Chapter 52

A/N: Many thanks for the reviews last chapter. Please keep them coming! I hope this chapter will make up for all the pain our favorite couple has been dealing with. Again, thanks to my betas, luvsev and WriterMerrin for all their hard work! Please Review!

***

Monday morning arrived with a bang. The interview Harry gave to Rita for the Quibbler was fantastic. Hermione felt very proud of herself. She knew that she had helped to make a strike against Umbridge and all her nastiness.

Harry also received a bunch of fan mail that Hermione helped him sort out. Some were good, some were bad, but overall, there were a great deal of people who agreed with Harry and believed his story. She, Harry, Ron, and Ginny were elated.

Hermione began to wonder as she saw the students with their copies of the Quibbler how long it would take Umbridge to ban it altogether. She received her answer when Harry told her at lunch he had received a week's detention, fifty points from Gryffindor and could no longer go to Hogsmeade. Hermione smirked. It was only a matter of time now.

Sure enough, Hermione was biting back a laugh as she saw the latest Educational Decree: "Any student found in the possession of the magazine the Quibbler will be expelled."

"Hermione," Harry asked her, "how can you be happy?"

*"Don't you see, Harry?" she explained as they walked to Transfiguration. "This will only intensify people's curiosity to find out about that article. Umbridge has actually done us a favor for once!"*

It was a topsy-turvy day. People were stopping Harry in the halls and telling him they believed him. Hermione was relieved. It had been so long since she had seen Harry light-hearted. The D.A. was still meeting as frequently as possible, and a lot of progress was being made. Hermione was highly impressed with Harry's talents. He was a born teacher. He really knew his stuff and instinctively knew how to handle each individual problem with grace and ease. He was calmer when he taught, and it seemed to be an excellent outlet. Overall, Hermione was very pleased with how life was turning around for all of them.

She and Severus still had things to work out. They hadn't made love yet, but she had insisted he no longer hide in the bathroom like an embarrassed teenager if he needed release. She found watching him wank was very satisfying. They had recently progressed to masturbating together. It was mutually fulfilling. They were taking small steps, but she was optimistic things would be fine, not only for them but for everyone.

***

However, one day everything changed. Harry and Ron told her about a horrible nightmare Harry'd had the night before. As soon as Hermione could, she went to Dumbledore's office.

"It's serious," she explained. "Now, Harry is convinced he was inside Voldemort. I didn't want to think of how he would handle the truth! Harry saw it all: the whole exchange between Voldemort, Avery, and Rookwood. He knows now that Bode was forced to remove 'something' and that he was definitely under the Imperius Curse. He says he is certain the caster was Lucius Malfoy. He is still referring to it as 'the weapon,' so at least he isn't aware of the prophecy. However, he saw himself torturing Avery with the Cruciatus Curse."

"And what has Harry said of his Occlumency training?" Albus asked her.

"He feels guilty that he saw this exchange; however, he is far too curious. He wants to know what is behind that door, but whether it is his own curiosity or Voldemort's...I can't be certain. Nevertheless, he knows that Voldemort will find a way to get the 'weapon,'" she confessed.

Albus, who had been pacing while Hermione had been speaking, now sank into his chair, his cerulean eyes troubled. "This is terrible," he said. "I need to see Severus before Harry's next lesson. Keep insisting, Hermione. It is imperative that he learns to close his mind, for his own good as well as all of ours."

"Yes, Albus," she replied.

***

Later that same evening, Hermione was in the library to get a few books to read when Harry came bursting in noisily.

"Quiet!" hissed Madam Pince.

"Sod off!" he shouted angrily at her as he approached Hermione. "I need to talk to you...NOW!"

Hermione placed the books down and followed him cautiously outside of the library. Once they were safely alone, Harry whirled on her. He was furious.

"I had a very interesting lesson with Snape tonight. It would have lasted longer, but fortunately for me, Umbridge decided to kick Trelawney out, and Snape was forced to let me go."

"What happened, Harry?" Hermione said calmly. She had figured something like this would happen.

"I tapped into Snape's memories, Hermione. I bet you can guess what I saw," he said aggressively.

Hermione fingered her wand. If he were heading in the direction she feared, he would have to be Obliviated.

"What did you see, Harry?" she continued to ask cautiously.

