Two
Chapter 2 of 7
neelixHermione laments her loss.
ReviewedHermione’s heart was beating a tattoo in her chest and her breathing was rapid and anxious. Beneath her eyelids, rapid eye movement was taking place as her dream reached a crescendo. She finally escaped its hold with a sudden gasp and a strangled, ‘No!’ She half-sat with a jolt, eyes wide as she stared at some unseen point in front of her. Shuddering, her hand fluttered to her chest, and she held it to her breast as she calmed herself, eyes closing as she realized it was just a dream.
‘Just a dream,’ she admonished herself quietly.
Severus sat statue-like, not wanting to startle her further with his presence. His instinct had been to wake her from her nightmare the moment it had started, but she was talking in her sleep, and her words had enthralled him. He had listened, feeling like a voyeur, and his heart had pummelled for the luxury of doing nothing. He had filled her dream state, and the sound of his name on her breathless tongue had thrust the enforced lack of her in his life into sharp focus.
Hermione’s awareness came slowly back to the room. The fire was still burning brightly, and she assumed she must have slept for only a short time. She pulled herself straighter on the couch and allowed her legs to dangle over the edge, pushing herself forward to slip her shoes onto her feet. As her gaze drifted downwards, she noticed his boots. She shook her head and laughed at herself. She believed she was indeed going mad; her desperate need for him was now creating mirages for her delight.
Severus shifted slowly in his chair, moving himself forwards and twisting his body to face her. His eyes followed her frame upwards, from her thin calves to her body. Voluminous robes gathered around her where she sat, swamping her like a child who had borrowed her father’s old shirt. Her hands were wrapped around themselves, and her shoulders had tensed. Her slim throat flashed tantalisingly at him through straggly curls, and a memory of his tongue on her flesh made his mouth fall open slightly. A breath of air rushed past his teeth. Her face was thin and pale, and her dark eyes were wide and swimming glassy with tears.
She stared at him, uncomprehending. He looked just as she remembered him. She had imagined something different – that there would have been some small change that only she would notice. She could feel his breath as he leant forward slightly in the chair, and as the reality of his existence finally filtered through her confusion, a low moan escaped her and she started to shake uncontrollably. Her hands trembled, outstretched to him, and a desperate wail sprung from her mouth as she began to sob hysterically. She felt his arms encircling her as he fell to his knees before her, and as he pulled her tightly to him her hands clutched at his robes. Even the fabric felt the same, thick and rough beneath her fingertips. She couldn’t breathe, and her stomach convulsed tightly as her tears wrenched themselves from her throat.
Severus closed his eyes tightly to stop his own tears. She was shaking against him, and as he held her close, he was shocked to feel her thin frame. So thin that he was scared he might break her if he squeezed too much. His hands drifted to her hair, and he stroked her bedraggled locks gently, soothing her as he kissed her temple softly. ‘Shh,’ he whispered, forcing back the lump that had formed in his throat. He felt her still in his arms and let out a long breath.
Severus relaxed his hold and pulled back slightly. Hermione raised her eyes to his face in panic, tightening her hold on the front of his robes.
‘I’m here, Hermione,’ he said softly.
Hermione looked up at him and loosened her grip to move her hands to his face. Soft fingers caressed his stubbly cheeks and traced a path to his hair. With childlike wonder, her fingers slipped through his dark lengths and then back to his face again. She traced the length of his nose with one finger and then let the finger fall onto his thin lips, tracing their shape slowly. His mouth was warm, just as she remembered it. Without warning, his tongue appeared and licked her fingertip, and his mouth quirked into a soft smile.
Hermione started to giggle for the first time in three years.
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Latest 25 Reviews for Missing You
58 Reviews | 5.84/10 Average
You know, Nee, everytime I want to read something really sweet with a hint of lemon, I always end up back here :P Never realised I didn't review it before lol.Excellent work hon ;)
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
*waving*Thank you honey! How kind you are.I'm starting my OU Fiction Writing course soon... If I get published I'll let you know. LOL!
very well written. but at the end ... do the children know they are witches and wizards?
