Disclaimer:- I neither own nor own anything from this story. My plot is my own but the world of Harry Potter is the intellectual property of JK Rowling and associates.

oOo

A/N:-Thank you to everyone who left alerts and reviews on the last chapter, I appreciate every one of them. I hope you all enjoy reading this next chapter.

oOo

Chapter Nine – What's Next

Waking up the next morning just as the sun was rising for Hermione was completely different to the morning before. Yesterday morning she'd had so many unresolved emotions and thoughts invading her mind. This morning, however, felt completely different, her mind had settled more, and knew she belonged with the magnificent man whose chest she was currently using as a pillow.

Glancing up at his face, she saw that he was relaxed and serene as he slept and it made her smile. However, when she went to stretch she discovered that she was quite sore after their amorous adventure in the shower. She gasped, and felt Severus inhale deeply beside her.

"What's wrong?" his sleepy voice asked.

"Oh, love. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you… I'm just a bit sore that's all. It's been almost six years since I've done anything like we did last night."

He instantly became more alert. "But you're only sore from that, it's nothing more serious?" he questioned.

She smiled at him and snuggled in. "Yes, it's just the soreness of unused muscles complaining, Severus, don't be too concerned."

He kissed her head as he nodded his understanding, even though he'd thought her gasp was more pained than that, and his arms wound around her tighter as he said softly, "I have some facts from yesterday, things I did not tell you when I returned from dealing with the grimoire that you will require a knowledge of before you venture out in public this morning."

"Oh?" Hermione questioned, her head rising from his chest.

He took the opportunity to sit further up his pillows, and sensing the importance of the move she followed him, and her nether regions clenched in discomfort as she did. This time, however, she tried not to show that it caused her any awkwardness.

Severus watched this happen carefully, and regardless of her efforts not to show any physical discomfort he told her, "I shall bring you a pain potion with your coffee, but first you need to know that your former home was fire-bombed by the grimoire last night."

Hermione's eyes opened wide, and she asked the natural question. "What? Why didn't you say something last night?" However, his answer took her completely by surprise.

His hand rose to her cheek, and he replied, "Sweetheart, we were still playing host to the Potter children, and I am certain that you would not have wished them nor our own to hear such things so I kept my silence. Then…" and a little smile tilted his lips, "Well, we became otherwise occupied."

She gasped at the same time as she snickered, and it resulted in a funny noise as she hugged him. Severus thought it was in shock, but he found out moments later that he was greatly mistaken.

"You called Rose, Hugo and Minnie ours," she cried emotionally, pulling back and wiping at tears which seemed to have spontaneously had sprung from her eyes, she placed her now wet hands on his cheeks. "Could you really think of them as yours, love?" she asked deadly serious.

"I have always longed for a family, Hermione. No matter who their sperm donor was I will protect you and all three of them until my very last breath," he declared.

"Oh, Severus," she cried, her mouth covering his. She'd been right to think of him as magnificent, because he truly was. He was a precious thing amongst a sea of inferior wizards, and she could not have thought of a better outcome for her and her children than to be here with him. "I love you," she whispered against his lips.

"I love you too," he replied, saying the words this morning that he'd been too emotional to manage to utter last night. "And it may be the incorrect thing to ask at the moment, but would you do me the honour of marrying me as soon as you're free to do so?" he asked.

She smiled, her hands stroking his face. "I will," she promised, "I will be honoured to do so," but as she said it her brow furrowing in thought, before she added, "I've heard that the dissolution of wizarding marriages can be quite a quick thing."

"If all parties agree, yes, that is the case," Severus answered, but then he looked at her silently, his head tilting slightly. "Hermione, you did hear what I said about your cottage, didn't you?"

She nodded. "Yes, I heard," and she shook her head. "It's sad, but it also means that Ron and his tart can have no claim over a cottage that no longer exists," she answered with a smile.

"Oh, I see," Severus laughed. "He's not entitled to anything in any case," but then he smiled slyly at her. "But how very practical of you."

She smiled shark-like in return, but then scowled. "I do not want him to benefit from anything I've done," she replied.

"He won't and Draco will make certain that none of them do, sweetheart."

She nodded. "Is there anything else you think I need to know?"

"No, not at present, I just wanted you to be aware that there had been a fire that people might comment on before we take the children to school this morning."

Leaning forward she kissed him. "Thank you for being so thoughtful," and their kiss quickly turned heated, but then he pulled back.

"I will get our coffee before the children are awake, so we have some peace in which to partake of it," he stated, starting to pull away, and just like that their day had started.

