Quick Silver

Quick Silver

Disclaimer: This is your last chance to take them back.

Severus sighed in his sleep and snuggled into the warmth of his covers. Moonlight glinted on his raven hair where it spread across the pillow, slim fingers threaded through the fine strands. The brightness of the full moon shining through the window exaggerated the grooves and shadows of his face. Hermione noted how he had changed with age. He was no longer the fresh-faced youth she had recently left. His strong features were still striking and more relaxed than when he had been her professor. Essentially, he was the same man.

She felt the familiar swirl and rise of her feelings for him. Sadness pervaded her thoughts as she wondered why she had meant so little to him that she wasn't in his memories. Had he really forgotten her, or did he just not care?

*

Snape's eyes fluttered open. A frown flitted across his brow, and his heart plummeted as he dragged himself up from sleep and focused on the cage in front of him. The enclosure was empty, the moonlit floor devoid of anyone and the barred door stood wide open. Either it had been a dream or she had left him again.

Moaning with misery, he rolled onto his back. Life was so unfair, and he'd have to get up and face it. Sudden, sharp pains snagged at his scalp as he tried to sit up.

"Ow! Shit!"

"Shush and keep still. I'm tangled in your hair."

"For the love of Merlin, woman, what are you doing?"

"I wanted to run my fingers through your hair, one last time."

"Were you going to leave without telling me?"

"I..."

"And, how did you get out of the cage before moon set?"

"I set the containment charms in the first place, remember. It didn't take too long to take them down. Now, keep still while I untangle myself."

"Ow! That hurts."

"Stop grizzling, Snape."

"I'd rather face an evil maniac than have some daft witch hanging off my scalp."

"I understand. I'll leave as soon as I can."

"That's not what I meant."

"What did you mean, then? You don't remember me. You don't want me. I might as well just go." Dismay tinged Hermione's soft voice as she turned away from him, preparing to leave.

Severus grabbed his forearm as white-hot pain exploded up his arm without warning. "No!"

"I'm not staying where I'm not wanted."

"Don't leave me!" Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

"What's wrong, Severus?"

"The Blaze," Snape replied, his jaw clenched with pain. "The pain. It's the first time since... since... I need your help. You helped the first time. Only you..."

"Stop being so melodramatic, you drama queen."

A groan escaped through his gritted teeth.

"Severus?" Anxiety sharpened Hermione's voice as she turned back to him. He looked deathly pale.

"Since my memories returned, the pain of the Blaze has come back." The corner of his lip lifted in a sneer. "It's all the emotion."

"The what?"

"It's when I think you're leaving, or when I think I lo..."

"No, that can't be right." Hermione shook her head. "No."

"Listen t'me." Snape drew in a long, shaky breath. "I need..."

His voice faded as his eyes rolled back and he slumped against the cushions. Hermione shook his limp form, his skin clammy under her urgent grip.

"No, no, no. Snape! Shit!"

Grabbing her wand, she flicked a quick Ennervate. A white haze washed over him as his body juddered then fell back on the sofa. His pale complexion looked more ashen than before.

She shook him again, hard.

"Well, that was as good as useless. What the hell's wrong with you?" Hermione muttered, trying to work out what to do next.

Pacing the room, running fingers through her increasingly wild mane of curls, her concerned gaze returned frequently to Snape's prostrated form on the sofa.

"Think, Hermione, think! What was he trying to tell me? He needed help... the Blaze... the emotions... he needed... he needs me!"

Leaping onto the couch, she straddled his limp body, roughly shoving his shirt sleeve up past his elbow.

"Why didn't you just say you needed me, you stupid wizard," she growled at him as she pressed her silver-stained thumb hard onto the starburst on his forearm.

Nothing happened.

"Come on, c'mon, do something."

An overwhelming surge of magic burst within her as mercurial energy flowed outwards, and the air around her crackled. Concentrating hard, she channelled the magical force through the Unicorn's Blaze, watching as the quicksilver wave shimmered from the contact point with her thumb and tracked up Snape's arm before dissipating.

He didn't move. His face remained waxen, and his breathing sounded low and ragged. Memories of seeing him close to death after Nagini's bite crowded her mind.

Tears sprang to her eyes.

"Don't do this to me, Severus. Don't die now!"

Emphasising her point, she pressed firmly on his Blaze again. Silver power leapt across the connection, running up his arm and suffusing him in a pale glow. His pallid complexion took on an ethereal quality before the energy faded again.

