Chapter 62

A/N: Here is the second part that continues with the events of the last chapter. Enjoy! And please review! I want to hear from you. Thanks to WriterMerrin for her continuous hard work battling plot holes and grammar problems.

***

For the next few days, Hermione forbade Severus from mentioning what he had revealed to her. She wanted one week to be silly and seventeen as she was physically, and she wanted Severus to join her. She waited one morning until he was in the shower to rifle through her underwear drawer and find a pair of skimpy see-through knickers, very much like the ones she wore the day he had pulled that stupid Levicorpus Spell on her. She transfigured it pink to look exactly like the underwear she had worn that day. She also got Dobby to get her a Gryffindor uniform and hid it until she was ready.

She lured him up to the Astronomy Tower with a note saying she had nicked his wedding ring whilst in the shower. She conjured large, cozy pillows to lie on, just like the ones they had when they had studied up there all those years ago. When he ascended the stairs, he wore only his frock coat, no billowing robes. He saw her sitting with her Hogwarts, A History book he had given her years ago. She knelt in front of his sitting form and opened her palm. Resting there were their wedding rings. She placed his on his finger, and he placed hers on her finger as well. He bent down to kiss her, and he looked down at her, smiling.

"What are you up to?" he asked her playfully.

"I'm your fantasy girl, Severus. You were the one who said you had all these adolescent fantasies to explore." She stretched out her long legs from underneath her.

A smirk flashed across his face, and then he flipped her into the air by the ankle. She squealed for real since he gave her no warning. She was flashing her knickers to him, but trying to keep herself covered. He walked to her; his face inches from her upside down one. "If you take off your blouse, I'll let you down," he offered.

After giving a huff of indignation, Hermione hastily removed her shirt and became aware that being upside-down made keeping her breasts contained in her bra very difficult. Without warning, he released her, and she fell onto the pillows, disheveled and her eyes flashing. He leaned over her and said, "I was generous to let you go, Hermione, seeing as you were at my mercy. What will you do for me?" he whispered.

"Nothing!" she said in annoyance. "Taking off my blouse should have been enough."

Severus flashed a feral grin at her. "No, I think that you've advertised something to me. Now that I have seen your intriguing selection of underwear...and may I say, that bra is expressly salacious...what is a nice girl like you doing wearing such naughty knickers if you don't want anyone to see and enjoy them?" he reasoned.

"I like to feel sexy," she replied.

"You're blushing, Hermione," he purred. "We've been friends for a long time. I can't help but see you are very pretty. May I see you in just your bra and knickers? You surely didn't buy them just for no one to see them."

Boy, he is really pouring on the adolescent charm here. His logic is leaning toward the point of begging! Well, I can play along. Hermione tapped an index finger on her cheek, feigning consideration, and with a shrug slipped out of her skirt. Now she was clad in only her bra and knickers. Severus bent down to capture one foot and, one at a time, slowly removed each shoe and sock.

"I think it's only fair that this be equal," he offered as he stood to undress. Hermione watched as he stripped down to his underwear.

"You are sporting quite a package," she said, reclining back on the pillows, toying with one finger between her teeth.

"Do you want touch it?" he asked as he stepped forward, lifting an eyebrow as his eyes burned into hers.

Hermione played the coy virgin and timidly placed a hand over his bulge. She quickly removed her hand, and Severus caught her wrist fast as lightning, placing her hand back on his erection. He moaned his approval. "I would like to touch your knickers. They look so soft," he whispered.

"Okay," she said nervously. He reached out and ghosted a hand over the lacy material. He leaned in closer to her and whispered, "Can I just slip a finger inside?"

"Mm-hmm," she replied as his hair brushed her cheek. He slipped one long finger sideways underneath the lace and gently stroked her mound before edging it between her slit. He withdrew leisurely, swirling her juices around her wet lips.

Hermione let her head roll backwards as she groaned.

"Let me take them off, Hermione," he whispered gently in her ear. "You are so beautiful."

She lifted her hips, and he pulled off her knickers. He spread her thighs and lowered his head to lick and suck on her clit until she was gripping fistfuls of his hair, crying out her orgasm. He rose up to hover over her, naked and hard. He wiped his mouth with one hand and said in a deathly calm voice, "Take off that ridiculous excuse of a brassiere. I want to see your breasts."

Hermione sucked in her breath and obeyed him. He teased one nipple after another with the tip of his tongue. She was squirming as he sent shivers up and down her body. "Please, will you?" she asked.

