Trekking Together

Disclaimer: I'm just playing with characters that J.K.R. created and am getting no Galleons for it.

I'd like to thank my beta for this tale, CocoaChristy.

This is an answer to the Yahoo! Group Potter_Place's How It Could Be Christmas Challenge that was issued by me, Southern Witch 69, and GinnyW.

Hermione's eyes widened in shock as his lips brushed against hers hesitantly. Snape is kissing me! It wasn't an unpleasant thought. She'd felt that he wanted to kiss her before, but he'd abruptly pulled away from her. His desire was not unreciprocated. She'd wanted to feel his lips against hers. Yes, she knew that those were the same thin lips that normally curled into a hateful sneer when he regarded her, but this evening had been different. She supposed she felt differently because he'd helped her at Borgin and Burkes.

Shite! she thought in disappointment. She'd been analyzing things and not paying attention to his kiss. He likely thought that she hadn't intended to respond. His eyes had opened, and he was pulling back.

"Miss Granger, I apologize. I thought... I shouldn't have tried to..." He looked down at their joined hands and tried to tug his away.

"No, please..." she said lamely, trying to think of what to say before he could pull away completely.

"If you don't mind, I'd like my hand back," he said acridly.

Not wanting him to misunderstand, she leaned closer and pressed her lips to his, closing her eyes after making contact. The feel of his thin yet firm lips on hers was exciting... or it would be if he would respond. She opened her eyes and saw that his were wide with shock. She pulled back.

"That went well," she quipped. "Perhaps we should..."

"Try again?" he offered.

"Yes," she said, slightly nervous. She released his hand and looked down at her damp palm. "Whoops." She carefully wiped it on her robes before bringing it up to cup his jaw. Slowly, she inched closer, tilting her face up to meet his descending lips. Hermione smiled as she felt the palm of his hand against her cheek. Her eyes closed once again as their lips met, but this time, she could feel the spark of reciprocation.

Severus pressed two consecutive kisses upon her lips before nibbling on her lower lip. Enjoying the feel of his tongue and teeth, Hermione parted her lips to emit an appreciative, light moan. He immediately deepened their kiss, his tongue moving to tangle with hers and explore her mouth. Of their own volition, her hands moved over his body. The one cradling his face moved behind his head to hold him firmly to her, and the other one slid around his waist to caress his back.

Hermione's stomach tingled, and she couldn't help being fascinated by the man kissing her. His kiss was not too bold; it was simply perfect. The hand cupping her face tenderly made her heart warm while the hand that had found its way to rest just below one of her breasts made her heart beat more wildly. The fresh, clean scent of the soap or cologne he used was quite pleasant and made her want to move closer. Even the feel of his warm nose against her cheek was welcoming. As their kiss continued, faces moving as their passion deepened, she felt her body heating and knew that she could feel something more for him if they ever got to know each other better. Flooing him on those lonely nights would definitely be better than Flooing Ron... not that Ron is all that bad, she mused. But... oh... my.

His thumb was softly caressing her breast through her robes, causing her nipple to harden and sending jolts of feeling through her. If she didn't put a stop to things soon, she'd not have the will to do so. She pulled back slightly, breaking off their kiss with a chaste brushing of her lips against his. Hermione noticed that he seemed disappointed that she'd halted things, but she also saw the need in his eyes. He wanted her. The best part of that was the type of want that it was. Instinctively, she knew that he, too, would like the chance to get to know her better and maybe have something more. The hot kiss they'd just shared was a testament to the attraction they apparently both felt.

"Well... that was interesting," she said, smiling reassuringly.

"Certainly," he agreed. His dark eyes darted to her lips once more, and he moved closer to press another kiss against them. He then pulled her closer, resting her head on his shoulder as he propped his chin atop her head. "Perhaps we should be careful."

Hermione wondered if he meant that they should be careful to not get carried away and end up shagging, only to have regrets, or if he meant that they should be careful to not fall in love, which could be disastrous for the both of them should it not work out. Only slightly confused by her sudden attraction and the strengthening tenderness she felt for him, she said, "I can be careful if you can."

"While that is an interesting conversation you are having there," the old man from the portrait began, "I do have a tea appointment with friends shortly."

