Summary: More secrets revealed.

A/N: Thanks for reading, everyone! Enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 10

Hermione and Severus sat at the table enjoying the roast chicken dinner he had brought from Hogwarts.

"This was lovely of you to bring Hogwarts food over. I've always loved everything they serve."

Severus arched his brow. "Well then, I'll be sure to do this more often."

"That would be perfect."

"How was your mysterious day?"

She grinned. "Very mysterious. I can tell you, though, I've been given permission to speak to Headmaster Dumbledore about something."

"What?"

"I can't tell you. At least not now. Once it's done, then I should be able to."

"Have I told you how much I hate your job?"

"Severus!"

"Well, you always have to keep secrets from me. That combined with you being from the future and being unable to tell me a lot about that… Well… I feel like I don't know you at all."

She looked stricken. "Are you… are you serious?"

His eyebrows knit together. "In a way, yes. I mean," he huffed. "I don't know what I mean."

Hermione stretched her hand across the table and motioned for him to take it. She squeezed his hand in hers.

"You know me, Severus. Yes, there are some aspects of me that I cannot share with you… yet. We'll get there. But trust me. You know everything that's important about me. I'm what you see before you. I wish I could tell you everything, but… I can't. Not just because I've made a vow not to, but also because it could change the war's outcome."

He was silent for a bit, just staring at her hand. His eyes drew up to hers. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"No, love. It's valid. Too valid." Her lips thinned. "Let me study it out, yeah? Let me see how much I can tell you above what I've already said."

"I appreciate that, Maia. I don't want you to get in trouble, though."

She huffed. "I'm not going to get in trouble. It's my decision to make. Lilah promoted me today."

Severus smiled. "That's wonderful, but you've taken a vow. I know you just can't tell me everything."

She nodded. "I have taken a secrecy vow, but like I said, if it's not going to change the timeline, then I can probably talk to you about it."

He nodded. "Okay."

ooo

She'd run many vision experiments and found one thing to be true. If Severus Snape promised he wouldn't mess with the timeline, he didn't. No matter what she told him, if it needed to happen, it did, even if Severus disagreed with it-like killing Dumbledore.

When he arrived at Spinner's End that night, she threw her arms around him and kissed him passionately.

"That was a nice greeting."

"You're amazing, you know that?"

"I can't say that I did. Go on."

She smirked at him. "So, I did some vision experiments, and you are truly a principled and faithful man. It seems that no matter what I tell you, you won't break the timeline."

"Told you."

She bat at him. "Don't be smug."

"My apologies. Now spill the beans."

She grasped his hand and led him to the sofa. They settled in, and she leaned into him. "I missed you today." She hugged him.

"Stop stalling, I've been waiting for months to find out all of this."

She kissed his cheek before moving a little bit away from him so she could look at him. "Are you sure knowing all of this won't be too much for your Occlumency?"

"Maia, hiding anything with Occlumency is risky. It doesn't matter the size of the secret; if you are skilled at Occlumency, which I am, you can hide anything."

She studied him and nodded finally. "Just be careful, okay?"

He leaned in and kissed her gently. "Thank you for worrying about me. Everything will be fine."

She nodded in agreement. "You know, I've already told you a lot. The most important thing, that you are killed by the snake. Yes, it's You-know-Who's. It isn't the first time he uses it to attempt murder. We can work to be able to save you after the snake attacks you."

"Why did he sic a snake on me instead of just using the Killing curse?"

"Well, that's a long story."

"We have all night."

She gave him a rueful smile. "I'll start from the beginning."

She explained about Voldemort's desires. "You-Know-Who wants to live forever," she explained.

Severus snorted. "Who doesn't?"

"Well, he's taken the steps to assure that it happens."

"What on earth do you mean?" Severus said with dread.

"You've heard of Horcruxes?"

His eyes grew wide. "I have. Terribly dark magic… He's made one?"

"Seven, actually."

Severus gaped at her. "Why?"

"I guess you can never have too many." She quipped. Pausing for a moment, she continued. "I think he wants to ensure that no matter what happens, he has a way to return to life. He is also infatuated with the number seven. He feels the magical properties of that number give him an edge. So basically, the desire to live forever and to be all powerful consumed him."

She then explained about the Deathly Hallows and the Elder Wand and that Voldemort thought that Severus was the master of it.

"Why would he think that?"

She grimaced. "That's a story for another day. Suffice it to say, he had the Elder wand but thought that you were master of it. He had his snake attack you instead of using a spell because you supposedly had the allegiance of the wand, so it wouldn't harm you."

"Merlin, that's psychotic."

"Isn't it, though?"

He pulled her close. "So, how do I survive this?"

"We work together. You need to develop an antivenin for Nagini. I was thinking of privately studying to be a Mediwitch so I will be ready to help. I will come in and administer Dittany and Blood replenisher and get you to a safehouse as soon as possible."

"Seems simple enough."

Hermione blinked back tears.

"Hey, hey," Severus soothed. "You said I would survive, yeah?"

She nodded solemnly.

"Then there's no need to cry, love."

"There was just so much blood, and it's going to need to be timed carefully."

