Chapter 18

A/N: Thank you all who have stayed with this story. I hope this will be a fulfilling ending for you all. Thank you to all who have read and reviewed, and also a HUGE thanks to my beta, Shellsnapeluver.

***

Hermione walked slowly back to the ball after Severus took his leave. Many people were still dancing and enjoying themselves. She stood by the door and looked at her engagement ring, feeling strange and elated at the same time. She watched as her friends coupled off, dancing, talking, snogging, and drinking. She thought of Severus' offer. She would have to discuss their plans. How would they live? She had worked hard for the Order; perhaps a Ministerial position would be ideal for her. She also cared a great deal about house-elves. Perhaps the Regulation of Magical Creatures would be a good fit?

Either way, they would have to talk about a future. She turned and headed towards the dungeons. He had said she was welcome, even if they didn't make love. As she slowly made her way down the stairs, she skimmed her hand along the stones and thought of Severus' way with seduction. He knew how to touch a woman in many ways, not only physically. However, she did want more, to experience more of him in that way. She thought of his hands, of his arms, the way he kissed, and before she knew it, she was there, in front of his door, and as soon as she knocked, it opened for her.

"Hermione?" Severus' deep voice carried through into the sitting room where she was standing. "Come into the back room on your left."

She followed the sound of his voice and came to a room that looked like his own private personal potions lab. He was rather informal looking...his dress robes had been discarded for his normal trousers, and he was wearing only a white linen shirt. He was washing his hands and smiled at her as he dried them.

"Welcome to another secret room of mine," he confessed as he spread his hands to show her.

Hermione smiled in return and walked around slowly, looking at his books, small potion stores, and all of his precious instruments.

"This is very nice," she said, impressed with the layout.

He came close to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, tenderly stroking the skin there. "What may I do for you?" he purred.

Hermione felt her stomach tie up in knots. "I wanted you to know I love the ring," she whispered as she looked down at it.

"You're welcome," he replied huskily.

"I-I need to know about how we are going to go from here?" she asked him softly.

He leaned against the lab table and said thoughtfully, "Well, every year, after the students leave, I spend a month replenishing, inventorying, and basically putting the classroom and the storeroom to rights in preparation for the fall term. I was hoping that you would stay on with me, and we could work together so then we could have more of the summer to go off vacationing or going off wherever you wish, or do what you want to do."

Hermione ran her hand against the smooth surface of the lab table. "I think I would enjoy working with you again," she admitted. "Although, with no hostility this time."

Severus placed his hand on the nape of her neck and stroked the skin there before leaning in to place a chaste kiss that made Hermione's breath hitch. "No hostility, Hermione," he whispered in her ear.

"The only reason for my foul behavior was that I was so in love in you, it was painful to be so near and not touch you, not kiss you, or make love to you. But there is no excuse. I was wrong."

Hermione turned, and their lips were so close, it was unbearable. "I want you, Severus," she whispered. "I just need this to happen slowly, I think."

He kissed her, and her mind went numb. All that existed was his warm mouth on hers, his hands on her back. He pulled back and delicately turned her around. He began to undo each button from her dress, kissing the skin that each open button exposed. Hermione felt her legs trembling and her sex throbbing with aching need. The dress fell, and he followed its descent to the floor, caressing and touching each curve of her body. His hands traveled down her legs and eased each foot out of her shoes. He urged her to turn around, and he looked at her with awe as she stood in her corset and garter combination set with her breasts unbound and free. He slid the palms of his hands up the front of her legs and joined his fingers at the juncture. He placed his lips on her mound and kissed her, inhaling her scent of arousal.

"You are the look of loveliness, sweet one," he whispered as he looked up from where he was still kneeling.