His breathing stuttered and halted, and Hermione's breath caught in her throat as she watched him.

"My god, Severus, you are beautiful," she whispered. "I love you. Don't leave me. I love you, dammit!"

Resting her forehead against his, Hermione felt not a whisper of air pass his lips. She curled her trembling fingers into his silken hair. Slowly, she lowered her lips to his, kissing him with the utmost tenderness.

A long, low sigh stirred her, and soft warmth suffused her lips. A minute movement startled her, and she pulled back, gazing intently at his face. His lips... his lips were quirked up at the edges into a small smile. He looked happy.

Suddenly, his eyes flickered open, and his dark gaze met hers, intense and piercing. Sucking in a ragged breath, his features softened and his smile widened.

"Repeat that, please," he murmured hoarsely.

"The kiss or the declaration?"

"Either... Both," he whispered.

Gently, she kissed him, then, untangling her fingers from his hair, she punched his shoulder.

"Ow! What was that for, witch?"

"Don't do that again. I thought you were dying, you prat."

"So did I." He curled his arms around her waist, drawing her closer to him. "Aren't we about even on the I thought you were going to die score?"

"It's three of yours to two of mine."

He rolled his eyes. "You haven't really been keeping a tally, have you?"

"I still have one more to go before we're even."

Snape tugged her waist again. "Come here, and I'll do things to you that'll make you think you've died and gone to heaven."

Hermione snorted and slapped his arm. "That's not even funny. That's lame, and sad, and a bit sick." She frowned. "Hey, Snape, you're starting to go pale again. What's wrong?"

He tightened his arms around her, pulling her hard against him. "I need you."

Hermione struggled to pull herself away from him.

"No, seriously. This is scaring me. What is wrong with you? Are you ill or something?"

In reply, Severus lifted his left arm, showing her his Blaze. What had previously been a flat, white starburst scar was now swirling and pulsating with silvered magic.

"Sweet Merlin!" Hermione whispered, taking a closer look. "Do you know what this means?"

Tentatively, she reached a finger out to touch it.

"No!" Snape's hands shook as he caught her hands between his. "This is ancient magic. If you touch it again, I will have to... to..."

He turned his head away, struggling to maintain some control. "Miss Granger, it appears the Blaze has been reactivated. My intuition tells me if I don't... bond with the... uh... the appropriate witch, I might perish."

Hermione shook her head. "That's not right. It should be the person who cared for you after the event."

"And who was that?"

"Lily Evans."

"No," Severus groaned. "You silly little girl, it was you."

"I only took you back to the hospital wing. I didn't care for you... well, I did, but you know what I mean. And if that's the case, why aren't you already dead? Not that I'd wish it on you, but it's been decades since you got the Blaze. Explain that, smart-arse."

"The memory white-out must have been protecting me. I always felt I was in a kind of limbo. The Blaze just needed you to reactivate it."

"But, that means we have to... Oh, fuck!"

"Indeed."

"And if we don't?"

Snape shrugged. He tried to look nonchalant, but his stomach churned, and his hands trembled. Wiping sweaty palms down his shirt front, he muttered, "I understand, Miss Granger. You don't want..."

"Don't you dare tell me what I want, Severus Snape! I am not your student. I'm not Miss Granger. I haven't been Miss Granger for the last couple of years. When I arrived back I wasn't sure who I was or what I wanted. Now I know, and I won't have you telling me what to do. Understand?"

He maintained the blankest of expressions as he attempted to get up off the couch. "Absolutely. I will leave you to..."

"No, you will not!" Hermione's hands captured his face, turning him to look at her. Her eyes sparked, magic thrummed around her, and her hair cascaded wildly over her shoulders, falling forwards towards him.

Of their own volition, his fingers reached for her curls, tangling in them and drawing her closer. "Has anyone ever told you you're a very scary witch when you're riled up? Beautifully, enticingly, amazingly scary..."

Each breathy word brought her nearer.

Her voice shook as she replied, "I'm not scary, just very, very scared. If we do this, it's forever, bonded for life, if I die, you die sort of stuff. I'm petrified."

Severus looked away, swallowing down his fear. He should just let her go; he knew that. He felt certain she would be all right and more certain he would die without her. I'm not a coward. I can do this. She deserves her freedom.

Turning to face her properly, he looked deep into her limpid doe-eyes, preparing himself.

Unbidden, he fell into her mind. Visions of them flying and hugging, laughing and kissing, whirled around him. Her warm, honeyed scent surrounded him, smooth and comforting. The gingered undertones warmed his soul. Gasping as he withdrew, he realised this was it. He knew what he had to do.

