Chapter 10

Chapter 10

It had been a sleepless night for both Severuses. They had settled on playing chess to occupy their time while they awaited the dawn. All the games had wound up in stalemates. They glowered at each other over the chessboard as the pieces reset themselves for the tenth time.

"I would have won that one if you hadn't cheated!" Severus growled.

"I don't cheat. You were the one who cheated. That's why I didn't win."

Their quarrel was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"You don't suppose that's her, do you?" Snape asked.

"It's possible, but I didn't expect her to come by this early."

"Maybe she couldn't sleep either," Snape mused as he got up to answer the door.

He opened it to find Hermione in the hallway, her arms crossed in front of her. He stepped aside and let her pass into the room. Both men leveled unemotional, blank faces at her. It was their only defense against what they feared was to come.

Hermione looked at the two men. They both looked paler than usual and had dark circles under their eyes. "Have either of you even slept? You both look horrible!" Hermione mused.

Both men looked to the floor. Hermione chuckled. "You're both incredibly cute when you do that, you know."

She saw the scowls appear in unison. She frowned, too. "May I sit down? No, forget it, I'll stand." She began to wring her hands together. The two Snapes looked at her curiously.

"I wanted to apologize for last night," she said nervously. "I overreacted." She was having a hard time knowing which one of them to look at, so she decided to look at the floor instead. "I'm used to making my own decisions, and the thought of having that taken away from me didn't sit well."

"Hermione," Snape said. "We're not trying to run your life."

She looked up at him. "I know that. I just needed to think things through. I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?" Severus asked. "We are the ones who are at fault."

She shook her head. "No, you're not. You..." She looked up to Severus. "You said you love me. Is that true?"

"More than anything," both Severus' replied in unison.

"I... I love you too." Her eyes flitted between the two of them. "I don't know who to look at here!" she exclaimed.

Snape walked over to her and turned her toward him. "Look at me. I'm the one who belongs here."

She gave him a shy smile. "I love you too."

Snape looked deeply into her eyes. He searched her face. "You have chosen?" he asked.

"There really wasn't much of a choice to make, Severus. My life would be nothing without you in it. I want us to try and make this work."

Snape gave a quick laugh. You could hear the relief in it. He glanced up at Severus, who nodded back at him. Not needing any other cues, he pulled Hermione to him and kissed her.

Hope coursed through Snape as his lips pressed against Hermione's. For the first time in his life he felt he had a future to look forward to. Reveling in the woman he loved, he wrapped his arms around her and cradled her to him. Her arms went around his back encouragingly. He couldn't help but smile. Hermione pulled back and circled his lips with her finger.

"What are you thinking that's making you smile like that?" she asked Snape.

"I'm thinking that my life has just gotten exponentially better."

Hermione tilted her head and regarded Snape thoughtfully. "I think my life has too."

Snape's heart soared when he heard her words. She truly cared for him. His secret yearning to have someone love him despite his shortcomings had finally come to pass. He cupped her face in his hands.

"You're sure about me... about us?" he asked tentatively. Despite his happiness, his disposition would not let him believe it was real.

Hermione reached up and grasped his wrist. "I've never been surer about anything, Severus. I'm excited to see where this relationship leads."

Snape looked at her longingly as he drew her close and reverently kissed her. He vowed right then and there not to ruin this. He would fight to keep her with him. He would never let her get away.

They had wiled the morning away in Severus' room. The three had enjoyed a leisurely breakfast together. Hermione peppered Severus with questions about the future. He declined to answer anything, making Hermione pout. Severus found it completely endearing.

They now sat on the couch, Hermione in the middle of the two Severuses, one arm around each of them. She turned her head back and forth, looking at both of them curiously.

Severus arched a questioning eyebrow at her.

Hermione smirked. "I thought that just one of you was challenging to have around."

Snape's face fell. So did Severus'. He looked to his twin. "I think she needs to be shown just how beneficial it is to have two of us here."

Snape's eyebrow rose as Hermione looked between the two in trepidation. "What are you going to do?"

"First," replied Severus. "You'll have to be taught a lesson about being so derogatory toward us."

Hermione bit her lip and began to squirm, trying to get up and away before it was too late.

"Not so fast," Snape whispered in her ear as his hand clenched around her arm.

Before she knew it, she was being attacked from both sides. The two men tickled her mercilessly. Hermione did all she could to break free of them, but they were both too strong for her.

