Chapter 46

A/N: Many thanks to my betas, luvsev and WriterMerrin. I hope you enjoy now having Severus and Hermione together at last!

***

Severus and Hermione Snape returned to Hogwarts early the next morning. Hermione had all her belongings now in Severus' quarters. She breathed deeply and thought, I'm home. I'm finally home.

Severus and Hermione took hurried showers and dressed for the day. Another time, she would go back to retrieve her wedding dress and straighten up their room at Grimmauld Place. After they were dressed and looking their part of professor and student, Severus and Hermione sadly removed their wedding rings and placed them in a box charmed with their unique signature. Only her wand or Severus' could open the box.

They left the dungeons separately for breakfast, and Hermione went to sit with Ron and Harry. She went to say "Hi" to Harry when Ron looked at her pointedly and gave her a wide-eyed glare. Harry looked angry and in a mood blacker than she had ever seen on him.

"What's going on?" she asked to Ron and Ginny who were pushing their food on their plates.

"What else?" said Ginny. "Umbridge."

"What has she done now?" Hermione asked as she glanced at Harry.

"Show Hermione your hand, Harry!" said Ron pointedly. Harry forcefully pushed his hand under Hermione's face. She grasped it and saw the markings, redness, and puffiness.

"Harry!" she exclaimed. "What has she been doing?"

"Well, since I am such an unstable person who can't help lying about Voldemort, she is making me do lines. 'I must not tell lies.'"

Ginny leaned over to whisper to Hermione. "She's got this black pen, and it cuts into the person's flesh when it's used to write with. The blood of the writer is used as ink. It's foul, Dark magic," she whispered.

"Harry, she can't do this," Hermione whispered as Harry snatched his hand away from her.

"Well, obviously, she can, because no one is going to stop her, are they?" he snapped.

"You have to tell Dumbledore," she said flatly.

Harry laughed. "Like he cares! He doesn't have the time for the likes of me, now. I'm just a nutter, remember?"

He was looking at her oddly; there was a glint in his eye that just wasn't...Harry.

"Harry, you're worrying me," she said quietly.

"Look, I hear how they all talk about me!" he said hotly. "Everyone thinks I'm crazy, and I'm not...I'm not! What do you know, anyway? You're not even with us anymore. You're just like Dumbledore and the rest...trying to keep me out of your Order Meetings." Harry picked up his book bag and strode out of the hall.

"I was afraid of that," Ron said, looking uncomfortable.

"Of what?" Hermione asked. "What's going on?"

Ginny spoke up, "Harry isn't happy about this whole change with you being in the dungeons with Snape and the Slytherins. He feels just so...so lost. Nobody will talk to him, and Umbridge has a personal vendetta against him."

Hermione sighed. "I'm really sorry he's taking all of this so badly. It's just that it's my life, my future. We still have three classes together. It's not like I never see you all."

"That's not all, Hermione. Look what happened when you were gone the past two days." Ginny handed her Monday's Daily Prophet.

Hermione took it and scanned the headlines. "I don't believe it! Umbridge is now a High Inquisitor? What is that rubbish?" she snapped.

She read on and muttered aloud from time to time. Finally she tossed the paper down and said, "Well, has anything happened yet?"

"Besides Harry wanting to do his nut because we now know how we got stuck with toad-face?" deadpanned Ginny. "Only Trelawney got 'inspected,'" she continued. "Ron and Harry say she's going to get chucked out."

"Oh, dear," Hermione said as she gazed at the paper again. She wondered why no one had seen fit to tell her of this latest development. All she could think was that it was a time for her and Severus, not to talk about things anyone couldn't do anything about anyway.

"We can talk about this more. I wish Harry could just understand," she said as she shook her head.

Ron started to eat again, "Well, maybe eff you spend muh thime in fa 'ommon 'oom,"

Ginny and Hermione looked at him with disgust. "I don't know which is worse," Hermione said, "your table manners or the fact that I am actually beginning to understand what you're saying."

Ginny snickered. "So, we'll hang out tonight in the common room?" she asked.

"Sure," Hermione replied, feeling uneasy about how she was going to explain this to her new husband.

***

The rest of the day was vile. Umbridge was so unpleasant and so set against teaching anything about real Defense; Hermione was going to have a mouthful to say at the next Order meeting.

She had a couple of hours while Harry was in detention and Ron and Ginny were busy with Quidditch. She went downstairs and slipped into her quarters she shared with Severus through her old room's entrance. As soon as she reached the bedroom, a very amorous Snape ambushed her.