"What?" he asked, impatience evident in his tone.

"Please go inside me," she whispered.

He lifted his head and kissed her mouth. "You mean you want my cock in your sweet, little pussy?" he whispered against her lips.

"Yes," she moaned.

"No," he growled. "I am going to enjoy what is in front of me until I make you scream out my name."

Hermione's eyes rolled into the back of her head while she panted and moaned through each ripple and tremor that shocked through her body. She was sweating and whimpering pleas for him to make her climax.

He pushed her full breasts together and took her red, aching nipples into his mouth at the same time. Hermione gave an involuntary shriek as pleasure rocketed through her, making her clit throb to the point of pain. She wailed and cried, screaming at him to do something...anything...as she bucked her hips against him, trying to find something to give her satisfaction.

Severus pinned her down with his powerful thighs as he chuckled at his wife's frustration. He paused to look up into her eyes. They were nearly black with desire, her cheeks and lips reddened with the heat of her arousal. He swiftly descended back to her hardened nipples and ravished them, sucking and biting greedily until he heard his wife screaming his name.

He let her out of his hold and lowered his head to relish her release as if it were sweet cream and pushed his thick, mushroomed head swiftly into her tight, wet well and teased her with his languorous thrusting.

"More," she panted.

"As my lady wishes," he rumbled into her ear.

He made love to her, and then he fucked her. He slowed down and made love to her again. The words changed with his rhythm. Slow and agonizing pleasure was all she could feel when he said, "My sweet girl, you are perfect."

Then when he pummeled into her, he seethed that she was his dirty whore and uttered things so shocking she couldn't believe they were coming from her husband.

After they finshed, he inhaled the scent of her knickers and slipped them inside his trouser pocket. She snuggled to him in the moonlight and shyly asked, "Those things you said...I've never heard you say such words before."

Severus placed his frock coat around her naked form and held her close to him. "I apologize, Hermione. Since the Dark Lord's return, I have been subjected to watch far too many perverted sexual acts. Some of the women become highly aroused being called filthy names. It makes me want to do it as well at times," he whispered, looking embarrassed. "Only of course to see if you would enjoy it as well. Sometimes, I would be lounging in a chair, watching a witch and wizard fuck, and I would imagine the woman I was watching was you and that I was doing those things to you, fantasizing you enjoyed it."

Hermione felt herself becoming stimulated by the thought. "Do you think of me like that? I'm your whore? Your slave?" she whispered.

"No," he said as he held her tighter. "You are my lovely, sweet girl. I have played out this fantasy in my head for years; I wished I'd had the guts to approach you, to have that time be our first time. Of course, it would have been just slow and clumsy, of course. Nevertheless, I would have done my utmost to make love to you as gently as possible. I was just in the moment; my mind wandered to this other fantasy. Before I realized it, I was incorporating the two."

He looked down at her and asked, "Do you feel bad? I don't want to hurt you."

"No," she whispered. "It's your fantasy, and I consented to it. There shouldn't be any judgment during these times together. Now that I understand your motivation, as it were, I find I am oddly aroused by it."

"Do you have any fantasies?" he asked.

Hermione propped up on one elbow. "We-ll, I always thought about if I ever came to you needing help with my homework...before we were friends, just hanging out because of Lily. Your price would be for me to do something sexual for you, and you would grow very excited when I agreed since no girl had ever let you touch them or touched you." She hid her face in the hollow of his shoulder, feeling embarrassed.

"Very good, Hermione," he said, sounding rather impressed.

Hermione looked up slyly at him and saw his approving face. She became emboldened and continued. "I also want to fuck you under the owlrey stairs. I remember you once masturbated for me, and my God, I wanted to just take my wand and split my jeans in half and let you take me swift and hard," she added.

He looked at her, his eyes searing, making her feel completely vulnerable and naked. She couldn't help wriggling with renewed stimulation...it was all so very erotic.

"Severus, you're getting me randy," she said as she giggled.

Severus moved over on top of her, and they eagerly made love. Hermione fell asleep afterwards, clinging to her lover, friend, and husband, feeling at the sweet innocence of their past and the present trust and strength after years of testing, melding time...even if only for the night.

***

The rest of the week was spent in pure adolescent bliss. Severus and Hermione rarely left their quarters, and if they did it was only to make love in some obscure area that suited their fancy, or to play in the snow. Christmas night was spent lying naked on the couch that Hermione had enlarged to suit them lying with a duvet to cover them.