Settling back against the pillows Hermione smiled. This was what she'd been searching for, this type of intimacy with Severus was what had been missing, and she carefully got out of bed to head to the loo and freshen up while he was gone. As she relieved herself, Hermione took a moment to mourn the loss of her little cottage, it had been home for her for almost twelve years, and it had been the place she'd brought each of her children back to when they'd been born. However, she hadn't lied to Severus, she was very pleased that only her name was on the deeds, and that Ron could not simply move in like she suspected that he would think he could.

xox

Over breakfast, Hermione told the kids that there had been a fire in their former home after they'd left it, and that she was very pleased that none of them had been there at the time.

Rose had surprised her by shrugging and saying, "It's okay, Mum, I like it here much better."

"Yeah," Hugo put in. "I've got heaps more space for my lego."

However, Hermione put an arm around Minnie as she got off her chair and snuggled up to her side. "What's wrong, love?" she asked.

"I liked my old room sharing with you," the little girl admitted tearfully. "And now it's all gone."

Pulling her youngest up onto her lap she hugged her. "It's okay, sweetie, we're all safe and sound here, and I'm sure that you'll get used to your new space, and even learn to enjoy it."

"And your mother and I are only through the door," Severus put in, watching the scene play out, as he noted that Hermione was still quite uncomfortable, and it made him feel guilty that they'd given in to their need for one another last night. He knew now in hindsight that it had been too soon after the curse, and that she was still healing. He wished that she'd told him she'd still been uncomfortable, but they'd both been caught up in the needs of the moment.

However, she did not seem concerned, and he watched as his witch produced a tissue from the confines of her bra and wiped Minnie's eyes. "Here, blow, sweetie" she encouraged, holding the tissue to her daughter's nose. "That's it, now finish your toast and drink your milk, it's almost time to go," she added, glancing at the clock.

"Okay, Mummy," Minnie said, sniffing, as she hopped back down and sat in her own chair.

xox

With her usual precision Hermione had the kids all ready for school by the correct time and they all walked out of the front door to greet the somewhat blustery day with a full twenty minutes to go before the bell at school would ring. Now, the kids had been out in the back yard yesterday, but none of them had seen the length of the driveway yet.

"Wow!" Hugo cried. "My own bike track!" and he ran off ahead of them without a care in the world, his arms held out like an aeroplane.

Hermione, however, who was still in pain, even after the potion sighed, turned to Severus as he called for Hugo to come back.

"We're not walking today, Hugo, we're taking the car," and they both saw the little redhead screech to a halt and come running back.

"Really?" he cried excitedly. "I love Uncle Harry's car… What kind of car have you got, Professor?"

All his questions made Rose harrumph. "Can't you ever be like the rest of us and just wait patiently?" she asked grumpily as Hugo pulled a face at her. "Oh, charming," she muttered, rolling her eyes.

"That's enough from both of you," Hermione scolded. She'd seen Rose's eyes lighting up at the prospect of travelling in a car to school too. Her eldest often complained that they walked literally everywhere, and why couldn't they have a car too like Uncle Harry and Auntie Ginny had?

They followed Severus over to the garage which was off to the side of the house, and back hidden around the corner by a hedge line. They all watched as one of the three doors on the garage opened as they approached.

"Woohoo!" Hugo cried, as an olive green Audi A4 sedan came into view. "This is a sick car, Professor."

"Sick?" Severus questioned to Hermione quietly as they followed behind the children.

"It means great," she informed him.

"Oh, I see," he murmured, starting into the garage. "I assume Minnie requires a booster seat?" he asked.

"Yes," and pulling a small bag from her hand bag, she rummaged around in it for what she was looking for, and once she'd found it she handed it to Severus, who enlarged it and placed it in the middle seat. Putting his hand in his pocket for his keys, he clicked the boot lock, and instructed, "Bags in the boot and bottoms on seats. Here, you first, Minnie," he continued, taking her bag and handing it to Rose as he encouraged her into the vehicle and put her seat belt on for her.

Leaving Hermione to make certain that Hugo was in his seat properly, he opened the passenger door for her as Rose closed her door on the other side, and they were on their way. The trip down the drive had all of his passengers riveted to the scenery as they saw a herd of deer grazing on the expansive meadow to the left of the drive.

"They must be used to you," Hermione commented, realising that she hadn't even known that Severus had a car, let alone that he could drive.

"I pose them no threat, they know that this is a sanctuary for all creatures," he answered, stopping at the huge front gates and waving a hand to open them. No one had to know that it was not an automatic gate opener, but this community was mainly wizarding, and many wizarding households—including his own—had wards to stop Muggles from becoming too curious should they pass by.

xox

Dropping the kids at school was a quiet affair, and the only person they spoke to was Ginny, and knowing that Severus was due at a meeting with Kingsley and Harry after lunch the redhead invited Hermione over for afternoon tea since she was not working.

This was fine because at the moment Hermione was happier not to be alone, she considered if she had too much time to think about what her soon to be ex-husband had done—be it via a vindictive book or not—that it would swallow her whole.