Glaring scornfully, Severus said, "Get on with it then." He moved away from her and sat as he had been the entire night.

She wondered if he was simply embarrassed at being caught in the act of snogging by the portrait's occupant or if he was having regrets. "Severus, are you... upset?"

He gave her a sideways glance and shook his head. "Just anxious to be free of him and this place."

"I see," she said, pursing her lips tightly. So it was the latter. He was regretting their lapse of judgment. While miffed, she could live with his decision, but she would always wonder what could have been.

The twinkling eyes of the old, wizened man in the portrait met hers. "You'll not have to wonder long, Hermione," he said quietly, turning to take his seat to watch the unfolding events with them.

Snape leaned closer. "What did he mean by that?"

"Shhh," she said, nodding at the canvas.

"You look lovely this evening, Hermione," Severus said appreciatively as he helped her put her cloak on.

"If it's what you truly want," she said with a nod. "I am perfectly content to carry on as we have been and don't want to pressure you."

"Oh, good grief," Hermione said, scoffing. "What's the damn big deal?"

"Apparently, I am not comfortable with being seen with you publicly," he pointed out. "See the trepidation in my eyes?"

"Well, why go then?" she asked with a shrug. "It's perfectly clear that I don't care if we stay in or go someplace inconspicuous."

"Maybe you don't want to be seen with me," he commented.

"If I was worried about something as stupid as that, I would not have come to you today and asked you to have coffee with me in," she gasped for effect, putting her hand on her chest, "a public place."

"Touché," he said.

"Not everyone thinks lowly of you, Severus."

He pointed to the screen. "Apparently, most do," he said bitterly.

The girl looked down to the book before her and shrugged. "No, sorry. Really. There is no reservation for Snape at this time."

Suddenly, Hermione snatched the book from the girl, waved her wand over the pages, and thrust the book back into the girl's face. "We will be seated... right now."

"Oh, yes, most definitely."

"I'll not have some woman fighting my battles for me," he groused.

"You were just standing there glowering at her, and you would have turned on your heel to walk away rather than demanding respect," Hermione countered. "That's not the Severus Snape I know!"

"You don't know me, girl," he bit out.

"But I plan on it, and if you want me to stick around, you'd better buck up."

"Who says that I even want you to remain in my life?" he retorted sharply.

Hermione's mouth opened and closed. He was right. He'd not said that. Not in so many words anyway. She leaned closer and pressed her lips to his for a quick kiss. Pulling back, she said, "Don't deny that you felt something, too, when we kissed."

Lowering his voice, he asked, "Do you know how long it has been since I've been with a woman?"

Cheeks reddening, she shrugged. "I don't care about that."

"That's not what I mean," he said, facing her and gazing at her intently. "I am but a man...one who has long been without and would accept what is freely given." He smirked when she blanched. "Exactly. Don't read any more into what we did than necessary."

Hermione wiped her tear-streaked face and accepted the cool cloth from Severus, who knelt before her. "I know that must have been hard for you," he murmured.

"I'm quite happy," she said, pulling him to her for a kiss.

"Oh, how lovely," Hermione said, wiping her eyes.

"What the...?" Snape asked, looking at her in confusion. "Why are you crying?"

She shook her head, not trusting her voice. So Harry and Ron had tried to force her to give him up, eh? That'll be the day, she thought stubbornly.

"I would expect nothing less from Potter or Weasley." He studied her for a moment. "I am surprised that you didn't side with them."

"Severus, I'm capable of making my own decisions...good or bad." She scooted closer. "If I would choose to be with you," she held up a hand, "and if you would choose to be with me, then nobody could change my mind." She elbowed him. "And they'd better not be able to change yours."

He shook his head. "I don't know that I could get through a day with you without throttling you. You never keep silent!" He raised an eyebrow. "However, I suppose I could come up with some method of shutting you up."

She followed his gaze and blushed immediately. It seemed that their counterparts were beginning to enjoy each other's bodies. "I'll bet you could," she mumbled. When sparks of desire shot through her body, she shivered slightly. "Good Lord."

"I call that good sex," he quipped.

"With good company," she added.

"Agreed."

The portrait's Hermione moaned and said, "That feels good. Oh, yesssss. Don't stop. Don't stop. Just... like... that." Her lover was thrusting into her rapidly and forcefully while she arched and bucked against him.