He had half her clothes off before he released her lips. "I have to tell you, Severus, that I need to go hang out in the common room tonight for a while."

He paused just as he was about to capture a pink nipple. "Now?" he said impatiently.

"No, not for a couple of hours," she said breathlessly as he sucked greedily. She didn't think he even heard her past the word "No."

He was like a starving man, desperate and unleashed. He entered her with a sigh of relief. He rested inside her, breathing hard.

"Hermione," he groaned. "I don't think I'll ever get tired of how good this feels."

Hermione ran her fingers through his hair and brought his lips to hers. Kissing took over as he rested hotly inside her. Finally, he shifted and moaned.

"Please, Hermione, I need to let go," he whispered.

Hermione knew what he meant. He needed her fast and hard. She braced herself and nodded her head. When nothing happened, she opened one eye and saw Severus looking at her strangely.

"What?" she asked.

He laughed. "You look like you're steadying yourself for an earthquake," he said as he chuckled.

"That's not too far off when you let go, darling," she said honestly.

He blushed. "Is it that unbearable?" he asked, embarrassed.

"No," she said. "My body's just getting used to you again," she whispered as she played with the sparse hairs on his chest.

He kissed her again. "Just let me know if it's too much, okay?" he whispered.

Hermione nodded, and he kissed her furiously as he stroked himself inside her. She held on tight as he gasped and panted onto her neck.

Afterwards, as they lay together, Hermione groaned. "I don't want to get up and go back out!" she whined.

Severus laughed. "They're your friends."

She slapped him on his chest and got up to shower.

***

When she got into the common room, Ron and Harry were sitting, working on homework. Harry was sullen as usual, and Ron looked at her a bit helplessly. She took a breath and went to Harry and said, "Ron and Ginny told me about Umbridge. I wanted to talk with you about it."

"You do, do you?" he asked angrily. "Fine." He tossed down his quill. "I would like to discuss a few things myself. Firstly, where have you been the last two days?"

"I can't tell you," she said apologetically.

"Can't or won't?" he asked pointedly as he crossed his arms.

"Both," she answered calmly.

Harry gave a huff and went about his homework, ignoring her.

"Harry, please," she whispered as she touched his arm.

"You know, Snape was gone too," he snapped as he glared at her.

"What are you trying to say, Harry?' she asked directly.

"Nothing," he muttered.

She tried to talk to him again, but he glowered at her, and her voice faltered. She decided to leave before things got worse.

***

When she got back to her quarters, Severus was at his desk, grading. "I didn't expect you back so soon," he asked, concerned.

"Well," she replied sadly as she sat in a nearby chair. "I think I may be losing my best friend."

Severus stopped working and placed down his quill. "What happened?" he asked.

Hermione got up and took off her robe. "Just that my absence these past couple of days has not gone unnoticed," she said ruefully.

"By the way," she said. "Did you know about this 'High Inquisitor' business?"

"Yes, I was informed of it Sunday night," he answered. "Why?"

Hermione rolled her eyes in irritation. "Well, I wish someone had told me!" she said angrily. "Harry is so upset. He's not himself at all, and I don't know what to do anymore."

"I think you really need to spend more time with him, Hermione," he said. "It's bad enough you're not being in classes and living in Gryffindor tower, but the boy is strained."

"He's going to have to start Occlumency, you realize," she reminded him.

"I shudder to think," he replied as he sorted his paperwork. "You know who Dumbledore is going to ask to teach him, don't you?"

"Well, I don't know what to do anymore," she said as she started to change for bed.

"Like I said, you need to spend more time with him. Hang out more at the common room. You need to connect with him, Hermione. It's vital. We need to know what dreams or visions he may be having. You can't just count on Mr. Weasley to tell you," he sneered.

"All right," she said as she went to go brush her teeth. "No need to get nasty."

When she came back out Severus was in bed. "I can afford to be more giving with my time," he told her. "Now that I know you'll be with me at night."

She slipped under the covers. "When did you become so smug?" she asked.

"I have always been smug," he replied. "That'll be another thing you'll have to get used to."

Hermione chuckled as she snuggled down to fall asleep. Severus turned off the lights and said, "Can you believe that we are finally married?"

She smiled in the dark and reached for his hand. "Yes, I can."

***

Hermione made a decision that the next day in Defense class, she was going to find out just how much this witch did not want them knowing about how to truly defend themselves.

