Without hesitation, Severus grabbed hold of Sacha by the scruff of the neck and apparated home, landing safely within the wards of the cottage.
In an instant he was met with a wand at his throat , then everything went black.
oOo
He snapped into alertness with a sudden jerk and a gasp of air into his lungs, reaching frantically for his wand, Where was his wand? Where was Sascha? He stopped on hearing a voice.
"Calm down, it's just me, your wand is on the table"
Hermione was sat on the floor, eyes closed, with her back leaning against the chair, within a few feet of where he was laid on the sofa.
"Hermione-"
"I was just reading the paper over lunch and you apparated almost on top of me, scared the bloody life out of me and I stunned you. Sorry about that, I was so distracted by the prophet that I didn't even think about the fact that the wards would have kept anyone but you out"
Grateful for the reminder of her formidable wards, and shamefaced for a moment that his actions had caused this, he suddenly asked with confusion. "If you stunned me then why the bleeding hell am I on the sofa, and you are on the floor ?"
Hermione, eyes still closed, answered him. "Because that's where you landed in front of and that's where you were lucky enough to fall. I, on the other hand may have given myself whiplash and/or concussion when I stunned you, as I turned around so damn fast that I overbalanced myself and fell on my arse"
The post-stunning fog must have finally cleared his mind, because he suddenly noticed with alarm "You're bleeding!" and quickly moved to his knees in front of her to check her over.
"It's tomato soup. When I fell on my arse I'm pretty sure the bowl I was holding also cracked me in the head. Hence the possible concussion"
Giving her an exasperated look, which was just so Severus she almost wanted to laugh , he sighed out "No Hermione, you really are actually bleeding". Touching his fingers very gently to her temple , she winced when they came away sticky with a red that was decidedly not tomato soup.
"Oh." Was all she could muster up to answer lamely. Then "Well looks like I did crack myself in the head with the bow after all.l"
"Obviously" he drawled at her, eyebrow arched and holding up the two pieces of cracked heavy earthenware. The "You Dunderhead" she was certain he'd wanted to ad, went unsaid. Instead she smiled weakly at him. "Fucks sake. That was my favourite bowl"
Chuckling in affection, "I'm aware." He stated "After having been read the riot act, the one time that I accidentally used it for myself." he placed the pieces on the table and vanished the mess of soup that was over the floor and her clothes. He daren't touch her skin or hair with a spell though as he was still too shaken.
"We'll try to fix it later, though earthenware like that is never quite the same again"
"Give me some credit" She grimaced in pain, before cracking an eye and smirking at him "Just because your transfiguration is awful doesn't mean I can't do it"
"Cheeky" he offered her in good humour and she smiled.
She must have seen him glancing around though, because she preempted his next question. "He's with the babies. I'd just put them both down a few minutes before you arrived, and was just sitting down with soup and a paper, so they will be out for a while yet. Turns out Sacha does not like apparating."
Severus winced and his face heated at his remembered reaction , but Hermione put her hand on his to calm him. "He'll forgive you Severus…once he's finished sulking, kind of like someone else I know."
He scowled at her, but it was good natured. " I don't sulk…I brood" he sniffed haughtily and she chuckled, then winced. "Ow"
Once more Severus looked at her with concern , then summoned his wand once more to do a diagnostic charm, waiting for her nod before casting anything directly upon her.
"The cut's superficial, wound paste should sort it once its clean, but you have a mild concussion and have strained the muscles in your neck"
"Ok…Ok… Severus, can I ask you a question?"
He nodded, and refrained from saying 'You just did' and instead waited for her question , but instead of the expected question about the reasons for his abrupt appearance, she stunned him with her completely unexpected response.
"I think I might have to call upon that offer you once made me, do you think you can help me into the bath and help wash my hair? Cleaning charms are no good on my hair and I don't want it matting"
Momentarily stunned he didn't answer straight away, instead fighting the urge to gape like a fish. Taking his silence as a rejection, her face flushed a little in embarrassment as she answered.
