Chapter 55

Hermione and Severus decided to explore more of the tree the next morning. Hermione continued wearing only the white gossamer gowns she found there, and Severus wore soft pants and a tunic top. Their own garments lay forgotten in their bags. They only needed to think of something, and the tree provided it. Food came in simple snacks or complicated cooked meals. The kitchen was well stocked, but they only had to think of what they wanted and it was prepared by hands made of vines and placed before them. In the light of the day, they could see a vast meadow below, and tiny animals wandered freely about the grass and flowers. No doubt some of them were huge up close, but it was hard to tell what they were from so high up.

There were other trees in the distance. At night, lights could be seen from the windows of more homes. Hermione and Severus wondered if there were free house-elves here or if it was a vacation spot. The one thing Hermione had accomplished many years ago was to have each elf receive time off: two weeks a year. At first they had seemed concerned and at a loss, but then they had gladly packed and left each time.

Has all this come about because of my wife? Severus said, "Let's see if we can visit the meadow." He looked toward the trunk of the tree and asked, "Can we have transport to the meadow?"

There was a rustle from the leaves above, and then a small platform with railings appeared. Vines lowered it to them, and the railing before them drew back and gave them an opening. Severus turned to Hermione and reached for her hand, saying, "Your chariot, my goddess."

Hermione giggled and took his hand. They stepped onto the platform, and it slowly lowered through the limbs below. The majestic valley was huge and green. The platform came to rest near the massive roots of the tree. Severus hopped out and took Hermione's hand as she stepped away. The platform rose back into the tree.

They turned, staring at exotic flowers of all shapes and sizes. They came in colors Hermione knew she'd never seen before. As they moved deeper into the meadow, a large beast walked by. It glanced their way and continued on. It had a body like a bear and a long, slim neck with the head of a giraffe. Its pelt was orange and brown like a tiger. It munched only on grass. They wandered about, seeing more animals. Some looked like dinosaurs but were covered in rich plumes of soft feathers in every imaginable color.

"Severus, this is amazing. I wish I had a camera," she lamented.

"It's an enchanted place, Hermione. I doubt a camera would work...Wizard or Muggle."

She sighed. "You're probably right; no one will believe us." She released her hold on his hand and ran out into the middle of the meadow. Her hair was flying, and she looked like an enchanted fairy herself. As the breeze caught her gown, it blew back, framing the swell of their child and bringing tears to his eyes. His heart felt tight with the joy he was so unaccustomed to feeling. Yet lately, its powerful feeling attacked him from all sides.

Severus had a crazy urge to run and dance with her, but he only stood and watched her. Freedom and spontaneity were difficult for him. She dragged him into the field, and he let go and danced with her. Finally they fell into the soft grass and made love. Later they lay just looking at the tall tree before them. They were barely able to see their rooms so far above. They slept for a while...Severus on his back and Hermione curled against his side.

As the afternoon grew into evening, they went back up into the high branches of the tree, ate, and then decided to watch the sunset from their hammock. It was glorious. The sky lit in yellows, oranges, and fiery reds against the blue of the sky and the white of the clouds. They almost felt the warmth of fire touching them out on their branch, lying in the hammock in each other's arms.

Severus was rubbing soft circles around Hermione's stomach when the tiniest flutter occurred in the child nestled in her body.

Hermione asked, "Did you feel that?"

"Yes, I did." His voice was tight with emotion. Tears burned his eyes. "That was the most amazing thing I've ever felt," he said.

"I thought our bonding night was the most amazing thing," she teased, watching his face. "But I know what you mean. Do you know how rare it was for us both to feel the baby's first movement?"

"Pretty rare, I'd imagine." They lay with their hands pressed against her stomach, but no more movements came.

When the darkness came and they had eaten again, they sat in the library and looked at the books. Making love was forgotten for a time as they combed through books only mentioned in Wizarding history...books filled with amazing stories and accounts of the founders of their community as well as Hogwarts.

Hermione asked, "Do you think the house-elves have secreted these away over the centuries, or are they here for the asking?"

"We will have to find out when we get home. I never thought to ask a house-elf to bring me a rare copy of something I've searched for. I've only asked for things I knew were there and I'd misplaced."

"Why do you think they revealed this to us, Severus?" she asked, carefully turning the pages of what was probably a first edition of Hogwarts: A History. It included history that started well before any of the books she'd seen.

"They respect you, and there are many who knew you loved and cared for Dobby before and after his death. They love you. Maybe they like me, too, now because you love me. Maybe they are excited about the baby and look forward to such a young child amongst them at Hogwarts," he theorized, mostly just saying his thoughts out loud.

She came and sat in his lap, and he put aside the book he was holding and held her close.