Hermione gripped onto the lab table with one hand and braced her hand against the chalkboard with the other as he undid each snap holding up her sheer stockings. He took each foot, one at a time, and placed them on his knee, patiently drawing them down slowly, dragging his tongue along the inside of her leg as he made his way to her feet where he kneaded them and kissed each painted toe. He looked into her eyes with his black ones burning, unashamed of his lust for her. He snapped his fingers, and without removing his gaze, his robes came sailing into the lab, and he laid it down for her first foot.

"Such beautiful feet should never touch a bare, cold stone floor," he said in rich, velvety tones.

Once the stockings were gone, he slowly pulled on her satin garter belt, slowly edging it down. He straightened up and inhaled the scent of her femininity. He lightly stroked the curls there, and Hermione's head fell back in complete surrender. She couldn't believe how erotic this was becoming, and he had yet to truly touch her intimately. He lifted one leg over his shoulder, and he tasted her. Hermione choked out a shudder at the feel of his mouth on her. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before. He held her fast to him, his warm hands on her exposed bum, pushing her closer to his eager mouth, teasing and manipulating her with such fervor that she couldn't hold back the sounds that were aching to burst out from her.

He flicked his tongue into her heat, abandoning that one tiny place of heaven, and she nearly screamed with pleasure. Her palms gripped each of the surfaces that were keeping her upright, and she felt her remaining foot on the floor stretch up like an En Pointe ballerina, so he would revisit that place which had felt so delicious. He returned to that source of everything that was desire, hunger, and need and spiraled her to a dizzying height that when she finally felt herself give way, she was uttering sounds and noises she had never made before. The only word that mattered was his name, and she said it again and again: Severus, Severus, Severus!

Afterwards, she felt cold and exposed. She felt embarrassed and defenseless, so sure he would laugh at her inability to resist or tease her about the sounds she had made. Instead, as she stood there trying to cover herself, he took hold of her hands and lowered them from her chest. He lifted her up, placed his robe underneath her bum, and positioned her on the table, so he could be level with her breasts.

"Was this how you were dressed underneath?" he asked as he discreetly wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.

"Yes," she blushed.

He placed his hands on either side of her and said, "Am I ever going to see you tonight with your hair down?" he asked pleadingly.

Hermione took her wand and tapped the hair gathered onto the base of her head and repeated the spell Ginny had told her, and it came down in a cascade of tangled curls. He sniffed her hair and gently moved his fingertips lightly over her naked breasts. The thrill of his intense and powerful black eyes concentrating on her breasts made her skin tingle and her nipples contract.

Hermione closed her eyes. It was far too much to watch as he evaluated her.

"Quite astonishing, Hermione," he said warmly. "Just being under my watchful eyes has made your body react."

Hermione lowered her head in embarrassment. His lips found hers as he searched her out. His hand was warm on her throat after he had raised her chin up from her chest. His lips brushed and teased hers as his hand slowly traversed down to stroke one stiffened peak. Hermione gasped, and Severus whispered into her mouth, "Yesss."

His hands were tweaking and twisting her nipples gently as she continued to gasp and moan in pleasure.

"You like that, Hermione?' he asked teasingly.

She opened her eyes and looked into his black ones, unable to speak. He smiled and scooped a hand behind her head. "Never mind. I know you do," he whispered.

He lowered his head as he leaned her back with his arm, her head cradled in his hand. He tickled her left nipple with his nose before he took it into his mouth.

Hermione gave into the sensation and felt her body respond to needs she couldn't verbalize.

"I love you, Hermione," he whispered against her skin.

She felt the desire for him humming between her legs, and she wriggled against him. He stood in the gap and stroked her inner thighs and wet sex as she moaned out another orgasm.

She felt his lips against her ear. "I'm going to feel inside you, now. Don't be afraid," he murmured.

She felt one finger entering her and felt him circling inside, the sensation snug and tight. She moaned in response. "Do you want to stay the night?" he asked as he slowly withdrew.

"Yes," she breathed.

He carried her into his bedroom and laid her onto his bed. She watched as he carefully and slowly undressed and then with only his underwear on, he unlaced Hermione from her corset and held her naked body lovingly and with honesty for the very first time...

