Chapter Eight

Disclaimer: All the characters mentioned from the Harry Potter books belong to JKR. All other characters mentioned in these pages belong to Velvet Song or myself. No monies changed hands during the writing of this story.

Author's Notes: This is the sequel to Velvet Song's "Damsels and Dragons" which she allowed me to complete and post to this archive. If you have not read the first story, I strongly encourage you to do so to avoid any confusion while reading this story. The first chapters by Velvet Song can be found here: http://www.thepetulantpoetess.com/viewstory.php?sid=18337, and my concluding chapters can be found here: http://www.thepetulantpoetess.com/viewstory.php?sid=19501.

Thanks to noybate for the prompt beta.

Chapter 8

"Here's another one disarmed, as it were," Severus said with a sardonic laugh as he passed a book to Hermione. "Are you making any headway?"

Hermione looked up from her perusal of Curses Dark and Light: What I Learned from the Wizards of Tibet and frowned. "This one is a piece of Thestral dung," she said, closing the book and pushing it firmly away. "It's supposedly written in 1735, but reads like it was written yesterday. Too anachronistic." She reached for a copy of The Animagus Unveiled. "This, on the other hand, is too simplistic. It reads almost like a bedtime story. Did your family keep every book they'd ever got their hands on?"

Severus shook with silent laughter. "Where do you think I got it from, witch?" he was finally able to answer. "It's a Prince family trait." His gaze turned sober as he looked over the books stacked on the table and bundled on the shelves of the huge room. "If the Dark...excuse me...Tom Riddle had ever seen this..." He reached for another book. "Some of these books were actually printed on some of the first Wizarding printing presses. They predate Muggle printing presses by some two hundred years."

"They're not all Dark," Hermione pointed out. "If only there were some way we could index them so we didn't have to search the entire library." She sighed in frustration just as Marigold came in, a tray of steaming mugs following her.

"Marigold brings hot chocolate for Master Severus and Miss Hermione," the house-elf said, placing the tray firmly on the table. "Is almost midnight. Time for master and miss to be in beds. Not still looking at dusty old books." She crossed her arms over her chest and stared frostily at Severus.

Hermione picked up a mug of the steaming beverage and hid her smile behind the rim as Severus drew himself up to his full height. "I am perfectly capable of telling the time, Marigold," he started to say.

"Not when Master Severus is looking at dusty old books," Marigold retorted. "Marigold many times puts Master Severus to beds. Marigold do again if has to."

Severus sputtered. "Now see here, you interfering little..."

"Severus," Hermione gasped. "She's only doing what we told her to do." She looked at the house-elf who, rather than cringing, was standing her ground and staring at Severus. "I'm sorry, Marigold. We lost track of time as usual. I'm sure you're probably used to that."

"Marigold know all about losing time," the house-elf said. "Master Severus say Marigold must remind. Marigold reminds. Is time for beds. Books still there in morning."

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. "All right, we'll go to bed." He picked up the other mug of chocolate and took a sip, watching Marigold out of the corner of his eye. "But," he said as the house-elf reached for a book on the table, "the books stay where they are."

Marigold drew her hands back as if they were burned. "Marigold just puts..."

"Marigold leaves this room as is," Severus retorted. "Or would Marigold prefer clothes?"

The house-elf, affronted, drew herself up. "Master Severus not threaten Marigold. Books stay on table." She turned to leave the library. "Master Severus room is ready. Miss Hermione room is ready. Goes to beds now!" Marigold vanished as soon as she stepped foot in the corridor, the tray and mugs vanishing as well, even from Severus and Hermione's hands.

Hermione gasped as her mug vanished. "I was enjoying my drink, Severus," she scolded. "Why'd you have to do that? And to threaten the poor thing."

Severus snorted. "That poor thing, as you call her, is probably the actual mistress of this house, or as close as the place has had to a mistress since my grandmother died." He wiped an infinitesimal speck of dust off the cover of the book in front of him. "I really appreciate what she does for me. Remember, she was the only one who could hear me before you came back to Hogwarts. Without her, I could have easily gone insane."

He held up his hand as Hermione started to speak. "However," he continued, "I will not be treated as if I were a recalcitrant child, and she needs to learn this."