"Severus," Hermione whispered. "Can you believe it will be 1997 in a week?"

"Certainly," he replied. "Why?"

She watched the fire crackling and snuggled against him. "When did we fall in love?" she asked.

Severus frowned. "I can't recall the date, I think I was in love with you before you were in love with me, but I knew I was in love July 15th, 1976. The night we went out, and I kissed you for the first time. But it seems morbid; it was also the night my Mother killed herself," he whispered.

She turned and faced him. "I loved you from the night Lily broke off our friendship. So, June of 1976...do you realize that we have loved each other for twenty years?" she whispered.

"Happy Anniversary," he whispered as he captured her lips in a devastating kiss.

***

"Well, my darling," Severus announced. "Our week of hedonism is over. I do believe I've taken you in every possible place we could, but honestly, Hermione, why did we have to do it in the Shrieking Shack?"

Hermione was at his desk, going over papers. "Because," she said absent-mindedly over her work, "you needed to replace that space with a good memory...although I now feel damaged. A splinter in one's arse whilst climaxing is not ideal."

Hermione said abruptly, "I want to talk to you about Draco."

"As do I," he said. "You know he's plotting feverishly to kill Albus. I don't know what he's doing; the blighter won't tell me a damn thing. He's becoming more paranoid by the day. I tried to explain that I had made a promise to his mother, but he is so determined to do it himself, he won't confide in me."

Hermione spoke up. "Well, I want you to know I saw Draco talking with Rosmerta the day Katie Bell was cursed. It was very strange how he had interacted with her. It looked as if he was handing her a package, but I couldn't tell. Now, we know from Katie's friend...Leanne...that Katie did not have that package before going into the Three Broomsticks.

"Now I know that necklace was from Borgin and Burkes. Ginny confirmed it since she had seen it with Harry right before the start of term. Is he trying to get Dumbledore cursed and then killed? And what about Rosmerta and Katie? What accounts for their behavior?"

"The Imperius Curse is all I can think of," said Severus.

"You actually think that Draco...?" Hermione said.

"...Yes, I do," replied Severus. "Draco has a job to do. His life depends on it. You are staying at the Three Broomsticks. You need to familiarize yourself with the signs of a person under the Curse. You need to notify Gawain as well as soon as you return.

"So," he said as he leaned back in his chair, "How is the Order these days? Lupin? Tonks? Any progress on their front?"

Hermione laughed as she walked over to him for a kiss. "Since when have you ever cared about anyone's love life?" she asked.

"Well," he said thoughtfully. "Now that I have my own wife, I am feeling a generous need to care about others woes, and besides, I am under orders from the Dark Lord to scrape up information on the wolf."

"Ah-ha!" she said. "Now that I can believe. Well, he is living amongst his own kind and has basically given up hope of being a part of normal society. Umbridge's legislation did him no favors, of course. So he is keeping an eye on Fenrir. He is trying to stop the others in the pack from joining the Dark Lord. He insists they would just be used and that they should leave the fighting to the 'real' wizards, not half-breeds like them. He's just hopeless, like all of them are. Dumbledore hasn't been as forthcoming with information as he is with Harry, it seems. He's constantly busy with him, but I don't know what's happening. We are all on eggshells for when the Ministry topples. If Fudge were still in office, it already would have happened by now."

She was standing next to Severus with a piece of parchment. "I have here your interesting theory. I'm going to go have a chat with Filius. If you have a feeling the Dark Lord got his hands on a prized possession of Rowena Ravenclaw or one of her family, I want to check out that lead. I will be back later."

"I'll join you," he said as he jumped up to grab his robes.

***

Together, they walked the deserted corridors. Severus placed a Notice-Me-Not Spell, just in case there was a busybody in a painting. Severus held her hand, and Hermione squeezed his in return. She loved holding hands with him. They so rarely ever got to do so.

Filius Flitwick lived up in the North Tower. It was always so nice up there. One always received a feeling of tranquility when ascending the North tower. Hermione had always thought Rowena Ravenclaw must have placed a charm on her tower that would give those entering a feeling of clear-mindedness and focus. Worries just did not seem so urgent and unbearable when in Ravenclaw territory.

Hermione lifted the heavy silver knocker on Filius' door and banged three times.

The door opened, and the diminutive professor welcomed them.

