Tender Looks Become A Habit

Severus looked down at Hermione's sleeping form and gently brushed a stray curl from her face. She had said nothing after his confession, but had simply wrapped her arms around him, pulling him to her in a tight hug. She had sobbed against his chest, and for the first time in many years, Severus wept for the loss of his mother and for the agony of not being able to share his current happiness with her. He thought his mother would have approved of Hermione. They held each other for a long time, until Hermione had fallen asleep.

'Hermione,' he said gently, stroking her arm to wake her.

She opened her eyes slowly, then sat up suddenly when she realised she had fallen asleep on the sofa. 'I'm sorry, Severus. I always seem to fall asleep at the wrong time,' she muttered.

'You are beautiful when you're sleeping, so I think I can forgive you. I only hope you can forgive me.' He sounded unsure.

'There is nothing to forgive, Severus. He shouldn't have been allowed to get away with what he did.' Hermione's eyes flashed in anger, and Severus couldn't resist a smirk. 'I do have a question though,' she said. 'You said you had new identities, and I know Snape is really Aspen. But what is your real name if it isn't Severus?'

Severus laughed. 'If we ever have a boy, I shall tell you. I would very much like a son named after me,' he said.

'I really want to have your child, Severus,' she said seriously.

Severus pulled her back into his lap and kissed her soundly. 'You amaze me every day,' he said, unable to hide the passion in his voice. Hermione smiled and caressed his face.

'Do I? Well, you won't be amazed to know that I have no intention of shagging you in this house, Severus Snape, so we'd better get back to Hogwarts if you want to get rid of this,' she smirked, cupping his growing erection playfully.

'I do believe I am henpecked already, and we've only been married one day,' he groaned.

Hermione laughed and kissed him tenderly. 'I do love you, Severus,' she said, her manner turning more solemn.

Severus looked at her with wide eyes. 'You love me, even after all that I have told you?'

'Perhaps I love you because you told me everything. Or perhaps it's because you really are very good in bed. It doesn't matter why. I just know that I do,' she said, suddenly finding the buttons on his jacket incredibly interesting.

'Fortunate for me, then,' he said softly. Hermione looked up at him, and the passion in his eyes made her heart lurch.

'Take me home, Severus,' she whispered.

***

Hermione scowled at the book before her. The Restricted Section of Hogwarts library was all well and good, but there were some subjects that it just didn't cover. She understood the reasons, of course. Why would a Hogwarts student need a fertility potion, after all?

Hermione cast a Tempus spell and realised it was after midnight. She put the book back on the shelf, cursing under her breath at how inadequate the contents had been, and made her way back to the dungeon. After three months of marriage, she still wasn't pregnant, and she was starting to panic. By her calculations, Severus had just over seven months to live. He hadn't mentioned his anxiety to her, but the lack of conception hung between them like a spectre. It wasn't through lack of trying, either. Hermione thought sadly that it would be wonderful to make love without the nagging hope that this would be the time that worked.

Hermione pushed open the dungeon door quietly and slipped into the bedchamber on tiptoe so as not to disturb his sleep. She had noticed that he was becoming more tired than usual and had started to show dark circles under his eyes. Undressing quietly, she slipped under the covers and snuggled up to him, inhaling the familiar scents of herbs and other potion ingredients.

'Where were you?' he mumbled.

'In the library. I was doing some research,' she said quietly.

'We should make love,' he said wearily.

'You're too tired, Severus,' she replied. 'Wait until morning.'

'No.' He was insistent, and Hermione felt her stomach clench at the desperation in his voice.

'As long as you let me do the work,' she relented. Hermione shifted in the bed and pulled Severus onto his back. Letting her hands caress his chest, she kissed him softly until he was fully awake and then deepened the kiss with her tongue. They were so practised that their bodies responded to each other's touch immediately, and as she slid herself onto him, they sighed in unison.

'Faster,' he hissed, his hands on her thighs guiding her movements. Hermione tipped her pelvis back and moaned as Severus moved his thumb to her clitoris. With urgent thrusts, Severus met Hermione's rocking rhythm, and she cried out.

'Oh, yes.' Hermione came hard, her orgasm quickly followed by Severus' release. He flipped her over quickly and stayed inside her throbbing warmth for a long time, kissing her tenderly.

'Thank you,' his whispered.

***

The following day, Hermione did the one thing she had put off doing and visited Dumbledore. Severus had insisted that they kept the situation to themselves for now, but Hermione knew he was grower weaker by the day, and they needed help. She didn't intend to tell the old coot anything specific, but she was confident that she had learned enough Slytherin to cajole a favour from him.

'Aniseed Balls,' she said firmly to the gargoyle at the bottom of the staircase. If she wasn't so focussed on her task, she might have laughed, but as it was, she just wanted to get in and get out with her prize. She pushed open the door of the office, and Dumbledore stood to greet her.

'Mrs Snape,' he said warmly.

Hermione wanted to scowl, but forced herself to smile. 'Hello, Professor.'

'What can I do for you? Or have you come to give me some special news?' He looked at her as he sat back in his chair.

'No news yet, but I'm hopeful there will be soon,' she responded. 'I actually came to ask you a favour, sir.'

'Ask away,' he said, helping himself to a bright orange boiled sweet from the bowl in front of him.