"If I've misread the room or the vibe - "
Quickly his body, specifically one part of him, kicked him into gear.
"You haven't misread anything. I'd love to bathe you… HELP Bathe You…Help YOU into the bath I mean"
If her face was red, his put hers to shame. Bleeding Idiot.
"Um, yes please? to all of the above?" She answered with a sheepish smile.
His face must have shown his shock at that answer, having been the last thing he'd ever expected to hear from her.
"You can't mean that…" His words were cautious and quiet. "You hit your head"
"Not that hard. And I hadn't hit my head when I first told you that I would hold you to your offer when you made it months ago"
Tenderly he reached out , tucking some hair behind her ear so he could see her warm eyes better.
Her hand came up to cup his and she spoke softly.
"If I've misread this and I'm making you uncomfortable, I mean Merlin, on paper I'm your boss.."
"You haven't misread anything" he interrupted, throwing caution to the wind and repeating his earlier words emphatically.
"Then can we stop dancing around this? I know I'm not exactly a catch for you, I'm a traumatised and deeply scarred 20 year old widowed single mother, who was a teen mother when I gave birth and I didn't even sit my NEWTS, and I am technically your boss as ludicrous as those circumstances are , which makes me feel like I'm taking horrible advantage -"
His fingers danced over her lips, stopping her rant.
"It is I who should be thanking my lucky stars that you would even consider me in such a way. I am a single father, and ex-death eater. A felon with a criminal record, 19 years your senior, I have almost no means with which to contribute to the home that you have provided me, I was destitute when you saved me, a fact of which I know you're aware, I am an ugly man, inside and out" -
She tried to protest but he kept his fingers against her lips, preventing the words from escaping
" and you are an incredibly beautiful and incredibly talented woman, mother and witch. You practise such skilled magic with an effortless grace that takes my breath away, you're a wonderful mother to Rose AND to Alexander, you fight every day to right the wrongs in our world, despite how it has treated you so far… you are an extraordinary woman Hermione, and much more than I could ever wish to deserve."
He finally moved his fingers from her lips, and her small hand came to cup his strong jaw.
"You are NOT ugly. Inside or out. You are handsome and strong, and you are scarred and damaged, just as I am. The wizarding world has chewed you up and spat you out worse than it has ever done to me, and STILL you fight to make things better for others. You made mistakes, Severus when you were a bullied, troubled and broken teenager. Mistakes that you have fought endlessly your entire adult life so far to make up for. I have seen you, the way you work so hard for the foundation, the way you brewed for Rose even when we both knew you couldn't afford to. The way you gave everything of yourself for Alexander. You are a good man. A Great man even."
Humbled by her words, he brought the hand from his jaw to his lips, and left a gentle kiss on the knuckles. "I am still almost 19 years your senior. That cannot be explained away"
She snorted inelegantly, and it made him chuckle. "Do you think the wizarding world in it's Victorian best gives one damn about age? Besides, can you honestly see me with one of the boys my age? I have tried that once already and it almost killed 're wixen Severus, half my year of purebloods had arranged marriages as soon as they left school. One of the witches I know was betrothed to a 45 year old man!. When I am 65 and you're 84, no one is going to care. Even less when I am 120 and you're 139."
Smirking a little , he pulled her into his arms as he stood up, carrying her bridal style towards the bathroom. "Plan on holding onto me that long do you?" The mirth and warmth evident in his tone.
"Too right. I'm not stupid, did you see how you just lifted me with like 0 effort? Plus I plan on getting you to read me the same way you read to the babies because I've been getting jealous. I also might have a bit of a thing for your hands which has gone back longer than I'd care to admit. Tall, Dark, Handsome, Intelligent, Voice which is like liquid sin, and now I found out not only are you one of the most powerful wizards I've ever met but you're also hiding some serious strength under there too ? I'm going to lock that shit down as soon as I can before any other witches see behind the mask"
His chuckle and her laugh echoed through the hall , where Sacha though still sulking , wagged his tail at their mirth.