexing!", teased Hermione.
The patronus spoke in a shrill Scottish voice, somewhat out of place with the cat from whence it came. "I trust this finds you well, Hermione. I have assembled the debrief meeting, and wanted to invite you and Severus to the Room of Requirement for eighteen hundred hours today. Please do let me know if you can both make it at your earliest convenience."
With that, the cat disappeared into blue shimmers, and Hermione relaxed into Severus, looking up at his eyes with earnest. "How do you feel about that?"
A dark glint shot across the wizard's inky eyes, "I'd much rather spend the evening with a certain enchanting witch".
"Minerva is plenty enchanting!" Hermione replied in jest, earning a throaty snarl from her partner in crime.
"Impertinent witch! But in all seriousness, I believe it would be beneficial to have such a meeting so let's respond and get it over with." Severus extracted himself from Hermione and stood up, flourishing his new wand as he cast a patronus. Or rather, as he attempted to. For all that shot forth from his wand was trickles of blue shimmer - reminding Hermione of the original DA meetings of old. Becoming increasingly frustrated, Severus' attempts grew more feeble and, sensing his despair, Hermione reached for his free hand, squeezing it reassuringly. As if their strength became one, on the next attempt a beautiful fountain of patronus magic fanned out, swirling like a cloud before revealing…
"A badger?" Both exclaimed simultaneously, Severus with outrage and Hermione with fascination.
"I'm not a fucking Hufflepuff." Snarled Severus, earning a gentle slap from Hermione.
"Severus, there is no room for intra-house hatred post-war! And badgers are cute."
"They are also fluffy. And small."
"Like me!" Hermione exclaimed. "Unless you're saying you don't like fluffy and small, Severus?", with which Hermione brought on sly puppy dog eyes like no man had ever seen.
Swooping down to whisper breathtakingly in her ear, Severus responded, "Did I not just prove that I am rather partial to you, small fluffy witch?". The absurdity of these words coming from such a gravelly man was lost on Hermione, as her spine was tingling beautifully from his breath on her neck and ear, and the growling tones of his voice. However she began giggling, confusing Severus immensely until he saw what had tickled her attention. The badger was stood there waiting for it's orders, and presumably taking all of what was said in verbatim.
Severus whipped his wand across the badger, causing it to fade immediately, before recasting another identically. "Go to Minerva, tell her we will meet her as suggested."
The white stripe atop the badger's head glowed ethereally as it bounded off through the window in search of its target.