"No!" she gasped. "Please! Stop!"

The tickling continued as Hermione pled with the men to be merciful. Finally, they gave her a break. Hermione doubled over and gasped for breath. "Don't... do... that... again!" she cried between the gasps that were still coming out of her mouth.

Snape looked to Severus. "Do you think she's learned her lesson?"

"I don't think she has."

Hermione sat straight back up and cried out.

"But," Severus continued, "I think we'll have to save more punishment for another day."

"What do you suggest, then?" Snape asked.

"I think you already know," Severus said as he eyed Hermione's neck.

The two men came in as Hermione squealed. Suddenly, two sets of lips were kissing her neck. Hermione moaned as she felt Severus caress her back and Snape turn her face toward him. His lips soon left her neck and covered her lips. Severus continued to shower her neck with affection. Hermione's hand came up, and she ran it through Snape's hair. Then she felt her head being turned toward Severus. It was his turn now to explore her mouth as Snape returned to her neck. The sheer electricity of two of the same man bestowing such affection on her was too much for Hermione. She felt as if she were on sensory overload. The feeling was exhilarating. She fell into it completely and kissed Severus with abandon.

At long last, the three broke apart. The two men eyed their woman lovingly. Hermione glanced between the two. She turned to Severus.

"You're sure you don't want to stay?"

Severus smirked. "I wish I could."

"Maybe you could visit now and then?"

Severus laughed, but Snape pulled her to him. "I will make up for his absence, I promise you."

Hermione gazed into his eyes. "I'll hold you to that."

Too soon, the time for Severus to return to his time was upon them. He rose to prepare himself to leave. Going over to his twin, he pulled him into the bedroom.

"Now, don't blow it!" he advised.

Snape rolled his eyes. "Do you ever stop?"

"At least one of us is worried about our future!"

Snape scoffed. "I'm worried too, but the future will only come one day at a time." He looked to Severus seriously. "I will do all I can to keep her. I cannot imagine being without her."

Severus gave Snape a quick nod. "That's all I can ask, but if you blow this, I will not withhold my hex... whether it hurts me or not."

Snape smirked. "If I blow this, I will deserve your hex."

Severus smirked back at him. "I hope for a better outcome than that."

"You have given me something to hope for as well. It's a refreshing change."

Severus nodded. "I would say goodbye to Hermione before my time is up."

Snape extended his arm, motioning for Severus to step back into the other room. Severus did, but Snape did not follow, giving his older self some privacy with his witch. Severus approached Hermione with a small smile on his face.

"It's almost time for me to go," he told her.

"Severus, I look forward to seeing you in the future."

"I feel the same way. Thank you for giving us another chance."

"I would be a fool not to," Hermione admitted.

Severus looked her over from head to toe. He studied her face, trying to memorize the look in it. She was looking at him with such affection. It was something he wanted to remember forever.

"May I kiss you before I go?" Severus asked. "Just in case things don't work out."

"Such a defeatist!" Hermione admonished.

"A realist," Severus corrected.

"A real dunderhead, if you ask me."

Severus reached up and slid his hand to her neck. He pulled her gently to him. Keeping eye contact with her, he slowly lowered himself so that his lips were even with hers. Finally, his eyes closed as he carefully pressed his lips up against hers. He kissed her as if she were the most precious thing in the world. All too soon, it was time for him to leave. He reluctantly pulled away from Hermione. Giving her a winsome look, he placed a kiss on her forehead.

"I hope to see you when I return."

Hermione smiled at him. "I'm sure you will."

"If we're not..."

Hermione put a finger to his lips. "No defeatist thoughts!" she counseled. "Think positively. Things will work out fine."

Severus smirked at her. "I will see you soon, then."

"Yes, you will," Hermione said as she smirked herself.

Severus drank in every inch of her beautiful face. His possible future with Hermione was now a blank page. He had no idea what he would find when he returned to his present. He only hoped that his life would hold Hermione within it.

"I love you... please remember that, especially when I'm unbearable."

Hermione laughed. "So, I should remember it every minute of the day?"

"Yes, that would be best," Severus acquiesced with a smirk.

"Well, I love you too, even when you're unbearable."

"Thank you for that." Severus looked to Hermione with intensity. Suddenly, his vision seemed to get hazy.

"Good-bye, Hermione," he said in a choked voice.

In an instant he was gone.