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
I think they probably do, yes. Thanks for the positive comments!
Very nice story. Thank you for sharing.
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
Glad you enjoyed it!
What a lovey weding, simple and sweet. I liked that she confessed her accidental intrusion into his mind.
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
I wanted to bring the story around to the garden and the flowers. It was important to Severus.
How sweet, her reading room just off the potions lab. Although, he could have at least bought a bed!
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
lol.. nope! The bed had to be Hermione's doing. He wouldn't want to assume anything you see.
Hmmm. Loved the fevered undressing. nice leomon as well.
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
Thanks... I wanted it to be passionate and urgent.. they had something to mend, I think.
There was so mcuch suppressed and burried pain in this chapter, that was being released only to be held by a dam. AND Oh, gosh! That line at the end "I returned to get you," I could have melted in my chair!
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
lol... yes! It made my heart leap when he said that too... sometimes when I am writing the characters come out with things even I don't plan.
what a perfect ending. thanks so much
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
No, thank you for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it.
Yeah! Thanks for such a beautifully told tale!
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
Thank you fer reading and reviewing!
Nice ending! :)
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
Thanks sunny, glad you liked it :)
Don't you just write the sweetest and most romantic stories?! I really do love your stuff and have rapidly become an avid fan (and to think it wasn't that long ago that I hated SS/HG pairings!)I somehow always see Severus with Italian or Spanish connections; definitely Medittearean anyway (don't know why really) so you can imagine this fic especially fitted my own viewpoint. Having read this through in one hit (I only just came across it!), I at first thought Severus was a ghost and thoughts of Truly, Madly, Deeply ran through my mind, particularly in view of Hermione's reaction. However, this is a very original fic and worthy of the highest praise. Not only am I a sucker for romance and happy endings but also for 'love everlasting' - I'm so glad that there are other true romantics out there! Thanks for sharing :-)
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
Okay, I confess I totaly stole that scene from Truly Madly Deeply - it is my absolute favourite film, it made me fall head over heels for Alan Rickman, and that obsession has never stopped. Anthony Minghella was a genius, there is no other way to describe the way he was able to convey the depth of someone's grief... and of course, Juliet and Alan were just perfectly heartwrenching in that scene...as for being a romantic, I confess I can't write a fic where there is no 'happily ever after' I'm afraid. I just think Severus got the shitty end of the stick and deserves some good times!Thanks for reading and being so enthusiastic xx
Response from Sevvy (Reviewer)
I completely agree with you about Truly, Madly, Deeply, although I have to say that I think it's Juliet Stevenson's film rather than Alan's - she's just SO good in it! I've watched it more times than is good for me and still end up crying at the very last scene where he stands at the window with his fellow ghosts and waves goodbye to Nina as she kisses her new man at the gate - it's so poignant!I think that most of us on this site would agree that JKR let poor Severus down badly. Having said that, I think it was right that he died in order to make the story more dramatic and significant - but just not in the way that he did and not with such bad feeling surrounding him. I'm sure pretty much everyone on this site would agree with that or else they wouldn't be here looking for 'closure' for the poor man, I guess!It's strange but my own obsession for AR didn't start until I saw him as SS (and that was only in recent years - not long before DH came out - because, up until then, I really wasn't bothered by the whole HP thing!) I started watching/collecting all his movies - and that was it I'm afraid, totally hooked! So glad to be able to share this obsession with others - and so loving ALL your fics - look forward to more! :-)
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
Thanks so much for your kind words. I do love writing, so it's lovely when a reader enjoys the results.If you are an Alan Fan, have you joined page 394 yet??? If not, why not??? We have a great time and lots of laughs and a few of us girls have met up a few times... The URL is on my profile page - hopefully see you there!!
What a nice ending. I'm glad they were able to make a good life together. I hope to see more of your stories.
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
Thank you - glad you liked it!