"I saw a hook-nosed man beating and screaming at a cowering woman as Snape was crouched on the floor, crying. I saw Snape fighting with Sirius and my dad. I saw a teenage Snape talking with a younger Slytherin boy very seriously. Finally, I saw a bushy-haired girl arguing with a young Snape outside on the hill overlooking Hagrid's hut. Is there something you wish to tell me, Hermione?" he said in a dead calm.

She didn't want to do this, but she had no other recourse. She whipped out her wand and calmly said, "Obliviate!"

Harry collapsed on the ground, and Hermione went to get Madam Pince to watch over Harry as she went to get Madam Pomfrey and Severus.

***

The three of them watched Harry as he slept in a forced Dreamless Sleep.

"I had to do it," Hermione said desperately as she confessed what she had done. "He was so angry; he was in a blinding rage. We just can't trust him knowing that I had lived in the past. Can you imagine the state he is in now? He's so...vulnerable. It would mean a coup for Severus if the Dark Lord knew the truth...but we can't risk him knowing!"

Minerva's lips were set in tight, thin line. "I can't say I'm happy with what has occurred, but it seems the only way to ensure Potter keeps an even keel," she bit out.

Albus came in, looking worried. Hermione told him what happened.

He nodded his head in agreement. "It was the only way. Thank you, Hermione."

"Severus?" he asked as he turned to him. "What transpired during your lesson?"

Severus was taut with anger. "The lesson tonight was a complete disaster, but for one moment, he was quick enough to rebound my spell and get into my head. He saw me speaking with Hermione."

"You have been using the Pensieve, haven't you, Severus?" he asked.

"Of course," Severus replied, affronted. "It is just difficult when there are so many. You know the dangers of removing too many of one's memories at a time."

Dumbledore sighed as he looked upon Harry's unconscious form. "I know, Severus. You must be more diligent now that Tom is becoming stronger. So, what transpired?" the older wizard asked.

"Potter was again in the Department of Mysteries. He was closer to opening the door. He could see the blue light shining from underneath the door. The door flew open, and he saw the circular room with the blue candles. He was too eager to keep going farther in to stop himself. He wants to know how to enter," Severus said darkly.

Hermione gasped. If it hadn't been for the unmarked doors, Harry would have gotten in! She closed her eyes and shook her head. "Can we Obliviate what he saw, Albus?" she asked.

"Don't think I haven't considered it, Hermione," Dumbledore said gravely as he looked at the boy wizard. "The problem is Tom's eagerness. I fear Harry may not be strong enough at this point. Tom has gained more ground in his mind. Mr. Potter will be getting Obliviated every other day at this juncture. Diligence, Hermione, press upon his mind to stop searching...to refuse desiring. It's what Tom wishes for him: the search."

"And on the other hand, I am to keep reporting my wife's continued treachery to the Order by joining me in thwarting any progress Potter might make with Occlumency," Severus added snidely.

Hermione looked at her husband. "The sides of what is true and what is false is growing so thin I don't know if I can tell them apart anymore."

"Welcome to my reality, wife," he whispered.

***

The days became urgent. Everyone was neck deep in preparing for their upcoming O.W.L.s; the D.A. meetings were full of tension and a sense of vital importance to absorb all they could during each lesson was in the air.

Harry was far too busy to speak about his Occlumency lessons. Each time Hermione asked, he would grunt in short one-word answers.

Harry's hard work teaching everyone how to produce a Patronus Charm had paid off in spades. During the latest lesson, nearly everyone had their Patronus out and shimmering along with ease. It was intriguing to see what each person's Patronus was. Hermione's was an otter. It had always been an otter. She remembered when Severus had come to tell her that his Patronus had changed from a doe to an otter. It had been hilarious to see the look on his face. He had felt an otter was so undignified, but Hermione had laughed and had told him it was her Patronus, and she had taken it to mean that he had truly let Lily go.

As they played around with their silvery friends, Dobby popped in and surprised them all.

*"Hi, Dobby," said Harry. "What's...what's wrong?" he asked, looking concerned.

The elf looked terrified. Harry said, "It's Umbridge. She found out about us, right?"

