Chapter Four

The characters and canon situations in the following story belong solely to JK Rowling, Scholastic, and WB. I am not making any money from the publishing or writing of this story.

Also, my sincerest thanks to Laralee. Thank you for putting up with me and my many mistakes. You are an angel! Truly you are, my dear.

Hermione sat at an ancient pine kitchen table with a small laptop before her, dressed in a blue sundress. The sun, which shone through the opened kitchen windows, filled the large room with warmth and added to the already growing glow on her skin. Hermione absently took a sip of her coffee while watching the clock on the wall.

What was taking him so long?

With a small smile, she turned back to her computer and began to read. Suddenly, her smile grew as she let out a small chuckle. She'd completely forgotten about that email. It had been sent in the midst of the project, and she had been so tired by that point that she had barely been functioning.

From: mastermalfoy@affodell.com

To: PotionsKIA@aspenpotions.com

Sent: 14 April, 2012 4:34 PM

Subject: Unacceptable!

Oh, Dearest KIA-of-the-Asinine-Projects,

As I said when we began this... this... task (note the disdain in my words!): I thought, foolishly, that the materials we would be preserving for posterity would at the very least be of some value to the thinking world, but I found myself today preserving a file entitled The Digging Patterns of Flobberworms.

I ask: How is this of ANY value, Granger?

However, it was not until said file was followed by Flobberworms: Potions or Pets that I simply had to draw the line.

Granger, this is unacceptable! Why are you so set on saving this utter shite!?

D.M.

The email itself was nothing special. In fact, Draco had complained constantly throughout the beginning of the project. Of course, it hadn't occurred to him that Hermione expected him to actually participate in the recovery of the files, and as such, he had made sure that his displeasure was heard often. However, this had been his final complaint, and it was what followed the receipt of the email that made it so memorable. She could still remember Severus, after hearing her groan at his godson's latest complaint, rushing to read the offending email from over her shoulder. His eyes had glinted with irritation as he nodded curtly to her and wordlessly stalked back to his desk. With practised precision that bespoke his years of experience berating imbecilic students, he had grabbed a quill, a long-unused bottle of blood-red ink and a scrap of parchment. Then, in the sharp letters that were so characteristically his, he penned a note to his godson. It had read:

Unworthy Malfoy Progeny,

Your Godfather

Hermione remembered watching him scratch the note out furiously and then hand it to her for her approval. She was amused that he was willing to reprise the role of Bat of the Dungeon and shocked that he would use it against Draco solely for her own benefit. Snorting in amusement, she had handed the note back and watched the owl he had Summoned take it to Draco. Much to the delight of everyone involved, Draco had suspiciously kept quiet for the rest of the project.

Hermione looked up from the computer as the sound of a door closing in the distance reached her ears. "He's back," she said under her breath. Jumping from her chair, she quickly closed the laptop and went to rinse out her coffee cup in the kitchen's overly large sink. As she stood at the counter drying the cup, she felt him slide into position behind her. Shivers rippled through Hermione as his arms wrapped around her. Instinctively, she leaned into him, tilting her head to the side to give him perfect access to the sensitive skin of her neck.

"Hmm," she hummed as his lips made their way from the nape of her neck to the sweet spot behind her ear. His warm breath ghosted over her ear, causing her skin to erupt in gooseflesh and her knees to begin to buckle.

"You make this far too easy, Wife," he teased as he drew back and turned her around to face him.

With playful eyes, Hermione pressed herself against him, moulding her body to his. "I've always thought, Husband, that this was rather the point of a honeymoon."

"Indeed," he smirked, pulling his wife from the kitchen and down a long, ornate corridor. "I do wonder: What you were doing in the kitchen, seeing to your own dishes? We've got this whole palace to ourselves for the rest of the month and a whole army of house-elves to wait on you hand and foot."

Hermione snorted. "I'm puzzled, Severus. Do you or do you not know me?"

"Ah, would it help to know that the clan of house-elves that live in this region are rather more forward in thinking than the house-elves at home. As such, they are paid wages and treated with respect," he told her matter-of-factly. He loved surprising her.

"Wow! That's wonderful. I would very much love to speak to them and hear their history. Do you think that I could arrange..."

"Hermione," Severus interrupted, "you have all month. Do remember that we've been married for all of four hours, two of which I spent dealing with your ridiculous task."

"It was not ridiculous. It was necessary," she retorted.

"If you say so," he drawled, rolling his eyes. "Nevertheless, for the time being, you belong to me, and any house-elf interviews will have to wait. You are strictly forbidden from starting any new projects, especially if they do not involve me and our bedchambers for at least the next two weeks. After that, then perhaps you can talk to the house-elves." Despite the rough tone of his voice, he looked at her with a bemused expression as he pushed open a pair of ornate doors and then pulled his bride into a luxurious bedroom.