***

The next days were spent having the house-elves bring Hermione's trunks into his rooms and working hard in the classroom and storeroom. Since the castle was so empty, save for staff members, there had been a great deal of flirting and touching going on during work. There were passionate kisses, playful banter, and some days work wouldn't be finished at all. Hermione was giddy with the attentions her fiance gave her, and every time he told her how beautiful and lovely she was, the memories of those horrible days began to become less and less intense and hurtful. Hermione knew Severus was working hard to please her, and he did. She reveled in how attentive he was to her body and her mind. They talked about things that she had never thought she could talk about with anyone else. He was also extremely intelligent and challenged her mind in ways she never imagined possible. Severus was seducing her on more than one level. He was seducing the whole of her.

***

One afternoon, as they worked diligently on re-labeling some of the older jars on the higher shelves in the store, Hermione was holding the ladder steady for him to handle whatever might be lurking in the dark up there. He would carefully hand down jars to her, and she would place them on the floor in the corner, away from them in case of an accident.

After he was finished and a Scourgify was cast, he said, "I still think a good-old fashioned scrub is called for. Perhaps it's the Muggle in me, but sometimes magic just can't replace the old spit and polish."

He made his way down, and Hermione glanced at the jars they had removed. As he stepped down, and as she replaced her grip, the back of her hand brushed up against something foreign, hard, and very warm.

She blushed. She could feel her face growing hot, and she knew that he was aware as well. He decided though to forget it.

"Severus," she said as she touched his arm as he attempted to bypass her. "Why don't you ever want me to see you naked? Moreover, why is it that we still have not made love? Don't you want me?"

Severus took a deep breath as he wiped his hands on a cloth, avoiding her eyes. "I don't want to pressure you. I want it to be your choice, and this is very difficult to handle, Hermione. I don't think I could withstand that kind of rejection from you."

Hermione refused to let him go. She kept looking at him earnestly. "I've been selfish and greedy, thinking of only my own pleasure and enjoyment. Severus, you have nothing to worry over. I will not reject you. I love you, and I need you in this way."

She pushed herself against him, and he backed away until he hit the shelves behind him and there was nowhere to hide.

"Why are you running from me?" she whispered.

"I'm filthy, and I am very uncomfortable," he snapped.

Hermione knew him enough by now that he only got surly when he felt trapped or over his head.

"Severus, you have not denied me ever, except in this," she whispered.

"In what?" he asked sharply.

She began to unbutton his trousers, and he grabbed her wrist. "What are you doing?" his hissed.

"Saying hello," she retorted playfully.

He kept his grip on her wrist firm. "It's been a long time, Hermione. I don't think I will last..."

Hermione slipped her hand into his underwear and wrapped her fingers around his cock sight unseen and relished in the choked gasp of pleasure that slipped out as she whispered to him against his lips, "I have longed to hear what noises you make when you orgasm."

She shifted her hand, and he placed his hand over hers to guide her, and let her work her own unique magic on him. Soon, his breath grew ragged, and he began to groan. She fell to her knees, pulled out his cock, and Severus tried to protest that he was dusty and dirty, but she hushed him as she began to kiss and bathe it with her tongue. It seemed merely seconds later that he was begging her to suck on it, and his hips were jerking in spasms as his hands clawed against the wooden shelving behind him.

"Let me go!" he shouted, and Hermione backed up in time for him to decorate her shirt with his essence.

He was breathing hard and panting.

"Are you all right?" asked Hermione.

He nodded. His black hair fell into his face as he leaned against the shelves to catch his breath. Hermione watched his penis as it shrank. It had looked rather impressive when it was been hard and red at the tip.

"Well, that was rather humiliating," he muttered as he tucked himself back into his trousers.

"What?" asked Hermione as she cleaned off herself.

"Hermione, I couldn't even last two bloody minutes," he snarled.