I'm so glad that Severus and Hermione had children—three of them, and a "tornado" of a grandson who looked just like his grandfather had at that age. Severo is a bright and respectful child who had been known to bowl his grandfather right off his feet in his enthusiasm to reach him. I'm glad that Severus had planted another "little Eden" to mark the highlights of his and Hermione's life together. Sweet lemon trees and passion flowers were the most meaningful of all.You couldn't have written a more perfect ending to this story! It made me very happy to know that they had a long life together filled with love and family. Thank you for sharing this "one shot that escaped." From Hermione's utter sadness at the beginning to these most blissful years of their long life together, you have given us a peak into what Severus life has been like because he came back for his Hermione.Great writing! 
Beth
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
Thank so much for the long and thoughtful reviews to each chapter! I appreciate it!
I loved how Maria and the other villagers had marveled at the change in Severus since Hermione came to be with him. She completes him, and it showed in his countenance.Their wedding was sweet, and I can't imagine a bride who would not have felt completely loved and lovely in that setting. The passion flowers were the most wonderful idea, and I found myself laughing when Severus realized that Hermione has seen into his mind when they were making love for the first time in this home he had built, with his own hands, for his wife.Well done, neelix!Beth
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it.
The home Severus has built for Hermione is soooooo beautiful! The secret kept abode is light and airy, with an exquisite Potions lab and a magnificent library built just for her.Our Potions Master certainly loves his witch, and has spared no detail in creating the most perfect place for them to call home.But the question I have on my mind is what did Severus do at the Ministry that had been "the final step towards freedom for a man who had never known what freedom really felt like."This entire chapter made me happy.Beth
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
I am so glad you've enjoyed this!Severus had to go to the Ministry to sign the declaration of his freedom, I imagine. He couldn't just wak away scott-free, he would have had to make oaths etc. to show he was on the side of good... and wouldn't return to England and rebuild a Death Squad!
I was so happy when Hermione said she would go away with him, and then amused when Severus stifled a laughed and said, "You don't know where I'm going."One thing lead to another, and they shared to most passionate lovemaking! Well done, neelix! I'm grinning.Beth
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
I wanted there to be very little dialogue betwen them, just some sort of unspoken, basic understanding that comes from knowing someone through a shared history. The little insights into Severus's sense of humour were there to show there was more to him than just angst!
Another beautifully written chapter! The way you described Hermione's reaction to seeing Severus and realizing that he was REALLY there was perfect. Her shaking hands, the hysterical sobbing were spot on. But the most realistic descriptive was "her stomach convulsed tightly as her tears wrenched themselves from her throat." Who hasn't experienced that kind of tearful, gut wrenching emotion at least once in their lives.Fabulous!Beth
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
Well I know I have... and it usually had something to do with grief... or bad boyfriend action! lol
Oh, neelix, this is excellent! You got me in the very beginning with "It was the only source of light; the only one she needed." I just knew you were writing about Severus. I held my breath as I read her thoughts about the blood on the floor of the Shrieking shack, that night of shared passion and solace in the Arithmancy Tower, and of keeping watch outside Spinner's End. How sad... she only agreed to teach because she hoped he would one day return. "I miss you."And the she slept. And then he came from the shadows and whispered that he'd missed her, too, and sat to wait for her to wake.This is just beautiful! I'm so glad you decided to follow your muse and write the rest of the story.Beth
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
Oh wow... thank you so much!I hoped peple would realise that I was in fact describing Hermione walking through the lab in sad lament. Severus was already there, watching from the shadows..
Great Lord, you scared me to death!The story his garden tells to the informed soul is filled with his living memories. But he is going away again, going away from "his own little Eden," and he wants Hermione to go with him.You took my breath away, you did.Beth
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
awww, thank you so much! I think that was my favourite chapter to write, to talk about his inner soul. And the garden? I have a garden that is planted in a similar fashion - not the same plants, but plants with meaning.
What a nice story. Hermione and Severus growing old together is great ending.
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
Thanks :) I wanted to show their love lasting.
Absolutely lovely ending! You captured such a realistic and loving relationship between them both. Just lovely. X) Thanks for sharing!
Response from neelix (Author of Missing You)
Thank you so much! What a lovely review! I am glad you liked it.