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Contraceptus: Continuum Chapter 5: Terminus
Chapters Menu
Contraceptus: Continuum

1: Contraceptus

2: Fool

3: Honour

4: Errata

5: Terminus

Terminus

Contraceptus: Continuum

Chapter 5 of 5

Ariadne AWS

Severus has found Hermione's shoe. What's next?

Drama Angst Romance Psychological Potions Under Duress 5,287 Words 5 Chapters Complete
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V: Terminus

She could not mean that she loved him. Not really.

But his eye fell on the blue curve of the empty bottle.

“Show me, Severus.” She stood and reached for her cloak clasp.

“Wait.”

Her hands froze.

He sat up slowly, leaning his elbows on his knees. Dark eyes glittered through a lank fall of hair. “You’re asking for the impossible.”

Her fingers rested on the clasp, and her eyes were calm. “Really?”

“I cannot show you, Hermione, because…” Damn. She was right. “Because the circumstances no longer exist.”

“They never really did.” She released the clasp, letting her cloak fall.

---

“Who do you want me to be, Hermione?” He gestured toward the bottle. “The man who long ago spent nights dwelling in violation, excused by a crime he’d be helpless to prevent and thus intended to commit, finding solace in the forbidden? Or simply the man who offered you his arm and was undone when you accepted it?”

“Yes.”

He scowled.

“I want to know, Severus, how it feels when you hold me, to know the silence of your touch, see your eyes at their darkest.” She shrugged simply. “I want what you offered three nights ago.”

“However tainted?”

“However.”

---

“The only difference, Severus, is that I know. It doesn’t make me want you any less.”

“Impossible.”

“No.” She gestured to the empty bottle, and the thin strap of her robes slipped off of her shoulder. “Believe that, if nothing else.”

His gaze transfixed on the strap where it curved, softly blue, on her skin.

He couldn’t breathe.

Slowly, he rose to stand. He’d meant to speak, but instead, he felt his hand raise, his finger extend to slip the strap back up to her shoulder.

Skin met skin.

Their eyes closed, and they released the breaths they’d been holding.

---

She felt him trace her arm and slide the strap up, back into place.

In a shaking, too-breathy voice, she asked. “Is that a ‘no’?”

“No.” His lips curved slightly, and his eyes did not leave hers as he offered her his hand. “No.” A gentle pressure drew her back to the chair.

She sat down, not knowing what to think.

“Before we proceed, you’ll forgive me if I take a moment to disarm you.”

He knelt before her and slipped his hand under her foot to lift it.

She watched, awed, as he unbuckled her sandal with trembling hands.

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Latest 25 Reviews for Contraceptus: Continuum

51 Reviews  |  4.86/10 Average

0/10

TheCopperDragon2004

Hmm, interesting story overall. I'm not sure if I liked it better as a one shot or with the extra chapters. I'm not sure how I would feel in Hermiones shoes, to be honest lol.

10/10

mick42

Beautifully written. Wonderful ending. Thank you.

10/10

mick42

Beautiful. Thank you.

10/10

mick42

I like this Molly, so often she is, the ex mother-inlaw from hell. She is warm, and wise here. thank you.

10/10

mick42

He was not hoping to lose to get Hermoine, he was hoping that, IF thay lost, he could claim her, rather than, say Mcnair, Avery,Mlafoy, etc,etc,etc. She would have been a prize trophy, with her connection to Harry. Right thing, but still can't come to terms.

0/10

juniperus

I'm notoriously forgetful when it comes to leaving reviews, my apologies.

But I've rec'd you for TPP, so I'll leave that rec here - you've earned the kudos! <3


"Fascinating, nuanced, rich, compelling, beautifully spare and gorgeously wrought. This will take your breath away and cause your heart to cease to beat (and by the end, to revive, more full than before)."

10/10

darklotus

This is, without a doubt, one of the best things I've read in quite a while.
A very original concept, approached from an unusual and very clever angle.
It's  beautifully written, with fantastic dialogue - (it almost reads like a stage play - and I mean that as a compliment) - and you let that dialogue tell the story to a much greater depth than what is actually said, in the way that only well crafted dialogue can.