"We did ask her to remind us," Hermione said gently, stacking books in neat piles. She looked over at the wizard, now wiping his eyes sleepily. "We're both tired and crusty..."

"I'm not crusty," Severus protested, rolling his shoulders. "I don't get crusty."

"Fine," Hermione retorted. "But we are tired. It's been a long day. We can get a fresh start in the morning."

"Fine!"

§§§§§§§

At the top of the stairs, Hermione hesitated. The last time she'd been to the manor, Marigold had given her Severus' old bedroom...the master suite. She wasn't sure just what room Marigold had intended for her on this visit and didn't want to make the mistake of taking the same room if the house-elf had fixed up another room for her.

Severus pulled up behind her, barely avoiding a collision. "Why'd you stop?" he asked grumpily.

"Which room am I in?" Hermione asked, indicating the master suite. "This is where I was supposed to sleep the last time I was here, but it's actually your room."

"You take it," Severus said. "I'll find the guest room and sleep there."

"No, it's your room," Hermione quickly protested. "I'll find the guest room."

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose again and sighed. "Miss Granger," he said. "You are the nominal owner of this house. As such, the master suite is yours. I'll find the guest room."

"You said it, I'm the nominal owner," Hermione argued. "It's your room. I'll sleep in the guest room." She jumped as Marigold materialised in front of them.

"Boths sleep in Master Severus room," Marigold said. "Then no mores arguings."

"We weren't arguing," Severus said. "We were having a discussion."

Marigold waved her hand. "Is arguing. Marigold know difference. Sleeps in same room."

"There's only one bed," Hermione protested. "Why don't you show me where the guest room..."

"There two bed," Marigold said, snapping her fingers. "Sleeps in same room. Marigold finds Miss Hermione nightgown. Master Severus nightshirt in wardrobe." The house-elf vanished as Hermione peeked around the edge of the door.

Angled against the wall opposite the original bed was its identical twin. Both beds were half the width of the original, leading Hermione to believe that Marigold had simply divided the bed in half and would put it back together once she and Severus returned to Hogwarts. Looking at Severus, she shrugged and entered the room, quickly followed by a yawning Severus.

An old-fashioned flannel nightgown lay across the twinned bed, and Hermione held it up to measure its length. To her surprise, it looked as if it would fit perfectly, and she looked to Severus for an explanation.

"That looks like one of my grandmother's," he said softly. "As I remember, she was about your size."

"It certainly looks warm," Hermione agreed. "Er, would you care to use the bathroom first?"

"Ladies first," Severus said with a bow. "I can wait until you finish."

"Thank you," Hermione said and hastily entered the bathroom, shutting the door tight. Once she'd cleaned up and slipped into the deliciously soft flannel gown, she exited the bathroom only to find Severus already in bed. "Aren't you going to get cleaned up?" she asked hesitantly.

"Just waiting on you," he said, sitting up and swinging his feet to the floor. "I believe Marigold has cast warming charms on the sheets. They feel very comfortable." He moved past her to the bathroom door. "I'll just be a few minutes."

Hermione waited until he'd shut the bathroom door before practically hurling herself into the other bed. She fumbled with the sheets, trying to be in bed before Severus had a chance to finish up in the bathroom, and managed it just as the door opened.

He raised an eyebrow at the sight of Hermione sitting up in her bed, but said nothing as he moved towards his own.

"Good night, Severus," Hermione called softly as she lay down.

"Good night, Hermione," he answered as he got into his own bed. "Nox!"

§§§§§§§

It seemed like Hermione had hardly gone to sleep before a slight sound awakened her. Confused, she glanced around the room, her eyes falling on the door as Severus opened it...a very naked Severus, at that...and turned right into the corridor rather than left towards the stairs. She frowned, wondering where he was going, then her eyes widened as she remembered Lucius' description from two nights before. Scrambling out of her bed, she raced out the door into the corridor, only to discover Marigold scolding a vaguely curious Severus.

"Master Severus bes in beds," the house-elf scolded, her finger wagging in front of his nose. "Nots in halls, in beds." She reached for his hand, only to have him pull it away and growl, the noise distinctly feral.