Hermione slyly peeked at Snape. He seemed to be enjoying what he saw. She leaned over and whispered into his ear, "I should be utterly embarrassed right now."

"Are you not?"

"Strangely, no," she admitted, eyes lingering on his lips for a moment. "In fact..." She bit her lip nervously.

Severus turned to face her and placed both of his hands on either side of her head to guide her face to his. There was nothing languid about the kiss. Both were completely aroused after seeing how well their counterparts fit together, and the couple on the portrait hadn't finished, so their groans and gasps could still be heard.

"If we don't stop now," Severus said minutes later between kisses, "we'll be doing that right here on this settee."

"I know," she said breathlessly, marveling at their new position. Somehow, he'd pushed her to sprawl back against the seat of the settee and was half lying over her, one knee between her thighs and the other leg on the floor for leverage.

He smirked. "I know as in stop... or?"

"Stop, I think." She sat up when he moved off of her. "For now."

"Very well."

"So... What do you think of that?" She pointed to the post coital positions of their portrait selves, who were currently talking and caressing each other.

"I do not know what to think of any of this," he said honestly. "We've no idea who the man in the portrait is or how he knows us. This could very well be some... trickery."

"For all we know, it could be real," she said. "I even hope that it is."

"Is that so?"

"Well, yes," she asserted. "How many people get the chance to see how their lives would likely turn out or how it could turn out?"

"According to Trelawney..." he began.

"Oh, rubbish. I don't want to hear anything about that woman. Stop jesting. I'm being serious."

"I cannot explain this, and that is what bothers me," he said. "What are they doing there?" he said, expression darkening.

She looked to the portrait and saw Harry and Ron speaking with her at what appeared to be her wedding reception. "It looks like they've come round to our way of thinking." She grinned. "I knew they would." She laughed as the portrait Severus came over and glared at her friends, yet he greeted them all the same. "And look who is being civil!"

"Only because it's our wedding day," he conceded. "Otherwise, I would hex the little arses for daring to show their faces."

"Oh, right," she said mockingly. "Whatever you say."

Harry nodded. "Yes, I suppose I could show you." He looked around. "Let's go to the corner there."

Nodding, he said, "I can see that now. So long as he's treating you right, you'll get no complaints from me."

"Weasley matures before Potter. Interesting," Severus said snidely. "I would have thought the sidekick would have waited to see how his mentor thought before making his decision."

"Oh, enough. You'll have to learn to accept them one day," she pointed out.

"You keep speaking as if you and I will continue this after we leave here," he said in annoyance. "I don't know that I appreciate your presumptuous way of thinking."

She reached over and took one of his hands in hers. "You nearly shagged me on this settee. I think that is a pretty good indication of the attraction we feel for each other. We would be mental to not explore that... at least a little."

He didn't reply.

Severus waved to Madam Rosmerta. "Hello, Bess," he said cordially.

"Yes, please."

"She's quite pretty," Hermione said softly.

"Meaning?"

"Meaning... How could you have turned that down when you knew you would be coming home to me?"

He lifted her chin with the fingers of his free hand. "You are very beautiful, Hermione. I suppose I would be lucky to have you waiting at home for me."

She smiled. "Thanks." Her cheeks heated. "How did that make you feel? Hearing that I would be having your child?"

"Surreal."

"Have you ever wanted children?"

"No," he answered curtly. "You?"

"At some point, yes, I'd planned on a family, but I thought I needed to situate myself first...career-wise and financially."

"And now?"

"I have a career, and my finances are in good standing." She looked away. "I wish I could share some of my projects with you, but I can't, being an Unspeakable. However, when I heard about that ring, I wanted to do something on my own." She kissed the fingers of the hand she was still holding. "I'd bet that we could work on it together and have results sooner."

"Severus!" Hermione called. "Look!" She pointed to the little one on the mat near her feet. "We'll have to ward everything to make certain she can't hurt herself."

He turned the book about to face her, and she gasped. "That's right," he said. "The manual copies are being printed, and a set will be ready next week. After that, we can go to the Ministry for presentation."

"So it seems we do work together on your project," he commented.

"Do you think it's wise to write a book about it though?" she asked doubtfully. "You saw how Malfoy acted in that other scene. That might be something that he can't wait to get his hands on!"