However, Hermione was surprised when Severus took her hand and said to Ginny, "Thank you, Madam Potter, but I was hoping that Hermione would stay with me after our meeting with Draco this morning."

"But I thought you had a meeting with…" Ginny started.

"I owled Mister Potter and postponed our meeting, it will occur later in the week now." This was all the explanation he gave, and he started to turn back towards the car.

"Oh!" Ginny gasped. "I didn't know," and she touched Hermione's arm to gain her attention. "Then perhaps we can have lunch later in the week."

"Perhaps," Hermione replied, with a somewhat wane smile, as her mind started to wonder why Severus had postponed that meeting. "I'll see you this arvo," she added, knowing they'd both be here for the afternoon pick up, and then allowing Severus to guide her back to their car.

Once they were installed in the vehicle she questioned him. "I didn't know you'd decided not to go to the meeting today."

"No, my apologies, love, I owled Mister Potter… Harry, just before we left while you were doing Rose and Minnie's braids," and he reached forward and took her hand.

"But why did you cancel?" she asked.

"For one thing you are not as robust as you're pretending to be today, and once we've set the wheels into motion with Draco I am taking you back home to care for you until it is time to pick the children up."

Well, she couldn't argue with him caring for her, and she swallowed before asking, "And the other reason?"

He exhaled before saying, "It is pleasant to have you finally where I am able to treat you how I wish to, and I'd like to."

His declaration had her encouraging him forward for a kiss. No one could see them through the tinted glass, so she did not feel the need to hold back. "Thank you, and I love having you looking after me," she told him, gifting him with another kiss.

Happily accepting her kisses, he smiled one of his little half smiles, and then added, "Besides, I am expecting Weasley to do something monumentally stupid as soon as he finds out that as an essentially abandoned wife you're entitled to everything, and I want all four of you safe if that should occur."

"Oh!" was her only comment, as he turned back to the steering wheel and started the ignition. She thought about this for some time before she spoke again, slipping her hand onto his thigh. "I'm not sure he'll bother, because apart from the fact that he might be peeved that he's missing out on what he could assume he's entitled to, he essentially has another wife and a family that he obviously cares more for than he does for us."

"Yes, that's true, but I just wish to be prepared," he said. The Potions Master had given a great deal of thought to why the book had latched onto its victim so completely, and the only answer that made sense was that it was like a dementor in book form, and the grimoire had fed on Weasley's childlike innocence. The fantasy of the perfect life that he'd wanted, the life of having his Quidditch dream with a wife just like his mother who doted on his every word and move had given the book an endless supply of bliss for its consumption. Therefore, the more the book fed on his emotions the stronger the fantasy became until parts of it became reality. "Hermione, your ex has been seriously mind-rolled by a book, and it has been my experience that people do not tolerate prolonged experiences like that without their own mind slipping out of gear so to speak. Honestly, I do not know for certain that this will be the case, and this is why I wish to be prepared and methodical in my protection of you and the children."

"Oh, I did not think of it like that," and she cleared her throat and shook her head. "Although, I have to admit that my entire emotional output where Ron is concerned is currently devoted to not ever wanting to see him again, and if I do he'll be reduced to a ginger stain on his mother's curtains when I've finished with him."

"And that is an entirely justified stand-point, love. So, allow me to think on all the other parts of it for you at the present. Once we've had this meeting with Draco then all we need to do is allow him to handle things once he knows your wishes."

"That would be good," she said, and settled in to watching the scenery going by for a bit as they travelled back home to Floo to Draco's office.

xox

It was eleven-twenty, and Hermione and Severus were home again now, and the meeting with Draco had been exhausting for her, but it had gone well. Her former classmate had known exactly what questions to ask, what she'd needed to do, and how to handle things. He had also mentioned several things that Hermione had not even thought of that needed to be addressed.

As they'd been leaving Draco had told them that he would owl Severus once the papers were ready for her to view, and she was happy that she felt in control of what was going on around her because of her trust in Severus.

However, now—apart from picking up the kids from school this afternoon—she did not want to do anything else, as she was currently emotionally and physically shattered from her morning back in front of everyone. She was very thankful that work was not a consideration, and as she rested in bed, back in her comfortable nightie, while waiting for Severus to return with their lunch, she considered what he'd suggested to her about not worrying about working at all anymore.

However, that made her wonder if Severus actually planned to remain as the head of the Potions lab now too. She sighed a long breath, and decided that these were things that they could think about once this was all over. Her brow must have been furrowed, because when Severus returned with the tray of lunch as she looked up he had his eyebrow arched in question even before he spoke.

"Problem?" he asked

She smiled tiredly at him. "No, not per say, love… I was just thinking about work," she answered.