Thank you for not handing us every little nuance on a silver platter, and making us use our brains and imaginations... this whole story is a very refreshing change - and, while the initial chapter stood well alone - I'm very grateful for the continuum.

This was rec'ed to me via the WIKTT group - and I'm going to pass it forward!
I'll definitely be rec'ing this!

10/10

nimue

Just beautiful.

10/10

snitchette

The way your ending this with this sweet note, it's jut perfect.

10/10

snitchette

I'm amazed my your writing skills. You're just brilliant. This chapter is so poignant. Every word seems to be infused with feelings and it's overwhelming.

10/10

snitchette

I'm glad you made a sequel. And I hope evrything will be all right for these two.

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

Thank you,

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

!  :)~ Ari

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

Thank you,

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

!  :)~ Ari

0/10

mock_turtle

very interesting.  I really like the last line.  how perfectly appropriate.  and i find the potion's effect very cool. 

10/10

snitchette

You stupid girl go run and say you love him back.

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

*laughs*  I love this response,

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

.  Thank you!~ Ari

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

*laughs*  I love this response,

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

.  Thank you!~ Ari

10/10

a_bees_buzz

Damn, that's beautiful.  So complex and nuanced and rich.  Brava!

0/10

hokusai

... er.... *gasp* about captures it... *runs off to take cold shower*

10/10

braye27

My favorite from this chapter:“Who do you want me to be, Hermione?” He gestured toward the bottle. “The man who long ago spent nights dwelling in violation, excused by a crime he’d be helpless to prevent and thus intended to commit, finding solace in the forbidden? Or simply the man who offered you his arm and was undone when you accepted it?”“Yes.”He scowled. “I want to know, Severus, how it feels when you hold me, to know the silence of your touch, see your eyes at their darkest.” She shrugged simply. “I want what you offered three nights ago.”“However tainted?”“However.”The whole story is beautifully written!  Well done!Beth

10/10

braye27

So poignant:  His hope in a gargoyle, her life in a cauldron. Thank goodness Molly was able to help her see the truth behind the potion!  Good story.Beth

10/10

braye27

I loved Molly's sage advice:  “He didn’t want to rape you. He chose you.”This gets better with each update.Beth

10/10

braye27

I hope Hermione realizes how much he must love her to have planned so well for whatever might have happened.This is very nicely written.Beth

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

Thank you, Beth.  I wonder how long her realization would have taken without Molly's help... long enough for him to retreat even further, I think.  Cheers,~ Ari

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

Thank you, Beth.  I wonder how long her realization would have taken without Molly's help... long enough for him to retreat even further, I think.  Cheers,~ Ari

10/10

braye27

Didn't I read this on LJ?  When I ran across it here and realized that more had been added, well, I just had to read it all.Well done!Beth

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

Thanks, Beth...  Yep, the one-shot version was posted in LJ and on the usual archives... so glad you like this version!Cheers,~ Ari

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

Thanks, Beth...  Yep, the one-shot version was posted in LJ and on the usual archives... so glad you like this version!Cheers,~ Ari

10/10

rlc

Wow! You have written a compelling and rich story using so few words.  Thank you!

10/10

Marble Meadow

Wow. What a brilliant way to end things. You say so much by saying so little, weaving a long story into short paragraphs. This was awesome. Your style is unique and I enjoyed looking at this from a psychological and ethical standpoint. Well, well done.

0/10

Maggie

Smart woman that Molly Weasley.

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

I had such a good time writing Molly in this story...Cheers,~ Ari

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

I had such a good time writing Molly in this story...Cheers,~ Ari

0/10

Maggie

Very powerful conversation

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

Thank you,

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

...~ Ari

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

Thank you,

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

...~ Ari

0/10

Maggie

Wow!

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

*grins*  Thanks,

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

!~ Ari

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

*grins*  Thanks,

Response from Ariadne AWS (Author of Contraceptus: Continuum)

!~ Ari

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