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.

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A/N:-Thank you to everyone who left alerts and reviews on the last chapter, I appreciate every one of them. My apologies for the length between instalments, I've had some ongoing health issues that are now on the mend. I'm currently back putting the finishing touches on the last two chapters of this story ready for posting. I hope you all enjoy reading this next chapter.

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Chapter Eight – Sunday Evening

By the time Harry and Ginny turned up to pick Albus and Lily up, Hermione had all of the children bathed, in pyjamas, and fed. In the case of the Potter children, the cleaned and pressed pyjamas and such were the same ones as the night before. Minnie and Lily had already been put to bed in Minnie's room, and Hermione was just hunting Hugo and Albus off to Hugo's room when there was finally a knock on the front door.

Severus, who was in his study, came down to answer it, and he smirked as he opened the door. "Ah, the Potters, finally here to pick up their off-spring. Please, come in," and he gestured for them to enter. "I believe that Hermione already has Minnie and Lily in bed, and I just heard her chasing the boys upstairs.

"Yes, apologies, Severus, it has been a very long day, and we know that we've stretched the friendship," Harry replied.

"Who's stretched what?" Hermione said, arriving beside Severus, before coming forward and saying to Ginny, "You look exhausted. Have you had dinner?" she asked as she hugged her redheaded friend in greeting.

"Thank you, we've just left Mum and Dad's," she replied, and the unspoken inference there being that of course they'd eaten having just come from the kitchen of Molly Weasley.

"Okay, then come and warm yourselves in the family room," Hermione continued, glancing at Severus like he might disagree.

In fact, he thought that considering what had happened to Hermione yesterday that they were asking a lot of her, but he also knew that she'd been happy to help, so he indicated that they should follow his witch. "Yes," he agreed, but he wasn't planning on allowing them to tell her anything that might upset her, because he certainly knew that Hermione was far from ready to hear any more shocks. So, as he reluctantly ushered them up the hallway and towards the family room with Hermione he thought it wise to draw some boundaries on subject choices.

However, before he could speak, Harry said, "We won't stay, it's a school night and the kids should be in bed. So we'll just collect them and get them home if that's all right."

"But thanks for having them it's made things so much easier for everything we're dealing with," Ginny added. Both Harry and Ginny looked grim-faced, but neither of them said anything more, and Hermione turned them towards the back stairs as soon as they were in the family room, because in reality she just wanted to collapse into bed too.

She was also hoping to have Severus to herself for a bit as soon as she could manage it too, as with the moving and everything it had been one hell of a weekend. When they arrived outside Hugo's room, he and Albus were in bed but still talking. Therefore, as Ginny prepared to do battle with her headstrong middle son, Harry went with Hermione to collect Lily. Out of the two of them Ginny had definitely drawn the short straw, because little Minnie and Lily were curled up in their beds out like lights.

Glancing back at the strong words Ginny was having with Albus, Harry sighed. "Sometimes I wished they stayed this small," he murmured, reaching down to pick up his little daughter.

"Mm," Hermione hummed. "Here wrap her up in the quilt, so she doesn't get cold," she encouraged, watching Harry straightening up with Lily in his arms.

They worked together to wrap her in the quilt, and he said quietly, "Thank you, Mi… Are you certain you're okay?

Hermione gave him a serene smile. "I am very much okay, Harry. Not with what Ron's done, and maybe I never want to see him again, but I'm perfectly happy with being here with Severus and talking about marriage and us finally being a family. It's about time I moved on," she told him, her smile growing.

He grinned back. "Yes, it is… Even though it wasn't your fault what happened."

"No, but it did facilitate the moving on," she answered, turning to pull the blankets up around Minnie more securely.

"True," Harry agreed, bundling Lily up closer so she fitted through the doorway with ease, and they walked back up the hallway to see Ginny and a scowling Albus standing beside her.

"I can't see why it matters if I go to school tomorrow from ours or here," the stubborn little boy with his father's messy black hair and emerald eyes said with a pout as Harry approached them.

Harry released his hold on Lily with one hand, and he tussled his son's head. "It's not up for discussion, mate. Now thank Auntie Hermione and Uncle Severus for having you, and we'll be on our way."

