6

"What?" he said again. He glanced at the kitchen door where they could hear Fancy making food. He grabbed her hand and ran with her to the bedroom and locked and warded the door behind him. "Hermione, did you say you would have my baby?"

Hermione gazed up into the face of Severus Snape, a face she'd never seen before. It held unadulterated joy.

"You would like a baby? I never dreamed." His heart began to heal from the horror that had clamped around his soul. He picked her up and whirled her around. "I can't imagine more joy than having you in my life, and now you wish to carry my child. No one has ever offered that to me. Women have acted as if a child of mine would be like some alien worm they would have to carry."

Hermione let her eyes flow tears that held both fear for what they planned and joy at the thought of giving this man something he desired. If she had not already known she loved him before, she did now.

"I would be honored to give you a baby," she said.

He picked her up and carried her to the bed. Their clothing vanished, and he gently made love to her with care and unbelievable tenderness. He touched her like she was a precious stone of great worth or the frailest of flower petals. When their bodies joined and they reached the pinnacle of desire, their cries rang out, and there was a flash of energy about them. They sat back on their knees facing each other. Looks of incredible surprise and joy passed over their faces.

"Magical bonding!" they said together.

Hermione said, "You do love me, Severus!"

"Yes, I suppose I do." The revelation warmed him more, and he felt as if he might just survive the day. He gathered her close, and they lay back on the bed wrapped in each other's arms. "I only thought myself in love once before. I committed in my heart, but it was one-sided and never returned. No woman has ever loved me..."

"Until now," she finished for him, kissing him ever so gently.

He was quiet as he lay there. Finally he said, "Now, I have everything to lose. Hermione, you know what I will have to do to you before we go again."

"Yes, the injuries and the bruises." She held herself more tightly against him.

"I'm sorry," he said, burying his face in her neck.

"I know, Severus. I understand. I understood the last two times. I understood today. You didn't hear me complain, did you?"

"No, but it felt like someone kicked me in the gut when I saw them on you." A painful groan escaped him; it was hard to push the memories back. They kept jumping forward into his mind.

"As long as you do not have to physically hit me, I think we will be okay."

There was a knock at the door. Severus clothed them with his wand, unwarded the door, and called, "Come."

Fancy came into the room carrying a tray, which she levitated up onto the bedside table. "Master, I will stay in the sitting room on watch tonight."

"Thank you, Fancy. Your presence is a comfort."

The little house-elf still wore her armor. The odd little rapier was tucked into a scabbard at her side.

"Fancy, is that a sword you carry?" Severus asked curiously.

"No, sir, it's my wand." She whipped it out, and power sizzled from it. It was made of an alloy Severus could not even guess at.

Hermione and Severus climbed off the bed in a scramble and got down to look at it. "I did not know house-elves carried wands," Severus said.

The wand vanished from her hand and then reappeared.

"Elvin wands have their own magic; they respond to the wielder. I only have to think 'visible' or 'invisible.' You are probably the first wizarding people to see an elf wand since the bargain was made."

"Is it possible for a wizard to touch one?" Severus asked.

"No, sir. Elves have very powerful magic. It would short circuit your brain if you touched my wand."

Severus drew back. "Well then, remind me not to stumble around you." He smirked at the tiny creature. Severus felt his respect growing for this house-elf and her people. "Perhaps if we are successful, a new kind of alliance will form between our people...one with an equal standing. Do you think that would be possible with all your people have gone through at the hands of wizardkind?"

"Sir, house-elves are very forgiving. Most of us enjoy our work. Those of us enslaved by dark wizards will have to be freed, but they will only be grateful, as Dobby was." She turned. "Fancy will go now. Sleep. I will alert you if anything comes. Call for me the moment the mark burns."

It was more of a command, but Severus nodded. "Of course, you may be our best chance of getting out of there alive."