"Why, Hermione and Severus! What a surprise. Come in, come in," he said as he ushered them inside his rooms. Hermione appreciated that he made his quarters comfortable for larger-sized people. His sitting room was cozy, draped in calming hues of blue and a bit of silver.

"I was about to take a cup of tea. Would you care to join me?" he asked in his squeaky voice.

Hermione smiled. "Thank you, Filius. After all, we are here for an important visit. I hope we won't be intruding on your time?" she asked.

"Oh, no. Today is for me to work on my own charms and research. One always must keep up on the latest developments in one's field, you know," he said with a knowing look towards Severus.

"Perhaps, Filius, we have come at a bad time. I understand the preciousness of time when it comes to these matters," replied Severus.

"No, no, now sit!" he chided them. In his usual perfection, he charmed his tea service to meet all their needs.

Hermione spoke to her cup. "I would like to have tea with a dash of milk and a spoonful of sugar, please."

After they all had their hot tea in hand, Hermione began her questioning.

"I was wondering, Filius, if you could tell us about Rowena Ravenclaw. Severus and I were having a discussion about the precious personal items of each of the Founders, and we came up short on Rowena Ravenclaw. I'm afraid neither of us actually knows anything about her."

Filius looked positively ecstatic. "Oh, I do love to talk about the wonders and tales of my own House. It always seems like boasting when one brings it up oneself; however, if directly asked...that is a different matter!

"Well," he said, looking off into thought. "Rowena Ravenclaw was a beautiful witch. She befriended Helga Hufflepuff...good friends...in fact. Although it all could be exaggerated because of the hostile nature of Slytherin and Gryffindor's relationship.

"She devised the ever-changing, moving staircases and was only interested in teaching those selected students according to intelligence and wisdom. In fact, our House motto is 'Wit beyond measure is a man's greatest treasure.' She valued a sharp mind, wisdom, creativity, and cleverness in her students. She died young. She was the first of the Founding Four to pass over. She had a daughter, Helena, who is our very own Grey Lady."

"Oh my!" blurted out Hermione in shock. "Does she ever talk about her mother?" she asked.

"Oh, no," said Filius, turning a bit pale. "She and her mother had a very antagonistic relationship. Helena wanted very much to outdo her mother in all of her achievements. Helena was said to have been more Slytherin than Ravenclaw. Well, she left her mother, and Rowena fell desperately ill with worry. She begged the Bloody Baron to find her daughter...he was alive at that time. By then, Helena had not only run off from home, but she had also stolen her mother's prized Diadem. Rowena didn't care so much about getting the Diadem back as much as she wanted her only child returned to her side.

"Rowena knew that the Bloody Baron wanted to marry Helena, and at the time, he had been her daughter's suitor, so she thought it would be only logical to send him to locate her. He tracked her to Albania, but she rejected his affections and refused to return with him to see her dying mother. Due to his hot temper, he killed her in a fit of rage because of her refusal and also because of his jealousy of her freedom. After he had stabbed her to death, he was overcome with remorse. He then took his own life."

"You mentioned a Diadem," said Hermione. "Severus and I were talking about the precious items left behind. Slytherin's locket, Griffindor's sword..."

"...Don't forget Helga Hufflepuff's cup!" he interjected. "However, it also has been lost to the ages. However, I assume you were about to add the Diadem of Ravenclaw! Well done, Madam Snape," he said happily.

"Very interesting," Severus said softly. "Whatever happened to it? Helena was able to return from Albania with her imprint as well as the Baron. What of the Diadem?"

Filius sighed. "It seems to have as well been lost to the ages," he admitted sadly. "There is a picture of it in our House common room; however, that is all we Ravenclaws possess. Some would say we traded a tangible bit of junk for the daughter of a Founding member who can tell us about the days of old, if she were hard pressed; nevertheless, it does weigh heavily at times."

"Well, look at our houses, Filius," said Severus as he sipped his tea. "Both Hufflepuff and Slytherin own no such valuable pieces, nor do we have progeny from Salazar or Helga to soothe us."

"True, Severus," Filius said, looking chastened. "One must always look towards others. There always will be someone who has lost more than yourself."

"Tell us about the Diadem," asked Hermione.

Filius smiled. "All the girls love the story of the Diadem. It was, from what the picture shows, a beautiful piece of jewelry. Inside, according to what Helena told us, was inscribed our most treasured attribute, 'Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure.' As far as what could be gathered from the Grey Lady and the Bloody Baron, the Diadem was hidden safely in a hollow tree in that forest, far away in Albania. Its return would mean everything to us Ravenclaws, but unfortunately, we have given up any hope of its recovery."