Albus scowled, but politely turned to Hermione and Severus and dutifully said, "Thank you for having me."

"You're welcome, Albus, and we'll see you soon," Hermione answered, offering him a hug after a quick glance at Severus to see what he'd thought of the Uncle Severus comment. She threaded her arm through his to get his feet moving, as she could see he was struggling with what had been said. "It will take time to become at ease with all the family talk," she encouraged softly as they walked.

"Mm," was his only comment, as they all started down the stairs again. However, as they walked Harry spoke, breaking in on his thoughts.

"Would you have time for a meeting at the Aurory tomorrow, Severus?" He had discussed his idea about Severus being a trainer with Kingsley and Kings had thought it to be a wonderful suggestion.

Alighting off the bottom step, Severus replied, "I've actually given myself the day off tomorrow. Hermione and I have an appointment in the morning, but I could spare some time after lunch perhaps. Why?"

"Kings has a proposal he'd like to discuss with you, and well, I figure that Hermione is nowhere near ready to be confronted by Ron's stupidity, but I'd appreciate a better understanding of what has happened with that grimoire, please," and he cleared his throat. "Just as I'm certain everyone else would too," Harry answered, going on to say that, "I've realised exactly how woefully unprepared we are for attacks of artefacts such as the one we dealt with today, and I'd like to implement a program."

"Indeed," Severus intoned. "Then shall we say two in the afternoon."

"Perfect," Harry told him. "Thank you again, I'll set the meet up, and owl you tomorrow, Severus. Good night," he finished, holding out his hand.

As the wizards shook hands, Ginny said to Hermione, "I'll see you tomorrow morning for the school run," as the two witches exchanged a quick hug.

Hermione smiled. "Sure," she replied, and then they were sending their visitors on their way.

As soon as the door closed, Severus spat, "Uncle Severus!" and there was a scowl on his face.

Hermione tittered, and wound her arms around him, hugging him tightly, before looking up at him and reaching up to kiss him. "You, my love, have really endured a baptism by fire this weekend," and she keep planting little kisses on his mouth.

He kissed her back. "For you I'll do it," he admitted.

"I love you," she stated tiredly.

"And I you," he replied, as they started walking back toward the kitchen.

"If it really bothers you I can ask him not to encourage it," she told him, as they walked.

Exhaling a long breath, he looked at her as they continued to walk, and the corner of his lips rose and twitched into one of his famous half smiles. "No, I believe I can weather it," and he leaned down and pecked her lips again. "Now, how about we see if the children are all settled, and then go to bed ourselves. It's as chilly as I anticipated it would be."

"Yes, spring is taking its sweet time this year," Hermione hummed, happily installing herself under Severus' arm after he'd locked and warded the back door too, and they walked towards the stairs as he doused the lights.

"Mm," he intoned. "Hermione?"

"Yes?" she replied.

"You will tell me if I do anything wrong, won't you?"

Hermione stopped, and turned to look at him properly. "What do you think you might have done wrong?" she asked, blinking at him.

"Well, I hope nothing yet," he answered with a little shrug of his shoulders. "But that's just the point, I'm not used to having a family, people to care for, and I don't want to get it wrong. The children are precious things…" but he stopped talking as Hermione placed her finger on his lips.

"No, I won't allow you to be under the misapprehension that I think you might do something wrong. So far you've done everything right, and it's made me love you even more," and she reached up to kiss him. This time their kiss became passionate, and a somewhat desperate exploration of each other's mouth. "Oh, Severus," she sighed breathlessly in between kisses. She wanted this man so badly, but she also wanted their first time together to be perfect, and she groaned in the back of her throat in frustration, and finished her former thought. "Thank you for being there for my children and I. You're the best thing that has ever happened to all of us, and I know that I speak for all of us when I tell you that we're proud that we've formed a family," but then she exhaled another long breath. "I wish more than anything that you could take me to bed and ravage me right now, but things are so messy at the moment," and as she said it, she wound her arms around him again and rested her head on his chest.

"You have control, we'll go at whatever pace you're comfortable with," he told her, because he wanted her to feel secure in this step.