The doors closed quickly behind the couple, and Hermione was left no time to pout at his restrictions as she was pulled directly into the arms of her husband. One hand buried itself in her hair while the other grasped the curve of her waist, pulling her even closer. His lips began to devour her mouth, his tongue first plunging and then caressing, stealing away her breath and causing her to go slightly faint. Slowly, his hands began to run down her body. Carefully, he slid the fabric of her dress up, the silk rustling against her smooth, flush skin. Breathless, he pulled back from her lips and pulled the garment up and over her head.

Leading her to the bed, his eyes hungrily appreciated the matching set of black bra and tiny knickers she had adorned for the occasion while Hermione couldn't help but be distracted, once again, by the amazing room. The walls were covered in what she was sure were masterpiece paintings. The furniture was made of a dark almost black wood and each was intricately carved. The massive bed, which dominated the space, was delicately draped in pure white silk.

"Severus," she gasped as he pushed her onto the silk coverlet, "I still cannot believe you were able get them to let us stay at Palacio Da Quinta Da Regaleira. We tried to visit it, you know, when the girls and I were here last."

Huffing at his wife, he drawled, "Well, you will find I am rather more resourceful than your 'girls', as you call them." Climbing onto the bed and lying down next to her, his eyes raked over her scantily clad form.

"Beautiful," he murmured. Then, moving forward, he lay chaste kisses down her neck as she turned to face him.

His hands, resuming their exploration of her body, ran along her side, dipping slowly into each of her curves. Hermione's eyes fluttered; she was content to let her husband take charge.

"Although, actually," he confessed in a husky breath that brushed across her and caused her to shiver, "securing this palace was much simpler than you'd think."

"Really?" she asked, confused. For a moment, their eyes met, deep black to cinnamon brown, and all movement froze.

The heat and fire of desire flared in each of their eyes as they gazed upon each other, silently sharing each want and long-hidden, repressed desire. Hermione shuddered and broke the stare, a flush spreading across her cheeks and down to her décolletage as Severus chuckled at her demure. His fingers slid down her torso and along her waist, where he drew small circles with the tips of his fingers, leaving heated trails in their wake.

"You see," he said, his tone husky and eyes intent on his exploration, "the palace was originally built by a member of the Prince family, and its magical enchantments are tied to a member of the family being in residence here."

She gasped, whether from the revelation or his touch, he did not know. "Really?" Her voice was wane and breathless, and her eyes fluttered closed as she felt him move himself up and over her.

Severus brought his mouth to her shoulder and gently began nipping at her flesh, moving methodically down her arm. His fingers gently fluttered down her body to her legs, and then they renewed their task of engraving small fiery circles up and down her body. His tongue ran trails up and down her arm, carefully soothing each bite mark before moving on to press kisses into her wrist and palm.

Looking up at his now gasping wife with a wicked smile, his eyes glinted mischievously. Quickly, he waved his hand over her body, and her bra shimmered before disappearing, freeing a path for him. Then he was there, sucking and teasing at the bud of her breast, his mouth and tongue hot against her sensitive nipple.

For a time, she was lost to the haze of passion as Severus continued to work his wife to a frenzied peak, enjoying each mew that he coaxed from her. Lapping and nipping at each breast, he allowed his fingers to gently brush over her covered centre, causing her to press herself into him.

Not wanting her to reach completion just yet, he pulled back from her, his teeth playfully nipping at her breasts before fully breaking bodily contact.

Hermione lie in a daze, flush with arousal and mourning the loss of his mouth and hands upon her body. From her foggy haze, she heard him continue his story.

"It passed out of my family's hands about forty years ago; my grandfather sold it to a friend. I suspect he did it to spite my mother. However, my grandfather failed to inform his friend of the magical enchantments that were placed upon the estate and when, about twenty years ago, the enchantments fully failed and the Prince family magic left the property. It was pure coincidence that the enchantment failed just as my story was being splashed across the pages of the Daily Prophet at the end of the war. They managed to track me down about fifteen years ago and have been asking me to visit since, in hopes that my visit would restore the magic. I've never had a good enough reason to take them up on the offer until now. You are quite delectable, Wife, and more reason than I could ever hope for."

Bringing her hand up to his cheek, Hermione whispered, "I love you too, Severus," hearing in his soft words the unspoken truth.

As he leaned into her touch, she gently brushed the locks of his black hair from his face and then leaned up to press her lips to his. Entwining her legs in his, she ran her hands through his hair and down his neck before settling on the buttons of his shirt, where they nimbly began to unfasten them.

Submitting to her nimble movement and obvious desires, he continued his story whilst she worked. Her head fell back onto the pillow beneath her, so as to more easily track her progress down the many buttons, as he whispered huskily. "The current owner jumped at the opportunity to accommodate us. Indeed, they were so pleased to have us visit that they've set aside this wing of the Palace for our personal use and have invited us to use it anytime we desire."

Hermione, had she been occupied with any other task, would have gasped with delight; however, that was not the case today. She processed the words and filed them in the back of her mind to be addressed later, for today she had far more important things to attend to than Prince family palaces.