"But you saw that it worked, Maia. It will be okay. I trust you to be able to save me."

She sniffed as Severus wiped her tears. He grasped her face and kissed her lovingly. "We will beat that foul git," he told her.

She closed her eyes and nodded. "I know we will," she whispered.

His lips captured hers, and he begged entrance. She opened to him, and they were lost in one another for a long time. When he finally pulled away, he rested his forehead on hers.

"Thank you," he murmured.

"For?" she said as she pulled back and gave him a curious look.

"For caring. For wanting me to survive and finding a way to help me to do so."

She drew him into a hug then. "I don't know what I'd do if you died again. I won't let you go. I want to be with you always."

"Do you truly?"

"Of course, Severus. I… I love you."

He pulled back and stared at her, his eyes moving over her face.

"That's brilliant because I am madly in love with you."

Her eyes grew wide before she grinned happily and pulled him to her, kissing him passionately. His hand drew up her back, and he pulled her close.

"Make love to me, Severus. Show me that you're mine."

He pulled back, his face filled with wonder. "Only if you'll be mine as well."

"Of course."

His lips crashed down on hers, and they were once again involved fully with one another. They kissed each other over and over again. Separating from her only long enough to stand, he extended his hand, which she grasped, and he pulled her up off the sofa. Capturing her lips again, he slowly led her to the stairwell. Once again, they separated as he urged her up the stairs and to the bedroom. Once there, he led her to his bed and gently eased her down upon it. His eyes roved over her before he pulled her jumper up over her head. Unhooking her bra, he beheld her sitting there shyly in front of him.

"You are so very lovely, Maia."

She stood then and untied his cravat, unbuttoning his vest and shirt and slipping them off his shoulders. Running her hands over his chest, she leaned in and kissed him all over. He groaned at her as she showered him with affection. Pulling her close, he held her there. Hermione enjoyed feeling their skin touching one another. It felt so… intimate.

His head moved down, and he kissed her neck, slowly moving down to her nipple, suckling it reverently. His eyes strayed up to her. She was gasping at his affections. Locking her gaze with his, she reached out and grasped his hair in her fingers, slightly pushing him farther into her breast. Moaning, he increased his suckling and lathing of her nipple.

He paused for a moment. "Do you like that?"

"Yes!" she gasped.

"Do you want more?"

"Oh, Severus, yes!"

"You want me?"

"I want you, !"

"Then you shall have me."

With a silent spell, the rest of their clothes disappeared, and he gently moved her back onto the bed. Moving over her, he looked down at her with desire.

"I am yours," he said as his lips covered hers.

She gasped into him, crushing her lips to his. "And I am yours," she murmured in between his kisses.

He moaned into her. "I can't tell you how much I want you, Maia."

They both kissed and fondled one another, treating the other like they were precious. Severus' hand grasped her breast and squeezed it lightly. She moaned into his mouth as he kissed her provocatively.

Grasping at him, she moved to turn him onto his back. She kissed him and then moved down his body, covering it with kisses. He moaned beneath her.

"You are incredibly sexy," she murmured as she moved down further.

"You think so?"

"Oh, yes. You're sexy here," she kissed his chest. "And here," she moved down to his stomach and kissed him there, tonguing his belly button sultrily.. "And especially here," she scooted down and kissed his penis, which moved in accord with her affection.

He moaned, causing her to smile. She licked his length, making him tense up. Her mouth enclosed his member within her, and she sucked him up and down. He arched into her as she continued her onslaught. Opening his eyes, he craned his neck so he could look at her. Her eyes met his as she bobbed up and down on him. He was panting hard now. Finally, he managed speech.

"Stop!"

She popped off him and gave him a curious look.

"This isn't just about me. It's about you. Us!" he said as he sat up and maneuvered her beneath him. Kissing her passionately, he descended on her sex. He began licking her, making her grasp onto the sheets in ecstasy. He intensified his efforts, making Hermione moan. His eyes drifted up to her. He felt she was close.

Releasing her clit from his suckling, he moved up and kissed her. His eyes looked into hers as he positioned himself at her entrance. "Ready?"

"More than ready. Fill me, Severus."

He plunged into her, and she cried out. He held himself there for a bit before beginning to move slowly within her.

"Oh, Severus, faster, harder!"

He obliged, increasing his thrusts into her. He began to breathe heavily and moan as he pushed in and out within her. They moved together, finding a rhythm.

"So good!" Hermione cried as she moved up and suckled his neck.

Severus pulled back and gave her a lustful look. Bending low, he kissed her long and slow as they continued to move.

"You are exquisite," he murmured as he intensified his thrusts.

They moved together faster and faster. He grunted as he thrust into her hard. They were both overcome with passion. Hermione came first, yelling his name. He emptied into her, moaning hers.

His eyes finally opened and met hers before he crashed down on the bed next to her. He pulled her to him and embraced her, kissing the top of her head.

"That was amazing," he gasped.

She kissed him lovingly. "It was beautiful."

He smiled at her. "I'm glad I didn't disappoint."

"You were perfect."

"Perfect enough to go again?" he asked slyly.

"Thought you'd never ask."