"House-elves are such a mystery. They have enormous magical powers and yet they serve us without question...even the bad masters. Dobby had such a huge heart that he found the strength to rebel against the Malfoys in an effort to help Harry. I have nothing but love for their race."

"I can imagine they feel the same. I know of no one who has ever seen this place. There have been no rumors of a house-elf realm. You and I have been accorded a great privilege."

"Do you think we will be able to tell people about it?" she asked.

"We will see when we return to Hogwarts in a few days."

"I hate to go back, and yet I'm looking forward to being home with you and our work."

"I know the feeling. Having you here to ravish whenever I want is heaven," he said, sliding his hand over her breast and feeling the warmth of her skin beneath the thin, white fabric of the gown she wore. She nipped him in the neck and ran her tongue along the inside of his ear, and he shuddered with pleasure against her.

She pulled away and took his hand, pulling him to his feet and leading him to their bed. She drew him down and made him lie on his back. She proceeded to kiss and caress him, encouraging him to only touch her lightly and let her take the lead. She ignited every inch of his body, causing him to clutch at the bed covers as she straddled him and took him into herself. She finally gripped his hands with hers, threading her fingers as she moved slowly, building up their pleasure.

Severus thrust deeply, feeling his climax building and building till he could hardly contain it, and then she leaned down, kissing him deeply.

Hermione cried out with her climax. It pushed him over the edge, and their cries of pleasure echoed out over the valley. She collapsed on his chest, and he gathered her in his arms.

"I love you, Mrs. Snape," he told her, his voice deep with emotion.

"I love you, Mr. Snape." She snuggled into his chest and fell asleep.

Severus lay there holding her and thanking God...knowing there really was a God. He knew this life was something he had never expected to have; yet with the grace of some higher power, he had been spared thanks to the machinations of an old man. "I am thankful," he whispered to the air as he fell asleep.

By the end of the week, they were well rested and very content with their relationship. They stood naked against the railing that last morning and watched the sun come up. It bathed them with warmth and made them glow.

Their kisses were slow and lazy and full of contentment. They didn't speak but finally dressed in their Hogwarts robes. They stood at the rail again, holding their bags and trying to commit each detail of their amazing tree house to their minds. Then Hermione nodded to Severus. He took hold of the Portkey, and they were whisked away.

Slowly the house started to unravel and fade back into the tree.

*****

They stood at the gates of Hogwarts, looking at the castle. "It's home, isn't it, Severus?"

"Yes, it's definitely home. I look forward to the challenges of the next year...personal and professional." He unwarded the gate, and they slipped through. After the wards were set, they shouldered their bags and walked hand-in-hand toward the castle.

They heard a great voice calling to them and saw Hagrid sitting by his door, waving. "Welcome back, ye two." He went back to what he was doing.

Hermione waved at him, smiling. Yes, this is home.

Students were out about the lawns, and Scorpius and Albus flashed by on their brooms, calling out to them, "You're back, woo hoo!" They swooped around them and then headed off toward the Quidditch pitch.

"Boys," Hermione said, laughing.

Severus grinned at her, and they hurried toward their rooms. Hermione flung herself on their bed and lay there while Severus looked on in amusement.

She clambered up before he could join her and kind of danced around, saying, "Home sweet home. The tree was amazing, but this is wonderful, too."

"You're how old?" he asked, smirking.

She smirked back at him. "It is good to be home."

"Yes, it is," he agreed, breathing in the scent of their lives. "I love you for your exuberance," he admitted. "I often wish to be so free."

She came to him and hugged him, whispering, "You just have to let yourself go."

"It's been bred out of me," he said.

"Well, with our child, maybe you will learn to play again." Hermione grabbed his hand and said, "Let's go see Poppy and see if we can tell her about the tree."

He nodded, bringing her hand to his lips. "Let's go, Madame Granger-Snape." He smiled and they went out the doors of their rooms and the classroom and up through the stairs and halls. Many students greeted them and congratulated them on their bonding.

They burst through the Infirmary door, calling, "Poppy?"

Poppy came from her door drying her hands on a towel. "You're back! I'm so glad."

They reached her and gave her a big hug each. Severus planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Stand back and let me look at you." She surveyed them both up and down. "My, you both look wonderful. Sev, is that a tan?"

"Is it?" He glanced at his hands. "I suppose it might be...though we had quite a canopy of shade around us most of the time."

"Where did you go?" she asked.

Hermione clasped her hands together and said, "A tree house. It was the most amazing place."

"Ah, the tree house. Yes, it is most amazing," she agreed.

"You know about the tree house?" Severus asked, eyeing her. "You never mentioned it."

"Come in and sit down, and I'll make tea. I'll tell you a little about it." She led them back into her rooms, and after she'd made the tea, they got comfortable.

"Some of the teachers here know about it. Only those who know will be able to hear what you have to say about it. It's really a deeply kept secret."