"I thought it was amazing," said Hermione decidedly as she left him to clean up and gather his composure.

***

That evening, as they lounged after getting ready for bed enjoying a glass of wine, after the grime of the day's work had been scrubbed from their bodies, Hermione placed her head in his lap and snuggled to him.

Severus placed his book on his lap and said, "I have been waiting for you, sweet one. I didn't want to pressure you or make you feel obligated. After all, we aren't married. Are you ready for that next step?" he said.

"Yes," she said as she looked into his eyes.

He blushed and looked down at his book. "My body isn't as lovely as yours to look at and enjoy," he mumbled.

"I beg to differ," she replied.

He offered her his hand, and she took it as he led her to their bed. Together they removed their nightshirts and stood to look at the other. Their eyes roved over each other, and Hermione whispered as she placed her hands on his sparsely haired chest, "Make love to me. I don't know how to do this."

"I'm no expert," he mumbled as he looked down.

"According to me, I know you're the best," she said shyly.

He smiled in return and laid her down on the bed. He slid his hands all over her, touching her where her markings from the cutting had been.

"I made a promise to myself, Hermione, that I would never make love to you until your mind was as healed as your body," he whispered. He looked at her sorrowfully. "I can't seem to find the words to tell you how much I regret that night."

Hermione took his face into her hands. "Look at me, Severus. I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to. Let's just promise that we will always try to remember to be gentle with each other, all right?" she asked.

Hermione watched as tears fell from his eyes. "I promise," he whispered.

"So do I," she replied.

"I can't believe this is finally happening," his voice said brokenly.

"Why?" she whispered.

He hovered over her and ran his fingers through her hair. "I have dreamt of this for so long. The day you took your Oath, your eyes and hair shone, and I felt something I had not felt in years. It frightened me so much. I knew I was already feeling something for you, but that day, I knew beyond a doubt that I wanted you for myself. I never could have taken you so brutally that night, and I had been so angry that you so easily could have died. I had been so afraid this day would never come, and I was even more afraid of this day arriving," he admitted painfully.

"Why be afraid of the day arriving?" Hermione said reassuringly.

He laughed suddenly and then kissed her. She responded eagerly and copied his movements. She tried to learn the angular shapes of his thin frame, the tender, yet hardness of his sex.

His hand caught her hand to stop her from touching him. "Remember what I said to you, Hermione? I long to sink myself inside your flesh as far as I can, and as far as I can penetrate your mind and find all the wonders there. That is what I yearn for," he said as he carefully pulled her to him and held her close. "I just want to be able to please you."

Hermione kissed him softly. "Don't be afraid."

"I'm sorry, I will have to hurt you one more time," he breathed into her ear.

Hermione ran her hands through his hair, playing with the long black wisps that had been freshly washed. "I've wanted this for so long. I want to know how it feels to have a part of you inside me," she whispered.

He kissed her and traveled lower to tease her breasts. Hermione groaned as the sensations licked inside her belly. "Please," she breathed. "Put your mouth on them."

Severus obliged wholeheartedly. His hands swarmed everywhere, touching, stroking, and making her skin feel alive with his deft fingers. He dipped a finger into her, and she moaned.

He rose over her, and she felt so small and fragile compared to the long and toned contours of his body that had been through so much over the years. She stroked his arms, relishing in the fact it was he that she was touching so intimately. She was nearly shaking with need.

"Hermione," he whispered. "There are so many wizards who would kick themselves that they never knew what a jewel they had in front of them. But I see you."

He caressed her face and said, "This face, this lovely, sweet face is the one I want to wake up to every morning. If I can make you smile at me at least once a day, I will have thought my day worthwhile."

He kissed her tenderly and pressed into her. She breathed calmly as she closed her eyes. He felt the barrier keeping him out, and he carefully eased into her, rending her hymen. At that moment, her eyes flew open, and she drew in a shocked breath at his intrusion.