She began with the customary greeting of "Wands away" and proceeded to tell them to read chapter four. Hermione sat straight in her chair and raised her hand. After a minute or so, she realized that Umbridge had not only noticed her raised hand, but was deliberately ignoring it. Harry and Ron were off in space daydreaming until the snickers around them got their eyes moving around.

Hermione could see Harry staring at her from across the aisle, and a small smile twitched on the side of her face. She wanted him to know she was on his side. She saw a glimmer of approval in his green eyes for the first time in months. She gave him a conspiratorial wink and set her face in her best "know-it-all" glare.

Finally, the titters and smothered chuckles became too much for Umbridge. She was forced to acknowledge Hermione's determination. "Yes, Miss Granger?"

Mrs. Snape, you old cow! she thought angrily.

*"Yes, Professor Umbridge, but I have already read chapter four," she said primly.

Umbridge blinked and flashed her nasty smile at her. "Then you may proceed to chapter five," she replied just as perfunctory.

"I have read that as well," Hermione informed her, realizing her voice was really starting to sound like it had her first year. "In fact, I've read the entire book."*

More guffaws came from the other students. Next to Harry, she saw Ron lean forward to stare at her with an open mouth. She almost felt like bursting out laughing. If only for Ron's look of utter shock, this was worth every second.

*"Well, then, Miss Granger," Umbridge said as she walked slowly towards her, "Would you care to inform the class what Slinkhard has to say about counter jinxes in chapter fifteen?"

Hermione didn't miss a beat. "He says that they are improperly named," she replied. "However, I disagree."*

Harry was beaming. Hermione felt triumphant and a bit ridiculous, having to resort to acting like the sixteen-year-old she resembled. Honestly, all she wanted to do was to have a nice, quiet debate with the bitch and find out a way to get her into the jar out of which she had just two months previously evicted Rita Skeeter...not that it would have been any more adult...but it would make her feel as if she were accomplishing something.

*"You disagree?" said Umbridge, like she had been hard of hearing.

"Yes, I do," Hermione said as she crossed her arms across her chest. "Slinkhard doesn't like jinxes, does he? However, I believe they can be used quite effectively when used defensively."* She hoped the emphasis on the word "defensively" got her point across.

It did. *"Oh, you do, don't you?" Umbridge said, starting now to become very angry. "Well, I am afraid it is Slinkhard's opinion, and not yours, that matters within this classroom, Miss Granger."

Hermione began to speak, and Umbridge snapped, "That is enough. I am taking five points away from Gryffindor, Miss Granger."

Among the mutterings of outrage, Harry blurted out, "What for?" *

Hermione pointed at him while Umbridge's back was turned. "You stay out of this," she warned him.

Umbridge started to pontificate about her reasons on taking points from Gryffindor house, one of them being that the teachers they'd had before her had been too lenient and permissive. Hermione was waiting for an opening to see how deeply she could take this and get her to outright admit her purpose to stop them from learning how to defend themselves when she brought up Professor Quirrell.

*"Yeah, Quirrell was a great teacher," said Harry loudly, "there was just that minor drawback of him having Lord Voldemort sticking out of the back of his head." *

Hermione shut her eyes tightly as she sat there with her arms folded. The entire room was silent. Great job on keeping your trap shut, Harry!

*"I think another week's worth of detentions would do you some good, Mr. Potter," Umbridge said smoothly. *

***

"Well done, Harry," Hermione said sarcastically as they left class and walked towards the Great Hall.

"What would you have me do?" he hissed at her.

She stopped dead in her tracks and whispered, "Listen. That's what I expect. You need to learn to keep that mouth of yours shut and your ears open! If I tell you to stay out of it, I expect you to listen and do it! Now you have detention," she said in a calmer voice. "You know what that means. You are going to have to answer to Angelina and McGonagall."

She walked past him, and Ron followed her closely. "I can't believe you did that, Hermione. That was brilliant!" he blurted out.

"Yeah, for whatever it was worth, I guess," she said, irritated with the both of them.

They all sat down to dinner, and Harry started in on Hermione. "You think I like getting my hand sliced open every night?" he asked hotly.

Hermione wasn't about to take the bait. "Harry," she said as she focused on her food in front of her, "I honestly have no idea. You snap at everyone, and whether they care about you or not, you treat us all the same. I'm tired of being talked to as if I were rubbish under your shoes. So, if you don't mind, I'd rather just eat my dinner in peace."