Dobby squeaked, and Harry took it for a 'yes.' "WELL, WHAT ARE YOU ALL WAITING FOR?" he shouted. "RUN!" *

Everyone ran pell-mell towards the door. They were having a hard time getting out quickly. Hermione saw the Slytherins round the corner. She got away, but not before watching Harry get caught by a Tripping Jinx and falling down flat.

She raced to Gryffindor tower to meet up with the rest. After everyone was accounted for, she told them Harry had been caught.

"Oh, no!" squealed Lavender Brown.

"What are we going to do?" asked Pavarti nervously.

"We wait," said Hermione calmly as she plopped down in a nearby chair.

***

Harry returned late that night, and everyone was waiting up for the news. He quieted them all down and told them the story. Umbridge knew all about the D.A., tried to have Dumbledore arrested, and he had Stupefied the lot of them. When everyone had come to, Dumbledore was gone. Fudge and Umbridge were furious, and Harry now felt pretty sure the headmaster was gone for good.

Hermione's heart sank. Of course, she had known this day would come; she had just hoped it would have been farther down the road. After Harry spoke, it seemed foolish to remain up and stew.

The very next morning, everyone learned of Educational Decree number twenty-eight. Hermione looked at the notice grimly. It had finally happened. Dolores Umbridge had now taken Albus' place as headmaster of Hogwarts.

***

Gryffindor house tried to keep their hopes up. The D.A. especially kept reminding each other that it wouldn't be long now. Dumbledore would be back. Then, just as everyone was starting to feel better, the other shoe dropped.

It started with Malfoy, who informed a very irate Hermione that he was now a part of the Inquisitorial Squad and had the authority to dock points. Hermione couldn't wait to talk with Severus to see if he was going to take the little prick in hand.

She stood in front of the wall with the giant hourglasses set in niches. Just that morning, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had been neck and neck. Now the gemstones were flying upward. The only hourglass that remained full was Slytherin.

"Noticed, have you?" asked Fred from behind her.

Hermione turned and said, "Yes, I have. This is ridiculous."

"Malfoy docked us fifty points!" Harry said furiously as he joined them. They started walking into the Great Hall. They were just tucking in when a terrific explosion nearly knocked them onto the floor.

"Bloody hell!" Ron yelled above the din of screams and shouts. "What was that?"

Hermione took out her wand and strode towards the outer hall. Her eyes flew open in shock. Enchanted fireworks were exploding everywhere. She watched Umbridge and Filch dashing about trying to stop them, but each time they cast a spell, the fireworks seemed to multiply. Hermione grinned and snickered to herself. She calmly returned to the Great Hall, got her book bag between her feet, and ate her lunch while watching the fireworks. It was going to be a long day, but at least it would be entertaining.

***

Umbridge spent her first day as Headmistress running all over the school, chasing down rogue fireworks and extinguishing them. None of the teachers were any help, except Snape, Harry pointed out.

"Snape was madder than a hornet," he reported as he tore into his roast chicken.

Ginny was laughing so hard her shoulders were shaking and her eyes were watering. "H-he wasn't mad. He was scared as a rabbit!" she said as she laughed raucously.

"What do you mean?" Hermione said, smiling. Ginny's laughter was becoming contagious.

"You know how paranoid Snape is on a normal day about students trying to blow up the Potions lab to hell and back. Every time a firework whizzed by the door, his face turned deathly white. I thought he was going to pass out!" she said, still laughing.

Ron shook his head. "I thought he was going to do his nut," he said. "He was roaring and bellowing, trying to get them away and out of the dungeons...Hermione, I think you'd best stay in Gryffindor tower tonight. He's got to be in a right mood."

"Oh, no!" she said importantly. "Not for a king's ransom! I'm not going to risk facing his wrath because I heard he was in a rage. He'll be in a worse mood if I don't show up. Damn your brothers, Ron! Lord knows what heinous things Snape will have in store for me to do tonight!"

Ginny started to laugh again, but silently this time. Just her shoulders were shaking, and she lowered her face to hide.

"What the bloody hell are you on about?" Ron asked his sister.

"I-I'm s-sorry!" she burst out. "I-It's j-just how you s-said that! What's h-he going to m-make you d-do? S-Shag him?" She held her stomach as she tipped sideways to lean against her brother as she laughed uncontrollably. Hermione looked at Harry, who was starting to fight a smile. His face was turning red, and finally his shoulders were shaking too. He turned away from Hermione and starting laughing.