"That is so unbelievably sad," Hermione murmured. "Thank you so much for telling us the history of your house, Filius."

"Oh, it was my pleasure, Hermione. Thank you for dropping in, Severus."

After they were out of the North Tower on their way towards the dungeons, Hermione spoke softly to Severus. "Did you hear that? Albania! I have an idea..."

"Not here, Hermione. Wait until we are home," he whispered as he glanced around at the portraits among them.

Upon entering their quarters, Hermione took off her robes and said, "Don't you think you're being a bit paranoid?"

He looked at her gravely. "No, I don't. Hermione, these walls have eyes and ears. They also can travel to other people homes and places of work. They are incredible gossips."

"Great Scott!" exclaimed Hermione as she grabbed the front of Severus' frock coat. "Then you really shouldn't have shagged me in the alcove outside Gryffindor Tower!"

"I don't think shagging will get anyone killed," he shot back. "Besides, I know how to cover my tracks."

"If you found me shagging someone else, there would be murder," she muttered.

He grabbed her from behind and lifted her up from the ground. She squealed as he deposited her ungracefully on their bed. He climbed on top of her and kissed her face and neck.

Hermione was laughing now as he began to tickle her ribs. "Sto-op!" she shrieked as she giggled. "I want to tell you my theory."

Severus sat back on his knees and began to take off his robes. "You have until I'm naked, Hermione, and then no more Diadem talk," he warned in a growling voice.

Hermione thought fast. "I have until you and I are both naked and then no more, okay?" she suggested.

"Fine," he replied.

"Okay, remember that after Harry defeated the Dark Lord, he went away to hide and gather his strength. He went to Albania. Well, why the hell Albania of all places? I think he must have talked to the Grey Lady or the Bloody Baron, found out about the Diadem and retrieved it with the help of Wormtail. Now, Severus, no tickling while undressing me, I'm trying to talk! I think the night he came here to apply for the Defense job, he knew he wasn't going to get it. He is many things...but stupid is not one of them. I think he hid the Diadem here, already a Horcrux, and we are going to...FIND IT!"

Her last two words came out in a scream as Severus penetrated her. He had been serious. Hermione decided enough was enough for the day or the afternoon at least. He took her from behind and lost himself in her. Hermione snuggled her head into her pillow and enjoyed the moans and grunts coming from her husband. He tensed, and she felt his release. He fell down on the bed next to her.

"What was that?" he panted.

"What was what?" she replied.

"You weren't into it," he said as he turned over to spoon her.

"My mind is really busy. I can't concentrate," she said.

"Okay," he caved as he turned onto his back again. "Where will we look first?"

"I have no idea. We have to think like him. Where would he have gone, where no one would have disturbed him, and he could be assured that it remained hidden?"

They fell asleep while thinking over it.

***

The new term started, and Hermione was busy as ever with training and filling in Gawain and the others about the information she found out.

"I'm telling you, something foul is going on around here. I need to know the signs someone might be under the Imperius Curse."

Gawain sighed and then rubbed his face. "Proudfoot, you want to take this one?"

Proudfoot, a huge man in the cut of one of the great gods of mythology: Thor, faced Hermione and said. "It's hard to tell, actually. It varies from person to person, and it also varies as to the caster of the curse. Then you have to take into account the willingness of the one Imperiused. It's my belief," he said as he looked around at the rest of them hunkered down in Gawain's room, "that the more resistant the person is, the more odd they seem, like they are in a trance. But, then, there are some like Mulciber, he's an expert. He could put Kingsley Shacklebolt and Gawain Robards under the Imperius, and no one would be the wiser."

"So what's a body to do?" asked Hermione in irritation.

"You look for changes in daily tasks. Are they a night owl who's suddenly a morning person? A slacker who all of a sudden is eager to get their work done? Then, there is the nosiness factor. How much of a nosy parker are they where before they couldn't have given a damn? Do that, keep a journal, and try not to look like you are investigating them. Who is it?"

"I'd rather not say, at the moment. I still need to wait for confirmation," Hermione said firmly.

"Fine," warned Gawain, "but I expect you to keep Tonks informed on all the particulars. If you get discovered and killed, no one will ever know why."

"I understand. Thanks," she replied as she left.