She could feel the stares of six eyes on her. Harry, Ron, and Ginny were just looking at her in shock.

"Hermione?" asked Ginny. "Are you okay?"

She finally looked up and glanced at all of them. "Don't look at me as if I'm the one acting like a Manticore every blessed day!" she snapped. "You take that to Harry."

Hermione sat silently eating as first Angelina and then McGonagall came up to yell at Harry for getting another detention. She remained quiet through it all, eating her food and relishing the fact that he was getting exactly what he deserved.

After McGonagall left, Harry turned and looked at Hermione's profile as she ate. "I miss you, Hermione," he said quietly.

She looked at him, and he opened his mouth only to find Ron and Ginny watching him. They turned their heads and started to talk between them, and Harry turned back to Hermione and continued. "I hate that you are gone from the tower. I hate that you are not around anymore. You can't understand how much I've relied on you being there. Now it's like you're gone, and Snape gets to have you."

Hermione smiled and said, "Harry, do you honestly think he just wants to dominate my time? As if he has nothing else better to do than to 'chat' me up?"

Harry grinned. "You've always been the logical one, the one to make all the nonsense make sense. These headaches and my scar hurting...I don't have you to talk to about it."

"Yes, Harry," she insisted, "you do. I miss you, too. I want to talk...I just want to talk with the Harry I know... at least some of the time."

Harry smiled. "You'll come to the common room, then?" he asked.

She ruffled his hair. "Yes, I'll be there, you great, big prat!" she said as she laughed.

***

"I've been thinking," Hermione said suddenly as they all were sitting around the common room studying.

"Quick, alert the Prophet," said Ron to Ginny.

Hermione turned to Harry. "I want you to teach us Defense," she said directly to him.

He stared at her as if she was mad.

Hermione smiled. She had been thinking of that day, so many years ago, when Voldemort came and Severus had insisted all the Gryffindors stay in their common room during his visit. They all had taken the opportunity to help others in the area they were skilled. Lily had helped with Charms and Potions; Hermione instructed on Transfiguration. She remembered how stunned everyone was when small, sweet Marlene McKinnon blasted Sirius and James off their feet...literally...with her superb dueling skills. Marlene had been an ideal teacher: unassuming, humble, and passionate about the topic. She had given everyone some very simple and direct moves in defensive magic. Hermione felt a pang of sadness at the thought of how Sirius had looked at the small brunette. He had declared he was in love, and everyone had laughed accordingly. It was just like Sirius to say something like that. However, he really had been swept off his feet. Hermione had many times since seeing Sirius at Grimmauld Place, looking a little more like the handsome wizard she had once known, thought of what life would have been like if Marlene had lived. If Marlene had been alive during those terrible, dark days when James and Lily went into hiding, and later, when Voldemort killed them, would Harry have been raised by them instead?

She had to stop herself from going there. She would get nowhere dwelling in the past, thinking of what might have been. She looked at Harry with all his frustration and inability to have any control over what was happening in his life, and it was the perfect solution.

"You know this could be the answer to so much!" she said passionately. "Harry, I know you're frustrated and anxious most of the time. This would not only give you an outlet for all your tension, it would give us the means to learn proper Defense."

"Is this some Order thing that you're trying to pass off as your own idea?" he asked suspiciously. "Is this something you've been ordered to do?"

She caught that inflection in the word "ordered," but let it pass. "No, Harry. Furthermore, I really don't think the Order would approve, so we'd have to keep it all hush-hush. What do you say?" she asked.

*"I don't know," he said as he twirled his quill in his hand. "Look, you think this stuff is easy, but it's not. I know what people think. They think that Cedric must have been stupid or not paying attention and that's why he got killed. The stuff I've done has been mostly luck." *

"Excuses, excuses," shot back Ron.

*"Hey," he said harshly. "You don't get it! You don't know what it's like. Neither of you know what it's like to face him. You think it's all about memorizing stuff and that's it. Well, it's not. It's fucking torture knowing your friends could die...or have died...and you could be a second away from getting snuffed yourself. You think I'm so clever and I'm not. I've never been clever. I've just had luck." *

"Harry, take some pride in your worth," said Hermione softly. "I can see luck once. But how many times have you defied him, Harry?" She thought about how his parents had defied him three times; Harry had already beaten that.

"Think on it, all right?" she asked.