Ron, though, remained composed. "You are really sick, you know that?" he said disgustedly. "I'm trying to eat here. The last thing I need is to think of Snape giving Hermione the high hard one!"

"Oh, honestly!" Hermione snapped angrily.

Harry and Ginny screamed with laughter as Dean, Neville, and Seamus looked at them.

"What's the 'high hard one'?" asked Neville.

Fred and George started laughing further down the table. Hermione was shaking her head. She waited for them to calm down, but what Neville said just make her mouth twitch. Finally she hissed at them, "Will you all shut it? The last thing I need are rumors!"

But the laughter had taken a life of its own, and as Fred and George started explaining to Neville about the mechanics of sexual intercourse, Hermione and her living arrangement so close to Professor Snape was forgotten. She went to her quarters to wait for her husband.

***

Severus strode into the living area and poured himself a glass of firewhiskey. He was grumbling under his breath, and Hermione knew it wasn't good. She was sitting at his desk, working on the rotation schedule for the Order. With Sirius under house arrest, and after the mass breakout from Azkaban, it was becoming more of a challenge to disperse the duties equally.

Finally, he went to the bathroom, and Hermione heard the shower turn on. She was disappointed he hadn't said hello to her, but he was truly in a foul mood. When he came out, he had his robe on and went to lie down on the couch. She got up and padded over quietly to him. She knelt down on the floor next to him and placed her hand on his chest.

"I heard you had a difficult day," she whispered.

"I did,' he muttered.

His eyes were still closed, and Hermione asked, "Do you have a headache?"

"No," he snapped. "I'm frustrated, Hermione. Do you know how long it has been?"

Hermione sighed as she turned her head away. Sex. It had been a while. Although they slept in the same bed and engaged in some sexual activity, she still hadn't given him the green light for intercourse. It had been a long time...far too long. A little over four months, to be exact.

"Let me take a shower, and I will meet you in bed," she whispered to him.

"What for?" he asked moodily. "So I can just wank off in front of you? I'm frustrated, Hermione. I can't take it anymore."

She reached over and smacked his leg.

"That hurt!" he yelled.

"So did your comment, you great big pillock!" she bellowed as she jumped up. "Why don't you talk to me about this instead of whining like a little boy?"

He stood up and glared at her. "How dare you speak to me like that," he whispered dangerously.

"How dare you!" she shot back at him. "So, you aren't getting any trim. You think you're the only one who is suffering? I'm not getting any wood, am I?"

He gave a snort and snarled, "Then why don't you ask me about it? Merlin knows I've got enough to spare!"

Hermione was blind with indignation. She put her hands on her hips and got in his face. "Because the last time someone tried to give me wood, he was drunk as fiddler's bitch and nearly tried to grind a new hole in me because he couldn't find the one he wanted! Do you have enough detail? Do you want me to recount all the nasty things he said to me as well?" she screamed at him.

Severus' anger drained from his face. He sat up on the couch limply, defeated, and whispered, "Tell me, Hermione. Tell me so I can understand."

He looked up at her and opened his arms. Hermione regarded his offer and stood, reluctant to make peace with him. Finally, she huffed, sat on his lap, and drew a breath to tell her story when Severus interrupted her.

"Just so you know," he said apologetically. "If I get hard, it's only because your arse is on my cock. It's been a while since it's been near that area, so he may get excited just because of sheer proximity."

"Duly noted," she replied primly. "Thank you."

She told him the whole story; all the details that she couldn't find the strength to tell anyone, she told him. She confessed her fear of Severus doing something Sirius had done, and she would feel trapped all over again. She revealed her revulsion at how Sirius had tried to unsuccessfully penetrate her, and how it had hurt. She told Severus all the humiliating things he had said about their sex life...all the conjecture and crassness that came with them. She told him how humiliated and fearful she still felt deep inside.

Severus was angry. He was so angry he wanted to go and just kill Sirius and have it all be finished. "Dumbledore should have let me put him out of his misery. Dung was right. He's more animal than human." He held on to Hermione and stroked her back. "I'm sorry. Can't I at least try to help you?" he whispered.