Fancy went through the door, and Severus warded and soundproofed the room. He looked at Hermione, who had perched herself on the edge of the bed. Her face was guarded.

"Do you think they will hold to the agreement to be equals?" She shivered at the scope of things before them if the house-elves decided on revenge.

Severus came and slipped an arm around her. "It would be very wise for wizardingkind to take precautions to not stir the beast."

"You and I may have to take a hand in rebuilding our society once we are free," she told him.

He sighed. "Yes." His voice was dry and troubled. "I do not want to live the life I've already lived again, Hermione. I do not want to be a spy. Nor do I want to police our people. I want peace, you, and I want our babies." He pressed his forehead against hers, closed his eyes, and just held her.

Hermione stayed that way a while and then planted a soft kiss on his nose. "Let's eat and then just lay here and hold each other." They sat by the fire on a blanket and had a picnic.

"Severus, why hasn't Voldemort looked into your mind to see what you are doing with me? Will he be able see that we care for each other?"

"The war is over; for now, he's so exhilarated by his victory that he has been sloppy. He will hold to his word and search my mind most thoroughly. You will have to be quick because I am weak now, and it is hard for me to shield the feelings I have for you and the pain for what I did. He's a maniac, and soon the Death Eaters will find the life they imagined with him is not as good as they expected."

"What did they expect?" she asked, trying to distract him from falling into his pain.

"Endless riches. The ability to use their magic in any way they wish. They want the freedom to go out and maim, pillage, and rape at will. They are depraved."

"How do we defeat the Dementors?"

"Few people know this, but they are tormentors from the gates of Hell itself. The Dark Lord brought them here, and they do his bidding. They stayed after he was vanished the first time because they knew he was not dead. They needed to feed, so they contracted with the Ministry to feed on the life force and memories of the prisoners in Azkaban. They are still here only at Voldemort's biding. When he gets sent to Hell permanently, they will go, too."

Hermione put her food down. "Can we go back to bed now? I want you to hold me."

Severus nodded and stood, grabbing her hand. He took her back to bed, and they undressed and crawled in, wrapping themselves around each other and talking into the night before falling asleep.

Severus woke to a deep burning in his arm, and he fought the panic that nearly overwhelmed him.

"Hermione! Wake up! I have been summoned. Fancy!"

He was up running toward the closet for his Death Eater robes. Hermione sat up with a look of terror on her face.

Severus used his wand to lower the wards and open the door. Fancy appeared at the door. "My people have been alerted. They will be able to mentally track me."

Severus waved a wand at Hermione, and she was clothed in the thin, gauzy gown.

"I'm sorry," he said.

She nodded as he came and slipped the ring on her finger. Then it vanished, but she could still feel the cold metal against her finger. It was somewhat comforting.

"Severus, I love you," she said as he waved his wand. She felt pain in her arms and legs and blood dripping from a wound above one eyebrow.

Severus faltered; but when he saw the determination in Hermione's eyes, his resolve grew strong and hard.

"I can do this," she told him. "We must go now."

"I love you, too," he said, his face filled with his pride in her. He took her arm, and he felt a now-invisible Arelia grab his other hand.

"Courage, sir. I will shield you when the time comes," Arelia reminded him.

"Only after he probes my mind...or if you see he doesn't believe me." Severus closed his eyes and stuffed all the thoughts of the last minutes behind his formidable shields and let his emotions vanish with them. He dragged them through the house and out into the garden and Apparated.

******

They found themselves in a cavern lit by torches; dozens of them lined the walls. Several hundred Death Eaters stood awaiting the Dark Lord's words. The room was already filled with the stench of blood.

"Master." Severus bowed and stepped back. He still gripped Hermione by the arm.

"What's this?" Voldemort reached out a claw-like finger and took a drop of blood from Hermione's forehead. His tongue flicked out like a snake and tasted it. "Have you been beating your love slave?" His voice was nasty, and Hermione cringed away. His eyes lingered on the deep purple marks on her neck, and his tongue flicked out like a snake tasting the wind.