"Thank you," she replied, as he kissed her head. His hands gently caressing her back and sides, and they stood there in the warm kitchen with the wind blowing around outside enjoying the intimacy, but as she did so her thoughts took her.

There was a great deal to be said for their first time together being perfect, but in truth, it probably wasn't going to be. True intimacy between a couple developed over time, and their first time was more likely to be quick, wet and uncoordinated. This was not even mentioning that she was as randy as hell—regardless of how tired she felt—and from the look—and feel—of it, so was Severus.

Well, hadn't he said as much yesterday when he'd been helping her clean herself after the event, and she'd felt it again last night when she'd stirred during the night. It made her wonder if he'd taken himself in hand before she'd woken this morning, and her hand made its move, slipping silently down to his crotch.

A soft groan left his lips as her hand closed around his erect length.

She fondled him, and her eyes sought his. "Let's go to bed," she murmured, rubbing firmly.

Severus groaned again. It felt lovely having her hand caressing him in strong sure strokes. He shuddered in pleasure, truly believing that this was the happiest he had ever been. However, while he wanted her more than anyone had ever wanted anything, he had to make certain that she was actually well enough for such activities. His hand came down to cover hers and stop her, which of course made that lip of hers slip between her teeth. Even now as an adult whenever she was uncertain about something that lip became wedged between her teeth, so he quickly explained.

Leaning forward he kissed her to get her lip free of her teeth, and he murmured against her lips. "I'm not saying stop, because Merlin knows I want to have you, but perhaps we should get to our room first before we decide which way to go," and he watched her nod, her eyes becoming lost in his as soon as they connected again.

However, a noise from close by abruptly brought their attention away from one another, and they both looked towards the source of the noise to find that Morgana had stolen Crookshanks' bed, and he was taking loud exception to it with a low threatening growl.

"Oh, dear," Hermione murmured. "They were both so good last night."

Severus pulled back from her as little as he could, but in reality their moment was shattered by the disturbance. "I should imagine that madame is just seeing how far she can get," he answered, shaking his head and reluctantly releasing Hermione to walk over to the two warring felines. "Morgana!" he warned, taking in the baleful glare his kneazle was giving her new companion.

Her ear moved in Severus' direction, but it instantly became obvious that the black feline was not going to give an inch, and neither was Crookshanks. Both of them ignored their humans and continued to glare at one another, the ends of their thick tails twitching back and forth irritatedly.

Severus drew breath and his wand, as he said, "Then there is only one solution, I'll enlarge the bed and hope that they both find enough room in it."

"Mm," Hermione agreed, watching her wizard doing what he'd indicated he would, and then her beloved old cat tentatively sniffing the extra space, shooting an uncertain glance at Severus, and then putting a foot forward to test the new area. "Good night, you two. Try being kind to one another, please," she told them, as the two felines started to settle down.

Leaving their familiars to it and going upstairs, as they walked up the hallway they checked on the children. Hugo was laying on his back with his mouth open, sound asleep, giving away the fact that he had been really tired and had probably passed out as soon as Albus had left.

"I'll bet Albus has crashed just as soundly," she murmured to Severus as they stood in the doorway. She moved forward pulling Hugo's covers up more so he was warmer, as she kissed his head.

However, on arriving at Rose's room she was wide awake, and predictably still reading.

"Its school tomorrow, love, and you need your rest," Hermione told her. "So don't read for too much longer," she added, leaving Severus in the hallway, and coming in to kiss her daughter's head too.

"Look, I'm just about finished," Rose implored, showing her mother that she only had a few pages to go.

Hermione chuckled. "Yes, so you are, but you have the brand new third instalment sitting right there," she told her, indicating the innocent looking volume sitting on Rose's bedside table. "Don't be tempted to start it tonight, okay?"

Rose huffed a breath. "Yes, Mother," she replied. "Good night." Then she looked out into the hallway. "Good night, Professor."

"Good night, Rose," Severus answered.

Hermione walked out of the room closing the door softly. She looked at Severus and grinned. "I know how that works, and I'll guarantee that she starts that new book. The temptation is almost too much, and I know that from personal experience."

