Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Severus and Hermione spent the remainder of the day mostly in silence. Hermione went about her day, cooking, cleaning, and reading. She stayed clear of Severus as he went about his chores. She watched him through the mudroom window as he gathered the firewood from the pile on the side of the house. He seemed completely absorbed in his work, methodically picking up one log at a time. She dashed back into the kitchen as he brought in firewood and went about the task of keeping the flame burning strong. She picked up her wand and set the potatoes to peeling themselves. She sighed silently, wondering if they were ever going to talk about where their relationship was going to progress now.

Hermione realized the day had slipped from them, and Eugene would be home soon. She quickly started finishing dinner and focused on her work. Unexpectedly, the strong, lean arms of Severus envelope her from behind, and his warm body pressed against her back.

"Did I hurt you last night?" he whispered. "Was I careful enough?"

Hermione's heart skipped a beat at the sound of his warm voice against her ear. She turned around and wrapped her hands around his neck loosely. "It was perfect," she whispered. "For a beginner, you are a wonderful student."

Splotches of red appeared on his cheeks. "Even with the first failed attempt?" he said self-depreciatingly.

Hermione smiled and pecked him on the lips. "For decades you have wanted to experience that. I think it was quite normal, and I wasn't offended or thought less of you as a man. Besides, your second attempt was the most satisfying sex I have ever had."

"It was that wonderful?" he asked.

"I've had powerful, earth shattering orgasms before that were more intense. But if I had to, I would trade all of that for the tenderness and passion you showed me last night. You wanted me, and more than that, you wanted to satisfy me. I felt connected to you in more ways than physically. You are going to be an amazing lover once you get familiar with the act," she said ardently.

She took a deep breath and said nervously, "Severus, I-I love you."

Severus took her hands into his own, examining them as if they were made of porcelain. "With all my faults and mental instabilities?" he whispered lowly as he kept his head bowed.

Hermione's eyes traveled over his ebony hair and took a deep breath. "I'll take you just the way you are, Severus. As long as you love me, and respect our love, I will stay by your side forever," she declared softly.

Severus raised his head. "So, you stay with me?" he asked with a light in his eyes. "Be my wife?"

Hermione was taken aback. After all that had occurred between them today, she was amazed that he would even consider such a thing. "Is that truly what you want, Severus?" she asked nervously in return.

Severus took her into his arms passionately and kissed her lips hungrily. He pulled back, and with the restrained face she had known from her school days, said, "I meant what I said before, Hermione. Even when Lily had been alive, she never considered my feelings or desires. You stayed by me when I was so unlovable and determined to remain in my madness. I told you I could see possibilities for my future. I also said that each one of them contained you being in my life. With you, it is possible to start over again."

Hermione was shocked. Her hands moved from around his neck to resting the palms of her hands on his frock coat. He continued to search her out, to savor and enjoy her mouth. She detected urgency and hunger in him that he only wanted her to sate. She slowly wrapped her arms around his waist as he wound his fingers into her hair. He suddenly broke the kiss and looked searchingly into her face. Hermione smiled slightly and whispered cheekily, "Eugene said he was right. All you needed was lots of hugs and good food."

"Was there anything you needed?" he asked shrewdly.

Hermione's eyes grew moist as she placed her forehead on his woolen-clad chest. "A family. A family of my very own that would understand and love me," she whispered.

Severus lifted her head and kissed her lips tenderly. "If you accept me, you can have it all, Hermione," he replied softly. "We are going to have a child of our own someday as well as have Eugene for our son. We will have everything we have ever wanted."

"Am I truly what you want, Severus?" she breathed as his lips moved closer to hers.

"I've never been a likeable person, Hermione. I think I've proved that to you. Still, you see the good in me that I always wanted to show others, but after Lily, I decided only foolish people wore their hearts on their sleeves, showed positive emotions, and trusted others. It has always been in me to doubt ... I couldn't risk it. With you, it is impossible to fight," he replied.

"Come, Hermione," he said deeply. "Let me love you. Be my wife."

Hermione smiled and let out a small giggle. "Yes, Severus, I will," she replied as her eyes began to fill to overflowing.

Severus took her face and kissed her tenderly on her lips. Then he traveled lower to her neck and nuzzled her ear with his nose. "I want you."

"Now?" she asked incredulously.

"Oh, yes, Hermione," he moaned as he crushed her lips against his. "I have so much to make up for." He started to swiftly undress her and kissed each spot of uncovered skin.

"Eugene," she protested as she looked wildly around her. "He'll be here soon!"

"Then you would do best to comply," he said to her darkly.

Hermione sighed as he suckled on one breast. "Here," Severus insisted. "Here on the table."

He stripped their essentials quickly and leaned over her, stroking her waist and hips.

Hermione felt her face flush as she remembered listening to Harry and Ginny make love with all the envy and sadness that went with it. She thought of the kiss Harry gave her when she left. "You make me feel the way I always wanted to feel with a man," she confessed to Severus. "You bring so much passion out of me, and you are in no rush. You treat my body with such adoration. I feel so pretty and sexy in your arms."

Severus furrowed his eyebrows. "Hermione, you are those things. You don't need me for that."

Hermione laid an arm over her eyes. "You just don't understand, Severus," she said as she laughed. "Just take the compliment that you are the only man able to touch me so deeply."

"I'll try, Hermione," he whispered as he plunged into her moist flesh.

Hermione squeaked as she jerked her arm from her face. Her eyes grew heavy and decided that she would let him take over her and revel in the pleasure.

