Chapter 10

This story becomes very adult in future chapters. Minors, please do not read this story.

Readers, thank you for all you kind reviews and comments.

Severus woke that next Saturday morning to find Hermione wrapped in his arms and their legs entwined; her head was on his chest.

He looked around a room that had changed little in one and a half decades. Only Hermione's things made the difference between the darkness he'd lived in then and the life that now filled these walls. He caressed the fan of soft, beautiful hair that he could feel laying over his arm and half his chest. It never ceased to amaze him to find the little witch in his arms when he awoke. She fit so naturally and perfectly against him. In truth, they were bound together. But he found he would not have it any other way. He almost feared the end of the spell. If she were free, would she still want him, too? He knew he wanted her more than ever. His life before waking to find her crying over him had been one horror after another. He was free to care about someone and to work and create...not destroy. He'd never expected to live a life free of Voldemort and his Dark Mark. He held up his arm, and of course, it wasn't there. He really hadn't thought of the Mark. Was it gone now?

The thought that he was awake suddenly made him realize Hermione must be awake, too. He then heard her sigh. She stretched against him, and one of her legs slid up his. Her hand traveled slowly across his chest.

"Good morning," he said, grinning at her wandering hand. She had no qualms about touching him anywhere at any given time, and he was excited that she wanted him that much. It was frustrating that he couldn't respond to her the way he wanted to. But she hadn't voiced any complaints yet.

He pulled her on top of him. It was his favorite place to have her so that he could watch her face and see her reactions. She usually kept her eyes closed because it was a bit disconcerting to make love to an invisible man and to see herself floating above the bed. She sometimes would cast the spell so they could look into each other's eyes as they made love, but most times she could not maintain the spell while they were in private. She needed to use it when they were in the classroom.

He put his hands on both sides of her face and raised her hair so her could see her face. The pulled her down to so he could kiss her. "You're quiet this morning, Hermione. Are you okay?"

"I'm really tired," she said. She laid her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around him.

"The spell is too much for you. Perhaps we should ask other staff members to help. I do not want you sick because of me."

She placed a kiss against his right nipple. "I want to be here for you, Severus. Never in my life have I been so happy about having someone in my life. It's a dream come true."

He said sarcastically, "Dreams don't often have invisible men in them." He let his hands pet her hair and caress her back and felt her grin against his chest.

"No, this is better than my imagination by a thousand times. Severus, would you mind if I went back to sleep?"

"No, but when you wake we will go see Poppy. Maybe she can give you a vitamin potion to help you with your strength. A Pepperup Potion is only temporary and would only hype you up to make you fall flat later."

She only said, "I'm sorry you can't read or something while I'm asleep. I hate that is traps you in sleep with me." She ran a finger over his cheek in a soft caress."

"I'm content to be asleep in your arms Hermione... sleep"

So she did, and he did as well.

********

Later that afternoon, they sat in the tub. Severus held Hermione in front of him with her back against his chest and his legs wrapped around her. The warm water soothed them both, and Hermione soaped a rag and washed herself as Severus washed her back. She asked, "Are you really going to make me see Poppy? The sleep did me a world of good. I feel much better."

Applying a kiss to her neck, he said, "Yes. It won't hurt, and I'm sure she's been wondering how we are doing."

Hermione signed. "I live for weekends, Severus. I have you all to myself, and I really don't want to share you."

"We need to take a walk tomorrow. It will do you some good to get out of these stuffy rooms and go outside," he told her.

"Oh, Severus, I should have asked you if you wanted to go out. I forget how many years you've seen little else than four walls around you. Actually, I thought we'd go out tomorrow and watch Quidditch practice."

"Quidditch," he snarled, "Potter's game." The bitter thought was out of his mouth before he could stop it.

Hermione turned a disappointed look his way and rose and stepped from the tub. She grabbed a big towel and wrapped it around herself, slamming the door as she left the bathroom.

Severus raised his arms in exasperation. "Hermione! I'm sorry..." He got out of the tub and got his own towel and went after her." He found her sitting on the bed with tears running down her face.

"Hermione, tell me what's wrong." He sat next to her and pulled her close.

"PMS," she cried.

"Pm... oh." He felt his face and body heat up.

She turned to him, and her tears turned to giggles. "Did you just blush, Severus?"

He said, "I guess I did."

She slipped her arms around his neck, and her tears ran down his neck and chest. "I'm a bit frustrated and emotional, and I get darn horny during this time. I want you, Severus, all of you. How can you stand to give and not receive all that you should as a man? My heart breaks for you," she said, "and I'm afraid that you won't need me when you're free."

He pushed her back and took her face in his hands. "I am afraid you won't want me. I'm afraid you will be happy to be free of me, as well. You're tired, and your body is out of sorts from the pressure of maintaining the spell. Please, Hermione, let's walk up and see Poppy. I know she can help."

"I have Muggle medication for this time," she said, going to her purse and getting a small bottle.

"Muggle pills? Have you even tried a potion? I assure you, I have been told it works much better."

"I'm 35 years old, and I have these useless cycles. I go through this pain and irritation for what?"

"You might still want to have a baby," he said.

Hermione looked at him. She'd gotten the hang of picking the spot his eyes were in when he was invisible. "You offering?"

Severus felt his heart skip a beat, and his body heated up. The idea of children had never really occurred to him before. He said carefully, "If I were to have children, they could ask for no mother better than you, Hermione." He bent to kiss her.

She giggled again and said, "What a nice safe answer." She got up and dragged him to his feet. "Come on, let's get dressed, and we will go see Poppy. It's been silly for me to hang on to the Muggle remedy all these years."

They dressed, and Severus insisted on wearing the hooded robes so she would not have to use her energy for the spell.

