Chapter 18

Finally we have arrived at the first adult chapter. Minors, please do not read this story.

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He sent his Patronus off to Poppy, sagged against the wall by the door, and slid to the floor. He wouldn't leave her. He didn't care what she said.

Suddenly, the door flew open, and she was there screaming, "Severus, please don't leave me! Oh God, I can't lose him," she cried, not seeing him there on the floor.

She took a step and tripped over one of his legs. He reached out and caught her, drawing her into his lap.

"I'm here. I'm here. I will never leave you."

She clutched at him, and her mouth found his. Her kiss was frantic, wet with tears, and hungry for him. He kissed her back with equal desire.

That's how Poppy found them, snogging on the floor. She watched in relief for a moment and then discretely cleared her throat.

Hermione gasped, "Oh, Poppy." She pulled away and got to her feet.

"I'm sorry," Poppy said as a slight blush rose on her face. "I got Severus' Patronus and thought there was an emergency."

Hermione grinned at him and reached down to help draw him to his feet. "There was, but it's fixed."

Poppy said, "Good, I'm going back to bed." She winked at Severus, tuned, and left.

Hermione pressed her warm, embarrassed face against his chest. "I'm so glad you didn't leave. Please come back to bed with me."

He took her face in his hands and said, "I told you I wouldn't leave. Get this through your head, Hermione. I love you. I am not going anywhere."

She wrapped her arm around his waist, and side-by-side they went back into the room. Severus shut and warded the door. Next they looked for and found Hermione's wand. They made tea, and Hermione drank a cup, using the drops that Poppy had given her.

Finally, they climbed back into the bed. Hermione faced Severus, and they just looked into each other eyes for a bit. Hermione leaned forward finally and kissed him. It was a warm, gentle kiss. She let her forehead rest against his after a time.

After a bit, Severus tentatively reached out to kiss her eyelids and then her nose. They spent time just exploring each other's faces. Hermione didn't put her hands on him, so he refrained from touching her.

She finally sighed. "That was nice."

He grinned at her. "Yes, it was very nice." He rolled over on his back. "Come rest your cheek against my shoulder. We can talk or just lay here together until we fall asleep.

Hermione smiled and snuggled into him. "I do love you, Severus. Please be patient with me," she begged.

"You have as long as you need." He was encouraged by the events of the evening.

She snuggled against his chest, and after a time she went to sleep. Severus laid there for a while just enjoying her closeness. He had been so scared earlier. Was this a step forward? Would there be more steps backward? He had to prepare himself for that possibility.

Hermione turned, sliding a hand over his stomach and hugging him to her.

He fought hard for a minute, trying not to become aroused by her unconscious touch. He willed himself to go to sleep.

******

They slept till nearly 1 p.m. Severus woke first and took a quick shower. He came from the bathroom drying his hair with a towel and found Hermione sitting up against the headboard. She smiled at him and held out her hand, so he climbed back in and pulled her close.

"Poppy told us to take a walk. I'd rather just sit here with you all day. Maybe we can read a book. I have some Muggle novels," she said, her fingers sliding down one of his arms.

"We'll walk tomorrow," he said. "Do you want to take a shower? I can make some food for us to eat while we read."

Hermione nodded. She did need to use the loo, and a shower sounded nice.

When she came from the bathroom, Severus had set a tray on the bed with eggs, sausages, and biscuits; he also had a small pot of tea.

Hermione climbed back into the bed and attacked the food. Severus did, too. It did him good to see her eat. She'd barely been picking at her food lately. He finally got off the bed and got her brush. "May I?" he asked, holding it up.

Hermione nodded, and Severus set about brushing her beautiful, long, curly hair dry. Hermione sat with her head back a bit and her eyes closed.

"That feels wonderful. I used to sit, and my mom would brush my hair. I miss her and Dad. It's been a few years since they died. My mom died and then my dad. I just don't think he had the desire to live after she was gone."

"I'm sorry," he said. "My dad died in a mining accident when I was 14. He was a right bastard, and I didn't miss him. My mom got sick a few years later; she died two months before I sat my NEWTs."

Hermione turned to him. "I'm sorry, Severus." After vanishing the dishes to the kitchen, she took the brush from his hand. "Your turn."

Severus smirked. "Are you sure? It can be a tangled mess."

"I'm sure," she said.

He sat cross-legged on the bed, and she kneeled behind him and began to brush his hair. Severus let his head fall back, and he closed his eyes. First Poppy and now Hermione. It was a luxury he'd not had for decades. He'd always just let it hang with minimal effort. "That feels wonderful, Hermione."

She dropped the brush and crawled around to face him. He came up on his knees as she pressed her palm against his face and leaned in to kiss him.

"Severus, would you make love to me? Slowly, gently, I need to be with you. I need to forget his hands on my body. Please!" she begged.

He slipped his arms around her and drew her close. "I want to be with you more than you can imagine. Don't do this for me; make sure this is what you really want."