"Oh, I see," he said, placing the tray of food on the bed between them as he toed his boots off and climbed onto the bed too. He'd dispensed with his outer layers before he'd gone down stairs, and currently only had on his white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and his trousers and socks. Making himself comfortable, he handed her a plate of sandwiches and levitated her tea over to her bedside table before he added, "And what are you thinking about it?"

She took a bite of her first sandwich and moaned softly. "Oh, I didn't realise how hungry I was," she sighed, before exhaling once more, putting the food back on the plate and saying, "That Barbra could run my department, and that perhaps I'm wanting to spread my wings in other directions now," she told him as she picked up her mug of tea.

Severus had finished half of his sandwich, and was on to the second as her nodded. "Mm, I'm having similar thoughts about Harvey running my department. It's not like I need the job, I was only staying there to remain in contact with you."

"Oh, Severus, you shouldn't have worried about that. We would always have wanted you around regardless of whether you were working with me or not," Hermione stated passionately.

He smiled. "Good to hear," and he leaned over and kissed her. "But I wasn't taking any chances, and I'm very pleased that I stayed."

She giggled. "So am I, I would have missed you terribly if you'd left," and this time she kissed him.

"So, have you made a decision about what you're going to do?" he asked, picking up his tea.

"I would love to have more time with the kids, and I really would like to write that book…" but here her words trailed off and she flushed a rosy hue.

"What?" he asked, taking in her coy expression.

"Well, I might like to have more children too," she said hurriedly, but then turned doe-eyes to him. "Have you ever thought about having children of your own, Severus?"

He watched her for a moment, enjoying the pink flush of her cheeks, but then he answered as he nodded. "I suppose if I'm completely honest I've thought about having a couple of raven-haired little ones mixed amongst the auburn and brunette children once or twice, but there are no expectations, Hermione."

"Oh, I think you're entitled to your expectations, Severus, and I hope I can give you what you want."

His hand rose to her cheek to cradle it. "I very much hope that Draco can expedite your divorce, as I am very much looking forward to making you mine completely."

Her hand came up to cover his where it rested. "As am I, and if Draco can do this quickly it will make me a very happy witch too," but as she said it she yawned.

"Excellent, and you're free to whatever you want," he replied, before adding, "I have already made my decision, I am resigning this afternoon. There are many better opportunities out there for private research and consultancy work. Therefore I'm going to please myself what I do, and when I do it," he related.

She smiled at his announcement. "I'm very happy for you, Severus," but as she said it she yawned once more.

Moving the tray to hover beside the bed, he leaned across and kissed her. "Thank you, and now I'm going to encourage you to have a sleep," he told her, as he thought about the half-finished letter of resignation on his desk. He wanted to get it sent before they went back to pick up the kids. "You rest, and I'll wake you in time to go and collect Rose, Hugo and Minnie from school."

Turning, he got off the bed, as she said, "Thank you, I'll just have a power nap, and then I'll be up again."

Picking up the tray and looking back at her to answer, Severus saw that she'd already slid down the pillows and her eyes were closed. "If you say so," he murmured, snickering softly, as he vanished the tray back to the kitchen and walked off into his study with a satisfied smile curling his normally strict lips.

xox

Life continued over the next few days, and Hermione's strength started to return. Then Severus received an owl on Thursday evening from Draco informing him that the divorce papers were prepared, and that they were ready for Hermione to look over. If she agreed with them they would be present to Weasley for a signature, and then that would be it. Because of their already extensive estrangement, there was no need for the usual waiting periods, and there was no community property to divide because they'd been living separate lives. The process was made even simpler because of the mitigating circumstances of the curse and the grimoire, and it meant that Hermione had the advantage to dictate terms. This was especially so, since she could prove with bank records and tax forms that she had received no assistance from her spouse in the caring for and financing of their children.

Therefore, Severus took the letter from his godson out into the family room, and handed it to Hermione who was currently supervising the evening homework. She was mostly recovered from the physical effects of the curse she'd suffered, and now there was only the emotional ones to deal with, because she'd long ago ceased to care about Ronald. On that front she was simply pleased to be gaining her freedom finally.

"Oh," she said on reading it. Then looking up at him, she added, "Perhaps we can go and see him in the morning after the school drop off."

"Yes," Severus answered. "That would be ideal, and it would fit in with our other appointments too. I will reply asking if nine-thirty would suit."

She smiled. "Yes, thank you, love," she replied, before hearing Minnie having trouble with a word in her reader and turning back to her task.

Both she and Severus had appointments to keep tomorrow, his meeting with Kingsley and Harry had been re-scheduled as a lunch meeting for tomorrow, and she had a similar appointment at Hogwarts from the headmistress too. She'd heard from her old head of house out of the blue two days ago, and she was not certain what she could want, but she was interested to hear what it was.