Pulling away from her, Severus held the witch at arm's length. He licked his lips nervously and looked sideways at her from underneath his curtain of hair.

"This is serious magic. Remus died because of this magic."

"He died because he loved you, Severus."

"His dying request was for me to tell you... to tell you he loved you."

"I already know that." Hermione smiled and laid a hand on Snape's cheek.

"He also wanted me to tell you..." His black lashes swept over his cheek as he looked down.

"Is it so hard to say it, Severus?"

He nodded dumbly, not looking at her. Her hand slipped to his shoulder.

"You should leave me. I'm..."

"You're right! I should leave you. You're ill-mannered and grumpy, pallid, sickly-looking, and uncommunicative... old... cantankerous..." She pushed him firmly away from her. "What's more, you can't even pass on a message from your mate to your... your..."

"Mate?" Severus nearly winced as he looked up through his lashes at her.

Hermione's expression softened, and she smoothed a stray lock of hair off Snape's forehead.

"My mate."

Leaning forward, she brushed his hairline with her lips, inhaling deeply before kissing down the side of his face and over his cheek. Her tongue flicked over the tight line of his pursed lips. "Merlin, you smell so good, and taste..."

Severus growled and cupped the back of her head, crushing her lips firmly against his. Talking without moving his lips away from hers, "So sweet, so right," he murmured, encouraging her questing tongue.

Breaking away from his kiss, Hermione trailed her lips and fingertips down along Snape's jaw line, towards the scar at the side of his neck. Cool fingers traced the gnarled outline as her soft lips whispered over his skin. Loosening his shirt, she eased it away from the old wound. Severus's breathing stilled and his muscles tightened as he resisted the urge to throw her off and cover himself up. Feeling exposed and vulnerable, he closed his eyes.

"It looks better than the last time I saw it, Severus."

"When?"

"In the shack. After Nagini..."

"I only saw Potter."

"I was the one hanging around in the background doing all the important stuff, like finding a jar to store your special memories."

He felt a small drop of moisture fall onto his bare skin. Tucking a finger under her chin, he gently coaxed Hermione's gaze up to his face.

"They were very precious memories, for Harry. My most cherished memories were still here, locked inside me. I never gave them to anyone. They are all yours." He swiped a stray tear from her cheek with his thumb. "It has only ever been you."

"But I heard a witch at your house."

"Jo? She's like a sister to me, and she's my boss, two good reasons not to go there."

"You mean you've never...?"

"Never, thanks to Douglas-the-mutant-horse's magical chastity belt."

Hermione snorted. "Me neither. Though, I was tempted. Once."

"Oh!"

"Yeah, there was this young wizard I knew. Tall, dark, and handsome, intelligent, witty, and... well, it never worked out."

"Oh?"

"He was too young." Sneaking a hand in underneath his open shirt front, she ran cool fingers rapidly downwards over his sensitive skin. "But he has matured magnificently."

Severus grabbed her wrist as her fingertips reached his waistband.

"Not so fast, you evil little witch. That's virgin territory you're heading for; are you sure you want to go there?"

A chuckle rumbled in her throat as she leant against his bared chest, snuggling in under his chin and licking along his collar bone. Ghosting her hands over his shoulders, she slipped his shirt down, kissing down the inside of an exposed arm.

Firm hands cupped her face, drawing her back to his gaze, seeking the answer to his question. Without taking her eyes off his strong features, she nodded her assent.

He hesitated. Her shoulders drooped as she sighed.

"Sev..."

"I've just remembered."

"Remembered what?" she huffed.

"My promise to a dying wizard. Remus said the next time I saw her I was to tell her I loved her."

"Good. Now shall we..."

"You don't understand. It's you. I love you."

"I know."

"You do? How?"

"You told me, remember? Big church, wedding, flouncy dresses, organ music? Ring any bells?"

"But, I don't want a big, church wedding."

"I know. Small, intimate gathering..."

"Perfect. When?"

"Severus, do you want to die a virgin..."

Taking her hand, he kissed her silvered thumb pad before pressing it firmly against the Blaze on his forearm. Blazing white light surrounded them as magic coursed through the connection.

"Hermione... Charmaine, I love you. Will you marry me?"

He was sure he didn't need to wait for her verbal response when the momentum of her throwing herself at him toppled him back on the couch as she smothered him in kisses.

A/N: Sunny33 supa-betagirl.