'I need a pass to the Ministry library. I know I could ask Severus, but he's been so busy, and you know that he is becoming more exhausted each day. I'm researching my apprenticeship project, and I really don't want to worry him with it.' She bit her lip anxiously. She hoped she was pulling off the contrite student act, but the anxiety was real.

'Is he becoming worse, do you think?' Dumbledore frowned.

'I think he may be, yes. Not that he'd admit to it,' she said honestly.

'If I can ease the burden, then so be it.' Dumbledore waved his wand briefly, and a pass to the Ministry library flew towards Hermione, her name scribed onto it in neat script. She took it gratefully and gave Dumbledore a genuine smile.

'Thank you. You don't know how grateful I am,' she said softly.

***

Two hours later, Hermione walked out of the Ministry library with a large book under her arm and a determined look on her face. She was well aware the book contained mostly Dark Arts potions and that the brew she intended to make was used in rituals that she would prefer not to know about, but she didn't care. What she cared about was saving Severus.

Back in the lab, Hermione used a charm to display the ingredients on a kind of floating blackboard that followed her along the shelves of the store room as she gathered everything she would need. She checked the list twice and realised there were some ingredients not on the shelf.

'Shit,' she said softly. She had hoped to finish the potion before Severus returned from his classes. Now she would have to send Dante out to Slug and Jiggers for the missing items, and it would be too late to start then. She would just have to wait for Severus to fall asleep and then slip into the lab. It wouldn't be the first time she had brewed all night.

***

Severus walked into the dungeon feeling totally exhausted. His classes had been trying, and it had taken all of his energy not to lose his patience with the Ravenclaw first-years. With a deep sigh, he headed for his leather chair and slumped into it. He felt like an old man. He closed his eyes momentarily but was roused when he heard Hermione calling him. He opened one eye at her.

'I'm here,' he said.

'I've run you a bath, Severus,' she said, walking towards him with concern on her face. 'Come on. You look done in, and an early night would do us both good.'

Severus smiled wanly and took her hand with gratitude. There was definitely something to be said about being a married man.

He soaked in the bath, inhaling the delicious aromas of the lavender and rose oils that Hermione had added to the water. After some time, Hermione returned with a large fluffy towel, complete with warming charm, and he allowed her to assist him from the bath and wrap his nakedness in its soft comfort. She turned to leave the room, and he caught her hand in his and pulled her to him. She looked tired herself, and yet here she was, putting his needs first as usual.

'You're doing too much, Hermione. Perhaps you should take a break tomorrow?' He brushed her curls from her face and kissed her creased brow tenderly. He didn't miss the sad glint in her eye, even thought she tried to hide it with a smile.

'Perhaps I will,' she agreed in a non-committal tone. 'I have soup from the kitchens and your vial from the store. Let's eat.'

Severus felt a pang of anxiety. Hermione was not her usual self, and he knew that she was worrying about their ongoing predicament. God knows, he was worried too. How many times should a man make love to his wife before impregnating her, for goodness sake? They knew there was nothing wrong with either of them in that area. St. Mungo's had confirmed they were both perfectly healthy and that it was merely a matter of time. But time was the one thing they didn't have.

The soup was delicious as usual, and when Hermione coaxed him to the bedroom, he went without argument despite the early hour. He was pleasantly surprised when she stripped naked alongside him, and they made love slowly beneath sheets. Hermione was warm and encouraging, and she always came with such passion. It was beautiful, watching her unravel with his eager touch and demanding thrusts.

Afterwards, they curled together like spoons, and Severus felt more relaxed and content than he had in a long time. He felt Hermione kiss him between his shoulder blades and murmur 'I love you,' against his flesh, and he smiled to himself. He really was one lucky wizard.

***

Severus opened his eyes with a start, alert and wide-awake, but with a sense of unease. He turned in the bed and immediately realised that Hermione had gone, and that the sheet where she had lain was freezing to his touch. He climbed from the bed and went to the bathroom, listening for sounds of movement inside. There was nothing. Grabbing his bathrobe and his wand, he walked into the sitting room and still saw no sign of her.

'Hermione,' he called out. 'Hermione!'

He put the robe on in haste and went through to the lab. He knew instantly that there was trouble. A pall of dark blue smoke hung around the ceiling and spurted in great clouds from the cauldron below. He couldn't see Hermione, and he covered his mouth with his sleeve as he approached the gurgling liquid. As he neared the bench, he saw Hermione, collapsed on the floor.

'Oh, fuck,' he gasped. Waving his wand, he placed a stasis charm over whatever it was she was making and ran to her, lifted her effortlessly and ran to the Floo.

'Poppy,' he shouted. 'Poppy! Help me!' His anguished shout got a quick response, and within moments, Hermione was in the hospital wing.

Poppy Pomfrey examined Hermione quickly, twisting her wand above her lifeless body in intricate patterns.

'What is it, for God's sake,' Severus hissed, pacing up and down behind the mediwitch.

'She's inhaled the fumes of whatever she was making. I think she will be fine,' she said lightly, ignoring Severus' tone coolly.

'You think she will be fine?' He glared at her.

Poppy ignored him while she cast another complex spell and then turned to him with a soft smile.

'You'd better sit down, Severus,' she said seriously.