He nodded in agreement. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and hugged him. She said good-bye to the others and went back home. She felt great! This was going to do the trick to get Harry to open up to her and to get him out of his funk.

***

When she got back to their rooms, Severus was waiting for her. "Looking rather smug, I see," he said as he got up from his chair and walked towards her.

"Yes," she said as she removed her robes. "I have made peace with Harry, and we are cooking up a little diversion to keep him busy and help the students at the same time."

"I heard about your little rebellion in class today, my little wife," he whispered. "What are you up to?"

He closed the gap between them, and she felt the magic between them. She smiled at him and said, "I'll tell you when I'm ready. I have thinking and plotting to do."

Severus shook his head. He took a curl between his fingers and twirled it around slowly. She laid her hands on his wool-clad chest and slid her hands up and around his neck. She stood on tiptoe and kissed him next to his mouth.

"It's been a while," he said. As he leaned down to kiss her neck, his fingers brushed her hair to the side.

"Just a couple of days," she replied teasingly.

"Are you tired of me already, Hermione?" he whispered in her ear.

"No," she said with a small laugh.

He pushed his fingers through her hair and wrapped his other arm around her waist. He brought her mouth to his as he said, "Good, because I will never tire of you."

He held her close to him, and they kissed for a long time as they made their way to the bed.

Hermione let his larger body collapse on her as they fell onto the mattress. Severus was quickly stripping her down, and she felt his large hands on her skin. She worked on the buttons on his frock coat and felt her underwear sliding down her.

"Already?" she breathed as she felt his heavy erection grinding against her inner thigh.

"I love you, Hermione," he whispered as he helped her take off the rest of his clothes. "I've missed you."

His eyes were burning into her. He always looked at her when they made love. Even when she closed her eyes, she could still feel the heat of his eyes on her.

He took himself in hand, and she felt the pressure of his entrance into her. He pushed farther in than he had before, and she felt her herself stretching to accommodate him. He thrust once deftly inside her and groaned his pleasure.

Hermione reached up to push his hair away from his face. He stilled his movements and gathered her into his arms. He took one of her hands in his own and laid it over her head. He bent down and sucked on her left nipple lightly.

Hermione felt herself growing moist and needy. "Please, Severus," she whispered. "Don't torture me."

He wrapped her into his arms and began to rhythmically thrust slow, but deeply. "My sweet girl," he breathed as he kissed her. He enveloped her lips with his own, and Hermione began to feel the building tension. She broke their kiss as sweet, small cries came from deep inside her.

"Yes, Hermione," Severus whispered. "Cry for me, how I love your cries."

Hermione screamed as he plunged into her. "Oh, God, Severus...you're so hard...feels so good," she moaned.

He looked at her hungrily. "There will always be that sixteen-year-old boy in me, remembering you in your little pink knickers," he panted lustfully.

Hermione gained control of her voice and let her inhibitions out the window. "What stopped you from taking advantage of me then? When you let me down, why didn't you just take me, rip off those silly knickers, and fuck me?" she breathed.

He stopped moving and looked at her sincerely. "I feared rejection. I still do. And I never wanted to 'fuck' you, Hermione. Perhaps when we've had the chance to be together more than a couple years at a time, we can play a little, you know."

"A little slap and tickle?" she suggested as she ground her pelvis around his thick shaft that was still embedded in her.

"Yesss, I would like that very much," he said as he slowly pushed into her again, rotating his hips and pelvis, making sure no part of her was untouched.

"You don't have to fear that anymore," she whispered. "You can dominate me and show me your perverted side. I have one too," she confessed teasingly.

He grabbed her hair and buried her lips under his own. He stroked lightly inside her. "I worship you, Hermione. You have been everything to me. I could never survive without you."

She was panting again with the feelings he was drawing from her. "It is never up for debate, Severus," she whispered. "I am your wife. That means for better or worse, I am yours...forever."

He let loose on her, taking her with him to the edge. It was different than any other type of lovemaking he had ever shown her. She was kissed and touched all over her skin as he took over her completely.

As he continued to push into her, he said, "I want only you to sate me. I have things I want to do to you and you to do to me. I lust for you, I love you...you are everything."

"No more convincing, Severus," she groaned. "Just fuck me. I trust you. Give it all to me. I want it, and I only want it from you, my darling boy."

He looked at her. "Is that how you see me?" he asked breathlessly as he halted his movements.