"Mm," Severus commented. "Yes, there is nothing in the world like cracking open a new book for the first time," he agreed, slinging his arm around Hermione's shoulders again as they finished the distance to their bedroom, and Hermione took a moment to check Minnie as well.

xox

On closing the door of Minnie's room and turning back around, she found Severus starting to undress, and she thought that she should be helping him. Because they'd been at home today, he'd dressed quite casually, wearing a dark blue jumper over a white shirt, paired with comfortable black jeans.

Last night Hermione had been too tired to notice his routine, but now she watched as he folded and put his clothes away, or placed them in the hamper as he removed them. It was as wonderfully methodical as he was, and she walked over to where he was standing, stripping off her top as she walked.

She'd dressed simply today too, a soft red top that was fitted at the waist, dark leggings, and slippers. She'd deliberately chosen the outfit because it had been easy to get on with her still bandaged finger, and now it was just as easy to discard. Her leggings went next, and she walked out of them as she crossed the room, picking them up to put in the hamper with her top.

"May I you assist with your jeans, love?" she asked, arriving in front of him just as he undid his shirt buttons. She pushed the shirt off his shoulders and ran her hands over his bare chest. His body was beautiful, pale, almost translucent, with many tattoos and a smattering of dark hair, but she was more interested in discovering more of what she'd felt downstairs.

However, once again he stopped her fingers before they had a chance to trail down the line of hair that led from his navel down into his trousers. This made her eyes snap up to his in confusion.

He took a deep breath, and said, "Hermione, I know that I was a fool for stopping you once, let alone twice, but there is something that I need to say… Come here," and he led her to the bed and sat them both down. He knew that it was her Gryffindor nature to charge ahead without thinking too much, but it was weighing on him that what he could do to bring her pleasure tonight was fairly limited. "Again," and he swallowed. "I'm not saying no to you, but I want to be able to bring you pleasure tonight too without wondering if I'm hurting you in any way, and you're still healing."

Exhaling a long breath, Hermione leant forward and kissed him before resting her forehead against his. "I appreciate what you're saying, Severus, but I want you," she replied, slipping her hands up to rest around the back of his neck. Her eyes found his seemingly fathomless dark gaze, and she studied his face for a moment, caught in the beauty of those eyes.

It made her wonder how they had ever felt so cold to her when she'd first known him. His dark almost fathomless gaze was anything but now, and she had realised long ago that if the eyes were the window to the soul then Severus' were very much that. He'd always been so guarded in an attempt to protect himself, and she was momentarily captured by the fact that the man sitting here with her now was nothing like the man she'd started to share an office with. She also suddenly became aware that what a precious thing, almost perfect thing they had here, and a stab of anger hit her that she'd been denied its natural progression for so long. She was also very upset that Severus had felt so hurt in the process of that, while she'd been unable to acknowledge her feeling for him in return.

However, she had something to say, and it was important, so she inhaled to tell him. "I've waited so long without realising that I was. All that emotion—even though it was almost completely unrecognised—well, it's intent was plain… and I somehow knew it was there," and slipping her hands down to cradle his cheeks, she stroked his face lovingly before inhaling to say more. "And all that want has built up in me while I've not been able to do anything about it," and she took an extraordinarily deep breath, before adding, "Now I'm free to express it I need to, because I'm going to burst otherwise, and I'm sorry that it will be messy," and she shrugged, not really knowing what to add from there

His hands came up to mirror her position, and he watched her lips part in need. "We don't want you to explode, now do we," he said gently, a knowing smile twisting his lips. "Then how about," and he kissed her, first her lips and then along her jaw to her ear, where his luscious voice dropped to its most seductive register. "We take a shower together, and that way it would be less… messy, as you put it." He felt the shiver that rippled through her, and the gasp of need that slipped over those seductively parted lips, but then he looked back to her face and counteracted his gentleness somewhat by telling her seriously, "However, you are to tell me if it becomes too much for you."

She grinned at him, and rose up to straddle his lap, her arms going around his neck. "I will, and that's a great idea," she promised, knowing full well that she wouldn't, and giving him a quick hug before immediately scooting back to start undoing his jeans.