"I do not believe we'd be stupid enough to print how we developed our own line of Time-Stopping pendants, rings, or what have you, but I wouldn't think that writing a manual stating how to use it and outlining all the effects, rules, and such would be amiss. It seems that we did to go to the Ministry for approval of the project." He smirked. "I don't doubt that they would approve such an object, and they'd likely try to incorporate it somehow."

"Especially since the Time-Turners were smashed back in my fifth year of school."

"Haven't they been working to fix that?" he prodded. She simply nodded and smiled mysteriously. "Ah, you cannot divulge such information."

"Right," she said and looked back to the portrait. "She's beautiful, isn't she?"

"I have to agree."

Hermione saw the soft expression on his face as he watched his counterpart with his family. She longed to give that to him one day. He deserved it. As a matter of fact, she deserved it as well. She'd only been working her life away, occasionally shagging Ron. Why couldn't she have a husband to come home to? Someone to share her nights with and keep her company? Why couldn't she be a mother? The only question was: Could this man be the one for her?

Hermione rubbed Harry's back comfortingly. "She'll come round, Harry. Trust me."

Hermione didn't have the heart to point out that the potion was available at any Apothecary. It was nice of her husband to not mention it either. It seemed that he and Harry were able to get on better as of late. She was glad that Harry's marital problems could be discussed openly.

Severus chuckled. "I wonder if that's the tale he gave you the first time round that made you pity him."

"Ending with our affair..." She sighed. "I've never thought of Harry that way."

"And you never shall. He'll not be touching my wife," he said menacingly while looking at the Harry in the portrait as if he could hear the threat.

"Of course he won't," she said, not pointing out that he considered her to be his future wife already.

He turned to her, intent on telling her something, but he paused upon hearing Lucius Malfoy's voice. They both looked back at the portrait.

"You have such a happy little family," Lucius said. "I am thankful for you, my friend."

Lucius stood. "I see." He nodded. "I will not hold this against you, Severus. I can still get what I want without your help. I was simply trying to go about it in an easier and less costly way."

"He's such an arrogant arsehole," Hermione said. She patted Snape on the back. "You did well to stand up to him. You owe him nothing. Even if he did pay the Minister a little extra to sway the Wizengamot, we still gave testimony about what we saw." She smirked. "Even Harry Bloody Potter couldn't deny what he saw."

Severus nodded. "I suppose you are right. We shall never truly know."

A cough drew their attention back to the portrait. "Have you seen enough?" the man asked kindly.

Hermione answered, "Yes, I'd say so, but please, could you tell us who you are?"

"One who cares, Hermione." His eyes left her and moved to Severus. "Be good to her, Severus, and be good to yourself. Live a little, my boy. It's time." With that, the canvas went blank.

"Do you smell that?" she asked. "It smells like lemon candy." Severus said nothing, simply nodding in agreement and paling slightly. "Are you all right?" She had her suspicions about the man in the portrait, but she dared not speak of them to Severus. He might think her to be mad.

"I'll be fine." He stood. "Come. Let's get you home."

She accepted his hand and stood next to him. Before he could step away, she pulled him to her in a hug. "Thank you for staying with me."

"I am glad that I stayed."

"Will you have that Christmas dinner with me tomorrow?" she asked hopefully.

His lips lifted up slightly in a small smile. "I shall."

"And will you spend the next day with me?"

"Mmmm," he affirmed, touching the side of her face with his knuckles.

"And Boxing Day?"

"Mmmm." His thumb traced her lips.

"Well, you know," she pushed, "you might as well stay the entire Yuletide with me."

"That I cannot do," he said apologetically.

"Oh... well, all right. I won't force you."

"I've things to do at my home," he said, pulling her closer. "However, that doesn't mean that you couldn't come there, and we could continue to... get to know each other in my home."

"That, Severus, sounds as if it could be lovely."

"I guarantee it."

Southern's Notes: I have a very small epilogue to add. I'll do that shortly. I hope you've all enjoyed this tale. I know that the deadline for the final chapter was Christmas Day, but my beta and I were both caught up in other things. I do apologize. Cheers.

Christy's Notes: Lovely! I love how he got caught up and started acting like they were already together!