Fearing the sleepwalking wizard might hurt the little being, Hermione had to think fast. "Athair," she called out quietly. Severus turned, staring at her and giving her an idea of what might have actually happened. "Athair, Severus is tired. His body hasn't had any rest in almost two days. If you try to fly, you'll hurt both of you. You don't want that, do you?"

Severus gave a low sounding yowl and then purred as he reached out and touched Hermione's tousled hair. She shivered, then stood very still as the tall wizard bent over and sniffed the curls he held, then 'whiffed' in pleasure. Hermione felt the slight puff of air move over her face as she smiled softly.

"Please let Severus rest," she begged. "He really needs the sleep. I want to help you, but I can't if you hurt both of you. Please?" Taking Severus' hand...or should it be Athair's paw, she thought irreverently...Hermione led him back into the master suite.

He resisted when Hermione tried to pull him towards his own bed. Instead, he sniffed the air and pulled her towards her bed. Tumbling her onto the mattress, he flopped down beside her and purred once more before tucking himself close in behind her and holding her down with an arm and a leg.

Hermione lay still until she felt his even breathing, indicating that the dragon had allowed Severus to return to his normal sleeping state, but when she tried to move away, his arm tightened around her possessively. With a sigh, Hermione decided to wait him out and lay there until darkness claimed her.

§§§§§§§

"What the devil?" Severus' surprised tones had Hermione sitting straight up in bed, blinking in confusion. "Miss Granger! What is the meaning of this?" He looked around, then down at himself. "Oh!"

Hermione scrambled from the bed as Severus sought to cover himself with the sheets. "Severus, are you okay?" she asked. "How do you feel? Do you remember anything?"

"Miss Granger! Hermione!" Severus tried to stem the barrage of questions. When Hermione quietened down, he looked at her solemnly. "Miss Granger... Hermione... I must apologise..." he said hesitantly. "I do not normally crawl into a witch's bed without permission. Please forgive me. I'm not exactly sure how this happened."

"It's alright, Severus." Hermione was quick to reassure him. "I do."

"And?" he prompted. "I presume it has something to do with that blasted dragon."

Hermione sighed. "Yes and no," she said.

"Well, which is it?" he said peevishly. "Yes, it has to do with Athair, or no, it does not."

"Athair took over again last night," Hermione said quickly. "You didn't transform, and I don't think the moon phases have anything to do with it, and you didn't hurt Marigold, and I managed to talk Athair into letting you sleep, but he wouldn't go back to your bed and insisted he had to be in mine and wouldn't let me go even after you fell asleep and..."

Severus held up his hand in a 'stop' gesture. "Hermione, slow down," he said. "What do you mean 'I didn't hurt Marigold'? What exactly did I do last evening?"

"Well-l-l." Hermione bit her lower lip as she watched him from beneath her eyelashes. "I woke up just as you were going out the door. When you turned right instead of left, it dawned on me that maybe you were sleepwalking again." She paused.

Severus made a 'continue' gesture. "Go on," he encouraged.

"When I ran out of the room, I found Marigold confronting you, but it wasn't you, it was Athair."

"I see."

"Marigold was scolding Athair...I think she thought it was you...and trying to make him... er... you go back to bed. You growled at her, and I thought you might actually hit her, so I distracted you by calling you Athair." She glanced over at the naked man sitting in her bed, but he made no moves, just waited. "Er... when you responded to the name, I realised what had happened and asked him... you... to please let yourself rest because you hadn't really slept in two days. He... uh... oh, this is so confusing!"

"I totally agree," Severus said with a smirk. "I take it the dragon agreed to your pleas and re-entered the room?" Hermione nodded. "Then what? He decided this was the better bed?"

"I don't know," she all but wailed. "He wouldn't let me put you in your bed; he just insisted that we both sleep in mine, and he wouldn't let me go even after he fell asleep. Severus, I am so sorry."

"What's done is done," the wizard reassured her. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"

Hermione shook her head. "No," she said. "He just wouldn't let me go."

"Understandable," Severus said. "A beautiful witch in his arms. I probably wouldn't have let go, either." Hermione blushed. "You take a shower first," he suggested, "while I try to find my nightshirt so I can get out of this blasted bed without embarrassing both of us." He smirked at her. "Although I believe you got quite the eyeful last night. Am I correct?"