They walked arm in arm through the halls, greeting students and staff members as they passed.

Hermione said, "Could we go out and see Hagrid? He invited us to tea. I haven't had much time to spend with him since we got back. I really love him."

Severus groaned inside but knew Hermione needed an emotional boost, and Hagrid would provide her with that. For all his primitiveness, he'd always known how to relate to the children and adults around him. He had been a huge support to Hermione, Ron, and Harry.

******

Poppy made Hermione hop up on one of the beds and lay back while she ran some tests.

"You need some vitamins. I have a potion that will give you some extra strength and help you use the spell without as much drain on your body. Hermione, you have a little bit of endometriosis. That's causing the pain, and I do have a treatment for that. It will give your body much better health, and the hormones won't be so crazy next month."

Hermione looked in Severus' direction and asked softly, "Would this effect me having children in the future?"

Poppy glanced sideways at Severus and saw his head go up. She wondered what he thought of that turn of events. "It would if it remains untreated, but I don't think you'd have problems conceiving after treatment is completed."

Hermione laughed it off. "We'll it's not like I'm planning to go out and have a baby. I just wondered."

"Well," Poppy said, "You're still young enough to enjoy children. You've got at least a good ten years of strong, healthy childbearing if you so desire."

Hermione sighed and lay back while Poppy finished her scans and got the appropriate potions.

Severus wandered to one of the big windows close by and stared out at the grounds. There was a weak winter sun out, and the skies were clear. He found the thought of a walk in the fresh air to be quite compelling. It was too late today, but they had all day tomorrow.

Hermione watched him standing and looking out the window. She felt guilty for not having thought about his needs as much as she had her own. Simply going out should have occurred to her before today. And what was he thinking about her sudden questions about a baby? She'd never really thought much about children. After the war, when she and Ron had gone their separate ways and she'd realized her fondness for a then dead Potions Master, she had given up thinking about babies. Suddenly, the idea had hit her with Severus alive. They just needed to free him of this curse and then talk about a future.

His hood turned toward her, and she smiled at him and held out her hand. He came and took it, leaning down he kissing her forehead. "I'm glad you're going to be okay, Hermione."

She said, "I'm sorry, Severus. I've wasted another day. We should be getting out more. I've been selfish trying to keep you to myself."

He pressed his cheek against her forehead, "My needing to be visible is wearing you out. You have every right to call the shots right now, Hermione."

Poppy came back then. "Here, take this potion now. Then take a whole vial every day for the next week. It should give you more energy. I also added the potion to treat your condition. I know you feel tired, Hermione, but some mild exercise will actually increase your energy. Walking outdoors is the best thing you can do. I understand it's late afternoon, but the Quidditch game is still in progress. There may be time for you to go out and watch. Even if you get out there and it's over, the time will have been well spent. I'm also advising walking everyday. Weather permitting, go outside; if not, the castle is filled with plenty of hallways. You might have some fun in the Room of Requirement...bone up on your fencing or dueling. It's important to maintain your skills even in times of peace."

Hermione, now sitting on the edge of the bed, took the vials and slipped them into the pocket of her robe. Severus took her hand and helped her hop off the bed.

"Thank you, Poppy," he said, giving the old witch a hug.

"Come see me. We can have tea next Saturday. By then, you should be feeling more yourself."

Hermione hugged her, too. "Thank you, we will."

She took Severus' hand, and they went down the halls to the Great Staircase and out through the front door. The air was crisp and cold, but their robes gave them enough warmth.

Hermione took in a deep breath. "This is wonderful. I've been inside too long. I love this place, and I love teaching, Severus. It's one of the best decisions I've made, coming back here." She squeezed his hand. "Especially finding you. Sometimes miracles happen."

Severus squeezed her hand. "This was orchestrated by someone, Hermione, for good or evil, we have yet to determine. This spell is rare and very specific. Whatever it is we've done that breaks the layers down was set into the spell." They had come upon the Quidditch Pitch and found the game still going. They climbed into the Gryffindor stands, which were the least populated, and settled in the back row. Hermione was happy to see it was Ravenclaw vs. Hufflepuff. At least they wouldn't have to root for their own houses against each other.

They watched in silence for a bit as the players zoomed back and forth before them on the enormous field.

Hermione clutched Severus' hand against her. "I really wasn't a huge Quidditch fan when I was in school. I went to cheer Harry and Ron on because that's what good friends did. I would have rather been in the library most days."

Severus, trying to enjoy the game, agreed. "Me, either. I avoided the games at all cost when I was in school. Heaven forbid I get between Potter's gang and their game. But that was the past. Albus Potter seems to be a good young man."

He looked out across the pitch, and his eyes searched the stands on the other side. He'd felt a prickle in his old spy nerve...a nerve that ran across the back of his neck. Someone was watching them rather openly and trying to probe them using Legilimency. Severus' eye caught the small, blond boy that was Draco's son staring his way.

He felt his invisible eyebrow climb; something was up. He'd seen the boy several times in class, of course, but the boy had avoided contact with himself and Hermione as much as possible. Severus vowed to keep a closer eye on him. He could imagine a child of Draco's might have heard a lot of bad things about him. He might have saved Draco, but he had no doubt that Lucius had only seen it as a failure on Draco's part and blamed Severus for acting too quickly and robbing Draco of his glory. He knew Lucius would have felt betrayed by his role as an Order spy, once the truth had come out. After all, Lucius had been his friend. He'd spent holidays at their home, and he was Draco's godfather.

He looked down at Hermione, who was cheering for one of the members of the Hufflepuff team, and vowed that he'd keep her safe no matter what.

Lisa, my beta, thank you for the great for your are doing on these chapters.

Becky thank you for your support.