"Oh, fuck," he ground out as he slammed a hand flat onto the table's surface. Hermione ran her fingers through his black hair, pulling it back as he leaned over her, slowly thrusting between her legs.

She gasped loudly. "Oh, Severus," she begged as her hands fisted his hair. "Faster, please!"

"No," he grunted as he took his time. "I'm rather pleased where I am at the moment, and I do not wish to rush anything."

She swore as she arched her back, releasing her hold on his hair and flinging her hands behind her head.

"You're getting quite moist," he whispered deeply.

"Yes! That happens...mmm...when it's good," she panted as she spread her legs further and lifted her bum with each thrust. "Severus, please...I'm coming!"

She was sweating and breathing heavily. She was aware of burning black eyes fixed on her writhing body.

"Ahh," he moaned. He lifted her by her arse and teased her with his languid movements until Hermione firmly grasped his tight arse, forcing all of him into her. He was trembling and still trying to adjust to the sensation of being in a woman's body. Hermione knew he wasn't going to last long. She rocked him inside her, and he groaned loudly.

He kissed her as he tried various angles to stroke inside her just right. She finally whimpered, and he finally gave over, thrusting into her furiously, making her cry out loud and long as he panted her name against her throat as he ejaculated deeply into her.

He softened inside her as he lay upon her on the table. "I never thought I would experience this. I always thought that part of me died with her and never would I ever know this joy. I feel alive," he gasped. "You've made me alive again."

"Have I?" Hermione said as she draped and arm and a leg over him. "I think you just finally loosed yourself and let go of the pain."

"Perhaps," he muttered.

***

Later that night, after Eugene was in bed, and the house was still, Severus silently slipped into Hermione's bedroom and slid under the sheets. "Make me come, Hermione," he whispered as if he were in pain.

"What's the matter?" she whispered sleepily.

"I can't stop thinking about you," he whispered. "I need you."

Hermione giggled as she straddled him. He inhaled sharply at her naked form above him. She unfastened the buttons on his trousers rapidly, her hands shaking with anticipation as Severus watched her efforts. Hermione could feel his eyes on her hands and could hear the ragged breathing from him, becoming rapid and gasping. She tenderly tugged his trousers and underwear down and really examined his engorged flesh for the first time. It was dusky and red. Hermione glanced at Severus' face, and his eyes were closed, and his nostrils were flared as he concentrated on his breathing. His fists clenched into the fabric of her sheets, white and taut.

Hermione wrapped her hand around its thickness, and he emitted a low groan from her touch. She tenderly glided her hand and fingers along the velvet soft skin, familiarizing herself with its contours and ridges.

Severus was panting heavily now and she made low shushing sounds to relax him.

"Look, Severus. Open your eyes," she pleaded.

He weakly opened them, and Hermione knew he was watching her skim along his erection with the tip of her pink tongue.

"My God," he whispered in awe. "Hermione, you are amazing."

***

Hermione heard Eugene come into the kitchen the next morning and gasp. She thought it probably had something to do with how she and Severus were sitting at the kitchen table with their hands intertwined, smiling.

Hermione turned to Eugene and smiled happily. Severus kept his hand firmly interlocked with hers as he kept an impassive look on his face.

Eugene sauntered over to them, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "So?" he pressed. "Anything to share?"

Hermione placed her arms on Eugene's shoulders and said, "Severus has asked me to marry him, and I have accepted."

"So," he said happily as he put on his backpack, "when's the big day?" he asked.

Hermione looked at Severus. "Uh, we haven't decided, but I'm sure before next fall," she said as she smiled.

"Wicked!" he said. "Then can I be officially adopted? I can have my name changed before I go to Hogwarts!"

"We would want nothing else," Severus replied confidently. "However, you must not speak of this to your school mates. Of the marriage, yes, but of Hogwarts and magic...NO. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," Eugene said as he beamed. He gave Hermione a big hug and whispered, "I knew you'd be good for him. That was all he really needed, someone to give him lots of hugs and good food!"

He ran out the door, and Hermione stood in the mudroom, watching her black-haired boy leave for school.

***

Life became completely different. Severus could not return to the house on Red Bank Road. He told Hermione he didn't want to talk about it, but Hermione felt he was afraid that if he returned, the delusions would begin again.

Hermione was thrilled being one household again. Severus sent Eugene and Hermione to fetch the remainder of his belongings. It was a delicate situation, but Hermione happily went ahead with Eugene and went to the old house, eager to leave it behind them.

Winter had been taking its toll on the property. It was freezing inside, and Hermione hurriedly directed Eugene to take all of his belongings from his upstairs bedroom.

Hermione stole into Severus' old bedroom. She slowly turned the knob and walked in. She looked at the broken mirror where Severus had spent so much of his time in constant vigil before she arrived and destroyed the mirror. Eugene came in, agape at the broken ink bottles and smashed glass everywhere on the floor.

"What happened?" he asked as he looked around the room.

Hermione looked down at the wrecked mirror. "I had to destroy the mirror, Eugene," she whispered. "I was so angry at what Severus had become because of her."

Eugene looked confused. "Why did she hurt him so much?" he asked. "What made her so mean?"

Hermione sighed loudly and massaged her forehead. "She wouldn't forgive him for a choice he made a long time ago. He even admitted he was wrong and tried to make up for what he did, but I don't know if she knew or not what he had done for her before she died," Hermione replied tiredly.

"What's so special about her?" he spat angrily.

Hermione's eyes wandered around the room. "He loved her," she replied hollowly.