Hermione gasped and, grabbing her clothes, ran towards the bathroom. She could hear Severus moving around the bedroom while she got cleaned up and brushed out her hair. Once back in the bedroom, she gestured the now gowned Severus into the bathroom. "It's all yours," she said.

"It always has been," he joked. "I believe Marigold is fixing breakfast. I'm sure you know where the breakfast room is?"

"I'll find it," the flustered witch said. "Enjoy your shower."

§§§§§§§

Severus came downstairs and found Hermione sipping from a cup of tea, a used plate in front of her. At the sight of him, she smiled and gestured towards an empty chair. "Marigold will be back in a minute," she said. "Would you like some tea?"

"I'd prefer coffee, if you don't mind," Severus said, picking up his cup. Steam rolled from the bowl as he cradled it in his hand. "Ah, thank you, Marigold."

The little house-elf placed herself at his elbow. "Master Severus walk in sleep again," Marigold scolded. "Master Severus growls at Marigold. Marigold doing job taking care of Master Severus. Why Master Severus growl at Marigold?"

"It wasn't me," Severus told the house-elf. "It was the dragon I seem to be sharing this body with. I take it he didn't hurt you?"

"Marigold not hurt," she answered. "Marigold just confused. Curse broken. Why dragon still with Master Severus?"

"I think I know," Hermione said, causing both wizard and house-elf to stare at her. "We won't find the answer here though. Not if what I suspect is true."

"Why not?" Severus snapped. "Marbh-clah has probably the most extensive magical library in the British Isles outside of the British Wizarding Library." He looked down at the plate of food now in front of him. "Thank you, Marigold. Well, Miss Granger?"

"What happened to Hermione?" she asked, trying to tease him out of his mood. "You usually call me Hermione."

Severus huffed as he sipped his coffee. "Very well, Hermione. Explain yourself."

"I'm not sure I can," Hermione said. "Not until I can get to London and confirm my suspicions. But I don't think we'll find the answers in a magical library."

He choked on a mouthful of scrambled eggs. "You want to go to a Muggle library?" Severus gasped when he could speak again. "Why ever for?"

"Does the Wizarding world have psychiatrists?" Hermione asked.

"No. Just why do you need a psychiatrist, and what does it have to do with me?" He set down his fork and stared at the witch across the table from him.

"I didn't think so," Hermione said smugly. "I want to look up some of my parents' old friends and see if they can answer some questions. Or tell me who can," she finished on a rush as Severus opened his mouth to speak. "I think I know what's wrong, but I really would like to have confirmation first before I tell anyone, even you."

"Very well," Severus conceded. "We'll leave for London this morning."

"Um," Hermione hesitated, biting her lower lip. "I think I need to go alone. My parents' friends don't know I'm a witch."

Severus stared at her. "You intend to go alone? Without me?"

"I need to get the information," she said. "If you're with me, there's no guarantee I'll get what I need. Not without a lot of questions."

"I see." Severus finished the coffee in his cup and pushed both it and the plate away from him. "Then I will see you back at Hogwarts?"

"Of course." Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. "Just as soon as I can get back there. Would you tell Minerva where I am?"

"I will," he said gravely, getting up from the chair. "Marigold!"

"Master Severus call Marigold?" The house-elf appeared at his side, delighted to be of service.

"Indeed." Severus looked down at the house-elf. "It seems you may replace the books in the library. Miss Granger and I will be leaving this morning." He glanced back at Hermione, his eyes dark with suppressed ire. "Miss Granger is of the mind that we will not find what we need here after all."

Marigold hopped up and down in anger. "Master Severus have big library," she said indignantly. "Why not find here?"

"There're no Muggle books here," Hermione said gently, but the house-elf would not listen.

"Perfectly good Wizard books," she said. "No need Muggle books."

"Marigold, enough!" Severus snapped. "Hermione will do as she thinks best. She is not insulting the library or the manor."

Marigold stared at him, tears pooling in her oversized eyes. Then she bowed deeply. "Yes, Master Severus. Is Marigold needed?"

"No," he said. "I believe we are done. Hermione?"

The young witch nodded. "I've finished my breakfast, Severus. Thank you."

"Then come. I believe you need to go to London, and I need to return to Hogwarts."