She looked at him so openly and let her heart bare itself for him to see. "You are and will always be the man who welcomed me back into this world, that night we were trembling as we made love the first time, the man who took me to Spinner's End for that special Christmas, the one who took me to that record booth and played that song for me and kissed me so tenderly, but most of all, you are the boy that I used to comfort by holding your hand when you had bad dreams and needed someone to hold you when you cried. That is how I will always see you. You will never age in my eyes. That's why it doesn't matter. I know who we truly are. I love you. I loved you then, and I love you even more now. You can be yourself with me. I will never judge you or make you feel ashamed of losing control or being vulnerable."

He smiled at her as he stroked her hair, "You never did, did you?"

"No," she replied. "I knew it was too precious, too much of a leap for you to let me in that far. It's sacred to me. I'm your girl, and you are my boy."

He kissed her hard and held her close as he slowly continued to make love to her. Their mingled cries of satisfaction and completion were music to Hermione's ears. She thought she would never get enough of being with him like this. She ran her fingers through his hair, she had never cared it was greasy; she loved him. She gasped out her orgasm into his ear.

"Yes, Severus, like that! Harder! Oooh... yesss!"

"Hermione, I love you. I love you!" he shouted as he spilled himself deep inside her.

They held onto each other and stilled their breaths, relishing in the moment.

"I don't think I have ever been this close to another person in my whole life," he whispered to her. "I can't even explain why it is you love me so much."

"I know you," Hermione answered simply. "I was your friend and then became your lover. It was a long process that gave me the time to think and figure out what I wanted. All I want is you. That's why it will never matter what we look like. We'll get old and ugly, but I will always choose you because I know the real you underneath the black clothes and dark glares."

Severus smiled. "I am so fortunate to have you, Hermione. I am so happy that I have a place to hide and be safe and vulnerable without the fear closing in on me."

Hermione held him tightly. "I'm looking forward to finding out what kind of deviant and perverted things you want me to do with you," she whispered in his ear.

He groaned. "As long as you have no objections to being taken unawares," he replied softly.

"Oooh! You mean to grab me and pull me into dark alcoves and do unspeakable things to me?" she asked excitedly.

He smirked. "Oh, yes. I have many fantasies from my seventh year that I need to fulfill," he said darkly.

"You fantasized about me?" she asked shyly.

"Of course! It didn't stop with the pink knickers incident. In fact, it was that incident that spawned a great deal more," he murmured against her neck.

"Tell me one," she asked. She could feel her lower belly growing warm, and she was pulsating between her legs.

His eyes were smoldering. "There are a lot of simple ones from a teenage boy's mind, blow jobs and the like. Not that there is nothing wrong with a good blow job, mind!" he said seriously. "But, I remember one that was really good. Stripping you naked and taking you on the floor right where we could get caught."

"You want to dominate me!" she said in surprise.

"Just a little," he said shyly. "I also would like for you to grab me, rip my trousers open and give me the blow job of my life."

Hermione smirked. "You could always take me to the Astronomy Tower and recreate that infamous incident that started it all," she suggested.

Severus had a feral look in his eyes. "That sounds inspired, Mrs. Snape."

"I love it when you call me that," she whispered.

He cupped her face and showered her face delicately with tiny kisses. "I love that I can finally say it," he whispered. "You are mine. All mine," he said with a glimmer in his eyes.

"I am," she agreed. "And you are mine. Always."

"Promise you will never give up on me, Hermione," he asked as he held her tightly in his arms.

"I already have, Severus' she reminded him.

"Tell me again. I need to hear it on a regular basis. Tell me you will never leave me," he insisted.

She broke their embrace and leaned over him. "Severus, I will never abandon you. Only death can take me from you, and then, in death, we will be reunited. I will never give up on you. Even if the world turns its back on you, I will be your champion. My love will never end," she swore.

The magic came again and took them by surprise. They watched the shimmer of colors surround them brightly and disappear. Severus kissed her hungrily and begged her to take him. Hermione mounted him and slowly made love to him. She kissed his tears away, and after they had satisfied each other, she held him in her small arms and comforted him. It amazed her how such a formidable wizard as Severus Snape needed the reassurance of love from her. She felt humbled and awed at the same time. She had meant her words. She would never forsake him. Even if she had to turn her face from everyone she loved, he would never again experience the rejection that had once been so commonplace in his life. She would never betray that love. No matter what came their way.

A/N: The words in italics that start and end with an asterisk belong to JK Rowling. The other words in italics are my own.