Hermione sat there on his lap and looked at him. "Perhaps if you let me take charge and decide how we go about it all," she said hopefully.

"Whatever you want, Hermione," he said in a strained voice. Hermione could feel him getting stiff under her bum. "I'll make it easy for you . I just want you to let me inside you somewhere. At this point, I don't care where. I'm just desperate," he confessed while looking humiliated.

Hermione felt for him. "Don't worry," she whispered. "You'll get your wish. Just let me do it."

"Brilliant," he agreed as he blew out a breath.

She removed her jumper and slid off her trainers. She pushed her bra-clad breasts out towards him and nodded her approval when Severus lifted one finger above the top of her chest. Having received the go ahead, he glided one finger down her cleavage. He hooked his finger around the front clasp and pulled her to him. He kissed her, and she felt the snap come undone. She gasped as he felt his warm, familiar hands cup and lightly twist the nipples on her breasts as he continued to kiss her mouth gently. Hermione deepened the kiss as she maneuvered her body to straddle him. Severus opened his robe and let her rub the crotch of her jeans against his erection.

"I want to taste you," he whispered in her mouth.

Hermione arched her back and offered a plump breast to him. He eagerly fastened his mouth on it. He grabbed her arse and helped her to grind against his hardness, groaning as he thrust faster against her, suckling both breasts, switching from one to the other. Hermione was growing unbearably aroused and felt if she could just mount him without her jeans or knickers on and control the situation, it wouldn't be so scary. She broke away, and he looked terrified.

"Don't worry," she panted. "I'm not going to leave you wanting."

She stripped off her jeans and knickers as Severus watched. His dilated eyes were hungry for her. She straddled him and said, "I have to control this, okay?" she asked.

"Whatever you want, Hermione," he said desperately. "What do you want me to do?"

She closed her eyes and let her senses take over. "Put your mouth back on my breasts, and keep being gentle; just be gentle with everything, and let me guide you," she whispered.

She was nervous and excited at the same time. She felt like a virgin again. Taking his cock in her hand and nudging the head at her entrance for the first time in months made him moan. Her eyes snapped open at the sound, and she watched her husband as he threw his head back and squeezed his eyes shut as she cautiously positioned him at the correct angle. She breathed deeply and eased down slowly. They were both trembling and shaking from the slow torture of their coupling. Severus was whispering as if in prayer, begging her to fuck him.

She moved in a circle, and he choked out a gasp. His hands were clenched into fists on either side of them, and she stroked his arms and chest as she began to pace herself, rocking slowly back and forth on his lap. She felt more daring and kissed him. He captured her lips in a searing kiss. Hermione lost herself in his kiss, and he began to thrust upwards against her.

"Hermione, it's too much. I-I can't stop moving," he groaned.

"Go ahead, Severus," she whispered as she allowed herself to relax and enjoy the moment. "Take me, like you used to," she moaned.

Severus needed no other permission. He tossed her onto her back on the floor and pumped into her frantically. Hermione remembered the delicious feeling of him taking her. He always knew how to move inside her, to touch every intimate place deftly and urgently. This was nothing that would confuse her with what Sirius had done. Severus was no drunken rapist; he was her lover, the man who adored her and had waited a decade for her to return to him.

"Oh, God, Hermione, this is good," he groaned as he lightly kissed her all over her face and neck. "You feel so wonderful, so warm and wet. I couldn't stop thinking about this. I needed you so bad, sweet girl, I love you!"

She watched him as he came inside her, shouting and straining against her, beautifully calling her name. Hermione clung to him as he whispered calming, reassuring words of gratitude and love to her, for giving herself to him.

"You didn't orgasm," he said worriedly after he caught his breath.

"Well, I was more concerned with making sure I was all right with everything," she said.

"I shouldn't have taken over," he said as he shook his head.

"I told you to take me like you wanted to," she reminded him. "I realized I missed it...missed how passionate you are."

"But was I too hard on you? Did I frighten you?" he asked nervously as he kept her cradled in his arms.

"No," she said. "I think I would like some other things later if you feel like doing it," she said as she stood up to go take a shower. She looked behind her and saw the glittering of his black eyes as he watched her walk from him.

***

A/N: The italicized sentences with asterisks belong to J.K. Rowling. The rest are mine.