"I had to beat her for her transgression the last time, and I took my anger out on her as you ordered. I have used her over and over. She is nothing but a vile Mudblood." Severus threw Hermione at Voldemort's feet.

"Reveal her punishment to me," Voldemort commanded. Severus felt him rip into his mind, and he fell to his knees.

Hermione fought to distract him. "Please, Lord Voldemort, please give me to someone else. He is crueler than you know," she whimpered. She crawled forward, groveling and grabbing at the hem of his robe. Her eyes were trying to see the position of his bare feet.

"It appears you're with the right master then. She is a tasty morsel, Severus. Maybe I should sample her myself." Voldemort leaned down and grabbed her up against him. She nearly recoiled at the scaly feel of his arms, but she clamped a hand on his arm and pressed down into the flesh with all her strength.

Voldemort suddenly felt threatened, so he tossed her to the ground. She saw his wand come pivoting toward her face and heard, "Ava..." Then he screamed an unholy scream, and she crawled crab-like backwards, as his curse swung out towards Severus. Hermione screamed but saw that it bounced off a bubble-like force field that enveloped him. She drew her borrowed wand and fired off a spell. Unpracticed with this wand, it flew wide.

Voldemort's eyes were wide with surprise and pain, but his wand was sending curses everywhere. Uncontrollable magic flew wild; some of Voldemort's followers dropped as his curses hit them. With his other hand, he was clawing at his throat. His eyes bulged.

"Severus, what have you done? We could have ruled this world together." He seemed genuinely shocked.

Severus reached down and drew Hermione to his side. One arm went around her waist, and the bubble surrounded her. With a flick of his wand, she was clothed in a warm, soft robe.

"I am ridding this world of a terrible disease that would destroy us all."

All around them the Death Eaters began to draw their wands. They would have sent curses toward them, but the popping of Apparition nearly deafened them. A whole army of amour-clad house-elves surrounded them, disarming them and binding them in ropes of pure energy.

Hermione and Severus stood protected in their bubble, staring with horror at Voldemort. He was still standing. His body started to steam and shrink into itself. The redness left his eyes, and there was a profound sadness of sheer betrayal there for a brief moment. Then he toppled over, and his whole body collapsed into itself like a Halloween rubber mask.

Everyone who bore the Dark Mark screamed as his or her arm burned. Severus pushed Hermione from him, fearing Voldemort had cursed the Dark Mark and that his life was now forfeit. He pushed the sleeve of his robe up and watched as a dark, inky blackness curled from his arm and rose into the darkness of the cavern above.

"Hermione, the mark is gone!"

Hermione came to him, and he grabbed her against him and kissed her deeply. "I'm finally free. Thank you, Hermione. You are my Gryffindor Lion."

"Why couldn't this have happened when our friends were all still alive?" she asked, tears now falling down her face. But she knew the answer, and her eyes apologized to Severus for saying it. He nodded and held her closer.

"Arelia, can you take the prisoners to Azkaban? Will your army make sure Azkaban is secure? Will you be able to police it?"

"Yes," she said with a bow. "There are a number of us who worked for these people." The words came out in a hiss. "They would be more than happy to imprison their masters and guard them."

"Can your people discern who the good guys are and who the bad guys are? Will they let the good ones out of Azkaban?"

"We will await your command. You may be surprised, sir. There are good people in hiding."

"What?" He smirked at himself; he'd been saying that a lot lately.

Hermione sagged against him. "Who?"

"Go back to your home. I will come shortly and fill you in." She bowed and Apparated away.

Severus looked around. Their part was done, but before they left, he sent out one more spell, "Accio Hermione's wand." The wand appeared, flying from the back of the cave, and he caught it from the air. Hermione turned and reached for it. He grinned at her flexing fingers as she grabbed it and held it to her bosom like a long-lost friend. "Let's go home." He pulled her close and Apparated them home.

