Terminus
Chapter 5 of 5
Ariadne AWSSeverus has found Hermione's shoe. What's next?
ReviewedShe 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
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.
Beautifully written. Wonderful ending. Thank you.
Beautiful. Thank you.
I like this Molly, so often she is, the ex mother-inlaw from hell. She is warm, and wise here. thank you.
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.
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)."
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!
Just beautiful.
The way your ending this with this sweet note, it's jut perfect.
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.
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
very interesting. I really like the last line. how perfectly appropriate. and i find the potion's effect very cool.
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
Damn, that's beautiful. So complex and nuanced and rich. Brava!
... er.... *gasp* about captures it... *runs off to take cold shower*
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
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
I loved Molly's sage advice: “He didn’t want to rape you. He chose you.”This gets better with each update.Beth
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
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
Wow! You have written a compelling and rich story using so few words. Thank you!
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.
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
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
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