"Shower," he said, encouraging her to her feet as she fumbled around trying to get him out of the remainder of his clothes, and seemingly completely forgetting about her own. He huffed a laugh softly at her efforts, and still wearing his pants, he started guiding her towards their bathroom.

Her mouth covered his while he was turning on the taps, and her hands wandered over his torso as she kissed him. It felt lovely to finally have this witch in his life, to feel her so intimately against him, and once they were in the shower under the spray of the warm water, she picked up the soap and making a lather she spread it over his chest.

However, it wasn't long before her explorations reached lower, and she groaned as soon as her hands slid over his cock. Looking down at his thick and heavy length in her hand, Hermione smiled. "Mm," she said. "Lovely," and she licked her lips.

"Yes," he hissed as she stroked him, unable to help himself from thrusting forward into her hand. "Yessss," he sighed in a long drawn out breath.

Hermione smiled cheekily at him and sank to her knees in front of him. She kissed the head of his member, running her tongue over it and then taking him into her mouth. This act was one she particularly loved, and she hadn't realised just how much she'd missed it, and she found strong emotion washing over her that for the first time in years she felt whole and normal. However, she fought the emotion, and revelled in feeling so good as she hollowed out her cheeks and sucked strongly, using her hand on the portion of his impressive tool that would not fit in her mouth.

Severus thrust softly, his voice groaning in bliss as she used her mouth him, it felt so wonderful. It had been years since he'd felt anyone's hands or mouth on him, and he simply gave himself over to it. However, he soon realised that he needed to be taking Hermione's needs into consideration. He did not simply want it to end with him coming and her gaining nothing from the experience, and he fought to master his control as he stilled her and said, "Come here, sweetheart, I don't want to come without being inside you."

Want rippled through her, and she realised that was very much what she wanted too, and allowed him to guide her back up to a standing position. She lift herself being lifted and perched on a ledge that she could have sworn had not been there moments before. She didn't get much time to consider this before Severus' body was supporting her there and his head was lowering to her breast again as his fingers traced patterns over her stomach before slipping between her legs.

The warm water cascaded over them adding to the comfortable cocoon they were enveloped in as he found her clit and rubbed while his mouth moved back up to cover hers. A breathy moan left her lips before being swallowed in their kiss and this was followed by all rational thought leaving her. She could only feel sensation and warmth and it was just perfect. Her legs shook and her voice cried out in pleasure and she was completely aware that she'd never had an orgasm like the one that ripped through her, leaving her clinging to the man playing her body so perfectly.

Then his mouth was at her ear again as he started slowly joining their bodies. "You feel so good… Is this acceptable?"

"More than that, Severus," she replied, her voice breathy as she panted. It just felt so damned good that she didn't want to speak, she just wanted to feel. "Move," she huffed. "Oh, for god's sake move."

He laughed softly and withdrew to push back in, he understood her urgency as he was feeling slightly out of control too and he fought to keep himself thrusting because he simply wanted to stay there snug in her warmth as he knew once he started moving in earnest he was not going to last long.

However, this was when a thought occurred to him, maybe just on this occasion that wasn't such a bad thing. They wanted to have this moment, but for Hermione's poor abused body quick might be the best outcome at the moment, and so trying to be a gentle as he could, but still thrusting strongly he simply allowed it to happen as quickly as it was going to.

Happen quickly, it did. Severus managed to keep his concentration until he felt Hermione's voice rising again and the muscles of her channel massaging and squeezing him, and as soon as she cried out her climax he pushed inside once more and groaned his own. Falling forward into the support of the shower wall and Hermione's arms, he mumbled, "Thank you," and kissed her ear.

They remained locked in their intimate position until Hermione started to squirm a bit because her bum was starting to go numb. "Severus," she whispered. "Can we go to bed now?"

Managing to get his feet to work he straightened and took a step back, his hands around her waist. "Certainly," he replied, carefully lowering her to a standing position again.

Her feet initially refused to hold her up, but she soon regained the feeling in them, and wrapping her arms around his waist, she whispered, "I love you."

His arms went around her tightly in return. "And I you," he replied, kissing her head was the continued to stand under the hot spray of the shower.