Hermione was so overwhelmed that she fainted, and he picked her up and carried her into the bedroom.

When she came around, she said, "Please, Severus, I need to be clean."

He drew a bath and then, like that first time, he climbed in with her and held her. He gave her potions and watched the injuries heal. They soaked a while, and then he scrubbed her clean and helped her into soft, coral robe. When they came into the bedroom, Arelia was changing the sheets and plumping pillows as if nothing had changed.

"Arelia," Hermione broke away from Severus and went on her hands and knees, hugging the little elf to her. "Please tell me who lives. Is Harry alive?"

Arelia shook her head. "No, I'm sorry, he is gone. We have been able to create a magical painting, though. So you can speak to him if you wish. Also many of Hogwarts' portraits were secreted away before the war, and copies took their place. That's why many slept. These will be replaced in the Headmaster's office when Hogwarts is completed."

"There are 55 students who live...Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Draco Malfoy, Susan Bones, and others you do not know too well."

"Ron?" she asked.

Severus cringed. Would she go back to him, if he were alive?

"Sorry, Madam." Arelia hung her head.

"Are there any Weasleys alive?" Hermione asked, again hopeful.

"Madam Weasley lives, but she is injured. She will recover. George, Fleur, and Bill are hiding. Arthur died during the battle. Charlie and Ginny died after the battle, and Fred and Percy are also gone."

Hermione felt Severus lift her from the floor, and he put her on the bed. Arelia jumped up onto the bed and sat cross-legged on one corner.

Severus asked, "Hogwarts staff?"

"It is difficult to tell you, Master. Only Professor Flitwick and Madam Pomfrey are living."

"Minerva," Hermione groaned and buried her face in Severus' shoulder.

"Order members?" Severus demanded.

"Shacklebolt, Aberforth, Hestia, Hagrid... I'm afraid that's all of them, sir."

"Hagrid's alive? I need to see him. Severus, please."

Severus asked, "Can you bring Hagrid here? Don't tell him who's here. Let's surprise the man. Make sure he leaves his umbrella elsewhere if he has one with him. I don't want to be hexed before I can explain myself."

Hermione smiled at him and took his hand. "Get under the covers with me."

"Are you sure you don't want to entertain him in the sitting room? I could carry you out there."

"No, he needs to know who I am with. I'd rather stay here. The potions are making me weak." She snuggled next to him.

"I'm sorry about Harry and Ron. I almost held hope for a moment," he said, holding her close.

"I did, too. Thank you, Severus." She looked up at him, having heard hardness in his voice when he'd said Ron's name.

"Severus, I would not have left you, if he'd been alive. Ron and I haven't worked in a long time. You and I are magically bonded, and we are planning to have babies. I told you I loved you. Ron being alive would not have changed anything."

"I'm sorry. Everything good that has come my way has always been taken from me," he admitted, kissing her forehead. She turned her face to his and then buried it in his neck. "And we have gone through so much."

"The war is finally over, and we must leave all of it behind. We are the instigators of a new world. We make our own luck together from now on."

There was a loud pop, and Hagrid stood there, nearly filling the room. He looked around, and when he spied Severus, his face became furious.

"What is this that you summon me to your bedroom? Have you no shame, man? I am not a trained dog. What is it you want, Death Eater?" It was said from a man who had been used like a trained ox since his capture nearly two weeks earlier. "You have the nerve to embarrass some poor girl." He waved his hand at Hermione, whose back was still to him.

Hermione turned and said, "Hello, Hagrid."

The old giant's face went white, and tears filled his eyes and poured down his face.

"Hermione!" He moved to her side of the bed. She flung herself at him, and he caught her against his massive chest.

"Hagrid!" She sobbed openly for the people who were lost and the people who still lived.

---

Lisa, thank you for your beta work. You make the process so easy for me.

Angela, thank you pre-reading and for your comments and help.