"It's what I want." She sounded certain.

"I would love to be with you, Hermione, but if at any time you feel afraid or want to stop, just tell me. Promise me you will tell me. It would destroy me to add more pain, my love."

"I will, Severus." She placed a hand on his robe and leaned in to kiss him.

He ran his tongue along her lips, and she opened them and let him explore her mouth. She tasted of mint. He then slowly moved across her cheek and kissed a trail down her neck. He felt her hand rubbing his chest and over his shoulder.

Her touch became firmer and carefully they undressed. Severus slowly caressed her breast. He knew she had been badly bruised, so he was very gentle. She closed her eyes as his fingers gently caressed her breast with a feather light touch. Soon she was pressing herself into his hand, and he let his fingers, then his palm cup her breast. He pulled her down, and they faced each other as their hands caressed shoulders necks, arms, chests, and stomachs. Their lips followed their hands. Hermione arched her back, thrusting her breast deeper into his mouth. He sucked the nipple into a hard nub and ran his tongue over the tip of her breast, eliciting a groan and sigh from her. He used one foot to caress her leg gently, and his hand ran down her hip and leg.

"Are you okay?" he would ask every now and then. She would just smile, encouraging him by touching his body and kissing him.

He'd had little sexual experience, but he knew it would be best not to hover over her. So they remained facing each other on their sides. Severus slipped a hand down her stomach and caressed her soft mound. He felt her hand on his thigh, and he knew she had felt his hardness lying against her thigh and stomach. He groaned when her fingers slid over his large shaft.

"Severus," she breathed, "you're magnificent."

He felt himself expand even more. He gently slipped a finger into her, and she arched against his finger. She was wet and ready. He rubbed the little nub, and she pulled back and forth, rubbing against his finger. Her breathing was getting faster, and she took a hold of him and guided him toward her. She shifted so one leg was over the top of his hip, spreading herself open for him. With slow, careful movements, he pressed against her opening and slid inside.

They both sighed and stared into each other eyes. He pushed harder and broke through the barrier she had been saving for him. Her eyes teared up, but she smiled and kissed him deeply.

Gently, he began to move, pulling half-way out and then thrusting forward. Her fingers clutched at his buttocks and pulled him closer with each thrust. She finally cried out, "Harder, Severus."

He was only too happy to oblige her; he moved faster, and he felt her pressing into his thrusts. He used his fingers to give her pleasure, bringing her to fulfillment as he felt himself getting close to going over the edge. They cried out each other's names as they climaxed and then collapsed against each other, crying and laughing and holding on to each other.

They lay with their arms and legs entwined as they kissed for a while, and then they slipped into a light sleep, nuzzling each other with kisses every now and then.

****

They had a dinner later that evening by candlelight. Then they curled up in bed and read a book. Spooned against each other, they fell into the deepest, best sleep they'd had in ages.

They spent much of the rest of the weekend alone. They went for a walk on Sunday and stopped in for tea with Hagrid. They were surprised and pleased to see Harry there with Ginny. Hermione cried as Ginny hugged her, and then she hugged Harry. They sat and talked about their childhood adventures and how Hagrid had helped them. Severus knew as he watched their faces that they avoided the part he'd played. They also avoided the elephant in the room, Ron. He had not come to talk to her after her rescue, and he'd chosen to go back to his life without acknowledging her relationship with Severus.

Severus realized that she was hurting from Ron's rejection as much as from Lucius' attack. He was surprised he hadn't realized it before. He knew it was not because she had any latent sexual feelings for Ron. He had been one of her best friends, and she wanted him to support and approve of her. She wanted him to be happy for her, like Harry was. Severus realized that Ron was still a child. He'd never married, never committed himself to anything but Quidditch. He found it hard not to sneer. He made sure she didn't realize how angry he was with the git. He smiled, amused that he could call the idiot the same thing Ron had called him when he was younger.

Somehow he would see that Ron knew how he felt and how hurt Hermione was. He realized, too, that he would have to follow through quickly and find Draco and talk to him. That evening after dinner they went back to their rooms, and Hermione was pulling away again. He knew it was because Scorpius would be back here at school, and she would have to teach him.

"Hermione," he said as he climbed into bed next to her, "please let me be in the classroom tomorrow during the period Scorpius in there. It can become part of the duties I have. You know I am enjoying the lab much more than I did when I was the teacher."

"Thank you, Severus. I honestly don't understand how they can ask me to continue to teach him after what he did to you. It was intended for me."

"Hermione, I will teach that class, only that class. I do not want your job, but I can and will handle him if you wish it."

She snuggled against him, letting some of the tension leach out of her body. "My first reaction is to refuse your help and to do it myself, but I do not think I can face him alone. I will teach the class, Severus. As long as you are there with me, I will be okay. I will watch your back, and you can watch mine. Albus will be here as well. Severus, please just yell if something is going to happen. I will not ask why." She laughed a false laugh as she gave him a tender kiss.

