Severus was at a loss for words. "I… I…Ahh. Just maintaining our cover. We're supposed to be a couple, remember. Come on, let's go." He took her hand as they strolled away.

Next, they went to the formal gardens. Covering several acres, it was truly beautiful to the point that Narcissa Malfoy would have been green with envy. There were several people working there with aprons on. An exception to the rule, but necessary when handling branches and brambles. Hermione wondered if they were guests or staff of the resort. Probably both. It was mostly well trimmed hedges with stone pathways, flowering bushes and a smattering of annuals for color. Every place so far had been exceptionally clean and well cared for.

They stopped for something to eat and drink. Taking it with them as they walked along. Severus was surprised to see Hermione pull muggle money out of her hat brim. "I was expecting to be in an amusement park all day. I exchanged some galleons yesterday." Cheeky witch.

There was one large red rose bush on an arched trellis surrounded by boxwoods. A very prickly business that. Severus would have paid to see who took care of it and how. At the south end was a tall privet hedge. Curious, Hermione wandered into what looked at first to be a maze with soft moss under foot, but it turned out to be small private nooks and rooms blocked from obvious sight. From the sounds she heard (and things she saw) it was a place meant for couples. She came out quickly red as a beet down to her perfect tits. It was all Severus could do to keep from laughing out loud.

He put his arm around her as they went, under the guise of keeping their cover of course. Both trying to ignore the bliss of feeling of skin against skin. Their conversations continued to progress as they walked.

Ever thought about getting married and starting a family?

Do you have a lover?

Do you keep in touch with anyone?

Have you gone to the war memorial yet?

Do you still have nightmares?

Do you have any regrets?

The answers flowed as freely as the questions between them. Both gaining insights into the other's life during and after the war and building on this new found bond of camaraderie. Hermione felt safe again like she did in the hospital with him all those months ago. Snape was discovering just how strong and brilliant a person she really was, compared to the child he knew.

After watching from under a tree for an hour they decided to move on to the forested area. The darkness of the canopy gave a feeling of sacredness about it. Like a cathedral. As if it still held magic from the beginning of time. A dense forest of enormous old oaks and hemlock, maple and ash, beautifully pruned and manicured with ferns beneath. There was even wildlife there. Birds of all kinds, squirrels, rabbits, deer and even a fox could be seen. Most pampered to the point of not being afraid of the patrons. There were several stations with feed along the way that you could offer to tempt the animals closer. Including something they called Fox Chow, dried bits of meat like jerky. This place was so much like paradise they both felt like Adam and Eve. No wonder the patrons and staff guarded it so jealously.

Of all the areas they had been in so far, the woods had the fewest people. All huddled in small groups at the tables and benches. The trees being so tall, left the paths in the space below easy to navigate, and you could see for several yards in all directions. Something about this incredible place made you whisper, and Severus had to remind himself many times that there was a killer on the loose here. No wonder the victims died without any trauma. Anyone here would be easy pickings to a skilled wizard.

Everywhere they had gone there were a few harmless magical signatures, but no wards or anything that stirred his spy senses to action. It suddenly occurred to Severus that the normal signature may not apply to this killer. His killing curse was unknown and so his magic would be totally foreign. That made him even more dangerous. The killer could stand right next to Severus and he wouldn't know it. Time to go.

"It's getting late Hermione. We should go back and report our findings." Despite everything, Severus disliked the notion of leaving this place. They had both gotten over being naked around each other early and had talked about everything that came to mind. He had fun teasing her all day and she shot back at him with as good as she got. He just plain didn't want to stop being around her. "Would you… When we get out of here… would you like to go out to… dinner?"

Hermione smiled. "Yes, I think I'd like that very much."

The walk back up to the entrance was too quick. They retrieved their things and now it felt odd to be wearing clothes again. Everything seemed to scratch and irritate their skin.

oopOqoo

"Thank you for letting us in sir. Everything was beautiful. I see now why you are so very careful with your patrons. We had a wonderful time and will be back soon." Hermione shook the receptionist's hand.

He smiled back as if he were a little confused. "You're welcome my dear. I'm so glad you had a good time. Your first visit with us is free. When you come back, we will discuss registration and your membership dues."

"Yes sir, that would be acceptable. Goodbye." Hermione waved as they left.

"Did you hear what I heard?" Severus' spy senses were flaring. "Membership dues mean there is a record of all the people who visit. We may be able to not only nail the bastard but give names to the bodies at the ministry".

Hermione's eyes were shining brightly at the prospect of naming the killer. "I'd like a good look at that register."

Severus grinned in anticipation. "I want more than a good look. What do you say we wait and get a copy of our own."

The sun was setting gloriously in the west. The man at the reception desk was dressed and locking the door behind him. Severus and Hermione were waiting disillusioned on the other side of the road. When his car drove away, Hermione motioned to go to the door but was held back by Severus. "Wait. Something's not right here." The hair on the back of his neck had never failed him. Moments later they heard the door unlock and a figure emerge.

He, and there was no doubt it was a 'He' with the obviously heavy bundle slung over his shoulder. He was dressed in a long black cloak, black knee-high boots and a hood pulled over his face. The bundle was large and he had to readjust it to stand. Hermione froze when she realized it was a body wrapped in a blanket. She looked up at Snape who had grabbed her wrist tightly. Severus was as still as a statue, but you could see his attention was tight as a bowstring. The man turned and relocked the door with his wand and then… wavered… out of existence.

Hermione let out the breath she'd been holding but remained silent until Severus spoke. "He's gone." The anger coming off Snape was like being next to a blast furnace. Suddenly his wand shot a red bolt at a nearby tree, and it shattered. "SON-OF-A-BITCH! HE'S KILLED AGAIN. RIGHT UNDER MY NOSE!" A second tree exploded. "He was here all the time. He knew exactly who we were and what we were doing." A nearby bush suddenly sizzled and burst into flame. "DAMN IT! He didn't need to come out the front door. He knew we were here, and he wanted to show off. That cock sucker was laughing at us the whole time!" Another tree exploded.