"Are you all right, Hermione?" he whispered.

"I-I think so. Keep going," she urged him.

He hunched up on his knees and brought her legs with him, hooked under his forearms. He shifted and swerved; making her groan and squeak at the sensations she was feeling.

"It's getting better," she whispered.

"I can make it even better than this, sweet one," he whispered.

He began to thrust more vigorously, and Hermione grabbed her legs by the knees, hiking them salaciously to her chest as she spread further for him, urging Severus to move harder and deeper.

"Yes!" she exclaimed as he filled her soft, willing flesh with his rigid, needy sex.

"Hermione," he whispered. "I am completely yours."

He made long, deliberate strokes to feel every part of her, and she gasped and cried out in pleasure with each thrust.

"Do you like that, Hermione?" he whispered as she moaned softly. "This has been everything I have waited for...you feel so good."

They slowly made love and discovered all the differences in their bodies and reveled in them. He brought her to a state of frenzy, and she was begging for him to take her harder.

"Please," she whispered. "I need you deeper inside me."

Severus breathed deeply and finally enjoyed what he had wanted for nearly two years. He grunted as he filled and stretched her, deep inside her heat, rocking her, drawing her to himself.

"I'm yours, sweet one," he whispered. "Yours."

Hermione let out a guttural sound from deep inside her. "I'm...it's happening! I'm coming, Severus!" she shouted, half in shock, half in pleasure. Hermione cried out as he began to push harder and deeper inside her. She was mindless. She had no other thought but him, the man over her, calling her name, and filling her to the edge. Just as she was ready to tell him no more, another orgasm would hit, and she would scream louder and harder as she felt liquid seeping from her body, warm against her bum.

Severus was biting his lip. He wanted to let go so badly, but he wasn't finished with her yet. She grabbed the pillow behind her head and threw it from underneath her head to the floor. Severus felt onto her, capturing her wrists above her head, and sucking on her nipples. Hermione was struggling and bucking as he continued to drive into her. By the end, they both were crying and whispering their love and devotion to the other. He spilled into her with a moan, and they held each other close, their noses touching and kissing lightly periodically on the lips. Severus was not about to let her go. He smiled at her. "You are lovely when you've been freshly taken, my dear," he said as he drank in her face.

Hermione felt her face growing hot. "Thank you," she whispered.

Severus kept himself hovering over her and took her face into his hand as he caressed her skin. "Hermione, I love you. I do. I love everything about you and want you and I to be together always. You will never have to fear my sincerity or doubt my honesty. For so long there was nothing and then you came and gave me something I never knew was missing. That was how detached I was from love.

"You told me how much you wished someone longed for you, that if they couldn't have you, they wouldn't know how they could go on. You are that to me, Hermione. The day you walked into Grimmauld Place the summer before your eighteenth birthday, you changed my life. I was chained to you, and each day I wanted, wished, and hoped for you to claim me, and make me your own."

He sat up in the bed and gave Hermione some room. "Have I earned your trust now?" he asked.

Hermione took his hand in hers and kissed his beak-like nose gently. "I would like to officially declare you as mine," she whispered.

He held her and kissed her face, neck, and shoulders...everywhere he could easily access. "Thank you, Hermione, thank you for making me so very happy," he whispered into her ear.

***

Hermione woke early the next morning and slipped out of Severus' arms to go to the loo. She winced at the ache between her legs and looked back to see the evidence of her first sexual experience. She padded softly to the door, and there was a blank piece of parchment spelled there.

Hermione retrieved her wand and tapped it. The note detached from the door, and the cramped, spiky handwriting of her fiancé came into view, and she read it slowly.

Hermione,

Severus

Hermione smiled. Yes, that was a wonderful idea. She would quickly go to the loo and hurry to return to her Severus, for he was hers now. They had longed enough.

~The End~

A/N: The poem in Severus' note is Renouncement by Alice Meynell.