Severus held her close, and they slept. Hermione woke screaming again that night. Her body was drenched in sweat, and she held Severus tightly, trembling for an hour before he got some dreamless sleep and had her take a dose. He lay for hours listening to her breathe and trying to figure out how best to help her deal with the next day and beyond.

Hermione barely talked the next morning. She was tense and anxious. Severus planned to give Minerva a piece of his mind when he caught her alone.

While she was preparing her class for her first-years, Severus slipped away and headed down to the Slytherin dorms. He disillusioned himself and stepped back into an alcove. He waited nearly 15 minutes before Scorpius came out of the common room. He was with a group of boys, but they distanced themselves, and Severus realized he was being shunned. That gave him some hope that peer pressure would help change the boy.

Severus reached out and grabbed him by the collar and dragged him into the disillusionment spell. He also muffled the area so no one would hear or see them. He loomed over the boy and then got into Scorpius' face, his nose was barely and inch from the boy's. "Scorpius, as you can see, I'm back to normal, and I will be watching you."

Scorpius' pale face was now white as a sheet. He did not try to say anything but stared into Severus' face with huge eyes.

"You put a toe out of line, and I will come down on you so hard that you will not know what hit you. You are to march into that classroom this afternoon and apologize to Madam Granger."

"I'm sorry, sir," the boy stammered. "I did not mean to hurt y...ou."

Severus shook him until his teeth rattled. "Do you think I care a whit about myself? Your intentions and words were plain in the classroom. You will not under any circumstances hurt her again." He let the boy go and smoothed his shirt and robes down. "Scorpius, I respect your father, and your grandfather was my friend. I regret what happened all those years ago. Voldemort was a horrible creature; if he'd been allowed to live, we would all be suffering greatly. He thought I was his loyal servant, and he routinely tortured me. Serving him was not some glamorous job. You have freedoms you would never have under his rule. Do not go down the same path as your grandfather. His hate destroyed his life. You can be a much better man."

Scorpius glared at him but only nodded. "May I go now?" His voice was hard, and it dripped with venom.

"Go," Severus said.

The boy slipped out of the spell and ran.

Severus sighed, watching after him. Was there no hope for the boy? The hate in him was deep. He headed back to the classroom. At least he had gotten his point across.

Hermione looked up at him when he slipped into the room, "Where have you been?" she asked, suspiciously.

"I wanted to spy on Scorpius," he admitted.

She came closer and looked into his eyes. "...and?"

"He's being shunned by his classmates," Severus said as he moved into the room and let his eyes slide over the room and its readiness.

She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Sorry, force of habit," he said as he went toward the desk.

"Any suggestions on how to proceed with him?" she asked, sitting at her desk and checking over some papers to appear busy.

Severus came and placed his hands on her shoulders. "There's a lot of anger in him. Yet he's going to become very lonely here. Maybe kindness will win him over. Encourage him when he does something right. Most children want to be praised."

Hermione nodded as she slipped a hand over one of his. "What are you going to do this morning?"

"I'm going to see Minerva and find out exactly what my duties are. I will have to go talk to Filch, too. I wonder how he will take having help. He's a proud man."

He felt the tension in her shoulders. "Hermione, he's a boy, and he knows we will be watching him. It will be obvious when I'm in the room, too. Try to relax. You love this job. Now come on, we need to go to breakfast and let them see that we are okay." He kissed the top of her head, and she bent her head back to receive a deeper, upside down kiss. Severus pulled her to her feet, and they headed for the Great Hall.

The Hall was filled with students and staff when they arrived. When they were noticed, a titter went through the hall, and suddenly every mouth was silent and every eye was on them.

Minerva smiled widely at them, and Poppy hugged them.

Severus smiled at the students, and Hermione waved as they took their seats at the head table.

The students broke out into thunderous clapping.

Severus looked and found Scorpius, who was sitting off by himself at the end of the long Slytherin table. He was glaring their way. He ducked and averted his eyes when he caught Severus looking at him. But the hate was there.

Minerva stood, and they became silent. "Students, I'm sure that Madam Granger and Professor Snape appreciate your welcome. I ask that you be very attentive in your classroom with Madam Granger. Professor Snape is going to be helping her out in a class or two and also working with Mr. Filch in security until a permanent position opens up."

"I hope that you will welcome Professor Snape to the staff and avail yourself of his vast knowledge. I believe he will also serve as a substitute and guest speaker at times in your classrooms. Now have a wonderful breakfast, and let's get this week's classes started."

She received a round of applause. Then the food appeared, and everyone tucked in with relish.

Hermione picked at her food. Severus leaned in close and said, "Hermione, I can take your classes if you're not ready."

She gave him a determined look, took a deep breath, and said, "I'm ready, but thank you, Severus."

Lisa, thank you for the amazing beta work you have been doing for me. I could not do this without you. I know you often fix many sentence problems. I am so happy to have your help.

Becky, thank you for reading through the chapters and for your suggestions.