Severus said with disgust, "How come I'm just finding out? I was here for years before the bubble. I could have used a place like that to rehabilitate a time or two."

"Sorry, Sev. The house-elves didn't know if they could trust you then. They are very sensitive creatures. With the Death Eater tattoo, there was a sense of evil about you. Now that it's gone, you are part of the inner circle here."

He took a deep breath and waved his hand. "It doesn't matter. It was wonderful, and we had an amazing time."

Hermione, who had been concerned by his reaction, relaxed against his side. "It was the most amazing place I've ever seen."

"It's the house-elves' original home," Poppy explained. "Very few humans have seen it. Only those who show a kindness and a concern for them are taken there."

"Well, it was an amazing week. We had such a good, relaxing time. Lots of sleep... lots of play." Severus blushed.

Hermione grinned at him, taking his hand.

Poppy laughed. "Well, it obviously did you both a world of good. Severus, I think you do actually have a little color in your skin. You both look wonderful."

Hermione said with a sigh, "I guess it's time to get back to the real world and figure out what's next for us besides the baby coming. It's been months of ups and downs. Some normalcy would be nice."

Severus said, "Here, here! I will be working closer with Minerva until the end of the year and gradually taking on some of her duties and learning the ropes. I'll be becoming a little more familiar with the duties of Headmaster. I'd say this time around things have to be better."

"Well, we can only hope," Poppy said, picking up her knitting.

"You have your doubts, Poppy?" Hermione asked, amused.

"Well, interesting things seem to have occurred to you two all your lives," she said guardedly.

"Interesting, that's a way of putting it," Severus said with a smirk. "There are always surprises in teaching and running a school...and I'm sure in raising children. But I think we are up to it, aren't we, Hermione?"

"Children? I'm not having a brood," she said, touching her stomach.

"Well, having been an only child, I would hope you're up for at least one more." He hugged her close.

Hermione stared at him. "Who are you, and where have they taken my Severus?"

He laughed at her, and Poppy stared at him misty-eyed.

"But really, Severus, I quite agree with you, being an only child does have its drawbacks." She became a bit misty-eyed herself. "I was hoping you might like at least two children."

"You're the one who has to carry them, Hermione. Just know that if you wish to have another baby, I will support you all the way. There should be no angst in your thoughts about approaching me with the idea after our baby is at least a year old."

"You'd better wait until he's two to give me that offer. You may not like having a child. You never much liked teaching children, and you'll have to live with ours 24/7...at least for the first 11 years."

Severus sobered and told her, "Hermione, Albus and Scorpius have taught me that older children can be quite interesting and quite fun to be around. They can be well worth sticking your neck out for. I'm sure little ones can't be too much more difficult."

Hermione reached over to kiss him on the cheek. "Poppy, you're my witness." She settled closer into his arms, and he placed his hand on her stomach. "Poppy, we felt the baby move the first time, together."

Poppy got wide-eyed. "You're certain?" she asked. She got up and came closer.

"Why, does that mean something? I know it's rare, but it's just a coincidence, isn't it?" Severus asked.

"An old wizarding myth says it's a blessing. A special protection is supposed to be with you when the child is born...a sort of a natural Fidelius ward deters people from finding you when they have evil intent. May I?" she asked, holding her wand out.

Hermione said, "Of course." She was already planning to research this new situation.

Poppy said a spell as she waved her hand, and a gold and silver filigree web appeared in the air and covered all three of them. "It's like having a Felix Felicis potion at all times. Things may just work out for you two after all. Lots of luck and fortune are to come your way. Fortune doesn't always mean money; it can also mean love and happiness."

Severus sat there speechless. "Maybe I do need to go thank Albus again for the damn bubble. The blessings keep piling up."

Hermione said, "Maybe we should both go talk to him and tell him a bit about what has been happening to us lately. I miss seeing him, and Minerva would be thrilled."

Severus smirked, "She loves the old goat, doesn't she? Poppy, did they have a thing?"

Poppy said, "Best ask her. She might be willing to tell you."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "They were married, weren't they? They were married and never told anyone."

Poppy paled a bit. "Ask her, Sev. I have confidences to keep."

Severus stood. "We will do that in the next few days. I'd better get Hermione back to her classroom. I know she's anxious, aren't you, my dear?"

Hermione nodded with a smile.

"She has a lot to do so she can take over her classes tomorrow."

Hermione agreed and let him draw her to her feet. "I probably have mounds of parchments on my desk to check over."

Poppy hugged them both and then stood at her door and watched them walk arm in arm back through the infirmary and out the outer door.

Only two more chapters after this one. Please take the time to leave reviews. They are a writer's only reward.

Lisa, thank you once again for the beta work you do for me. I couldn't do this without you.