He finally fell silent as she reverently pushed open his shirt, as if she were unwrapping the most precious gift ever imagined. In a tantalizing and almost timid movement, Hermione's fingers pushed the shirt over his shoulders and down his arms. As they ran down his chest for the first time, Hermione eyes sparkled with mischief, and she scrambled to her knees. Startled by her sudden movement, Severus found himself being pressed back onto the pillows, her hands trailing down his chest enthusiastically until they reached his still-covered member.

Hermione smirked as a groan rose from Severus. Deftly, her fingers moved to the placket of his trousers and worked it unfastened. Tugging them down to his knees, she quickly abandoned them in favour of paying attention to his straining boxers. Playfully, she ran her fingers along the flesh just at the waistband, teasingly dipping her fingers under and then drawing them out.

With an excited chuckle, Hermione moved to straddled Severus, her sex pressing hotly into his. Her movement quickly became shaky as she ground out her pleasure against him.

Severus watched in awe the wanton picture she painted.

Up and down she moved, her breath growing ragged and her face flushing further. Then, she let out a raw whimper and shuddered as she gasped out his name and collapsed onto him.

"You've run away without me, love," he said as he stroked her flush cheek, pushing back the wild locks of hair the shielded her face from view, "but 'tis no matter; I suspect that was the first of many, many..." A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest and vibrated against her. Gently, he rolled the still keening woman off of him and freed himself of the trousers and boxers that were still resting in various states of undress from his body. Climbing above her, he pulled her from the bliss of her orgasm by the weight of his body suddenly pressing atop her. Lying motionless in the bed, she revelled in the feel of his presence. This was something that she would never tire of; with him here atop her like this, the fact that she belonged to him finally felt real.

Slowly, he resumed placing kisses upon her, this time moving down her stomach, encircling her navel.

Hermione twined her fingers in his hair, running her nails against his scalp, instinctively pressing him downward. As she felt him nuzzle against her still-clad mound, she began to press against him.

It was then that his previous words on the acquisition of access to the palace leapt forward and was fully processed in her sex-addled brain. "Wow," she breathed out in awe. "That was not what I was expecting. I had assumed you called in a debt or something. Not... Well, not that!"

Severus chuckled at her odd circling back to the topic he'd long since forgotten in favour of other pursuits. "You truly have a unique mind, my love," he drawled as he hooked his fingers through the sides of her knickers and pulled them off. Making his way back up her body, he placed each hand just over her shoulders and towered possessively over her. Situating a leg between hers, he felt her legs fall apart, and his cock rubbed deliciously against her wet core.

Moving himself against the heat of her core slowly, he looked directly into her eyes. "You are pleased, no?" he inquired.

"Of course, how could I not be? It is amazing!" her eyes sparkled with amusement. Lifting her head up to his, she took his lip in her teeth gently and nibbled while she purposefully slid herself along his cock. His lip slipped from her mouth as her tongue darted out to caress and taste. She lifted her hips to move against him, in search of the pleasurable release that was once again building inside.

Again, her lust-filled brain sparked to life, this time reminding her of his earlier task. Hermione pulled back from his mouth and stilled her movements as she peered at her dazed husband. "You got the gift arranged, right?"

Severus struggled for understanding for a moment before rasping out in frustration, "Merlin, Hermione! You are going to kill me. I would not have returned until it was done. Your gift should arrive about the same time as the morning owl post tomorrow." Then, kissing her deeply, he whispered to her seriously, "Now, focus. You are hurting my ego. My cock is standing rigid and poised to plunge into your heat, and you ask me insipid questions."

Hermione let out a throaty laugh, her eyes lighting with amusement. "Alright, Romeo," she said, her eyes rolling, "pierce me with your rigid cock." And with that, she obligingly spread her legs slightly further apart and angled her hips to help guide him. All it took was a single thrust, and he was home.

All laughter slipped away from them and heavy silence fell across the room. The heat of their joining burst into flames within them, and they both gasped, breathless.

Relishing in the sensation of finally being with the one he had loved and desired for years, Severus stilled himself and took a deep, controlled breath. Then, when he felt her begin to move beneath him, he slowly lifted his hips, allowing himself to slide smoothly out.

His eyes locked on hers, and with a sly smirk, he angled his hips sharply and crashed down. Hermione let out a sudden wail that steadily grew into a shriek as he pounded into her. With each stroke, he expertly hit the sensitive spot within her.

In mere moments, his wife was writhing beneath him, all thought, knowledge, and questions gone. She was a slave to him, to his passion and love.

Hermione grinned madly at the delicious man pounding into her. Lifting her legs to wrap tightly around him, she pressed him deeper as he continued to move in her. Then, when their movements turned frantic and jerky, he felt her shudder and tighten around him as she came for a second time. The tightening of her around him and her dulcet tones pushed him over the final precipice, and letting out a cry, Severus came. But still, they rocked and moved, determined to ride out the bliss of the moment, drawing out every last flutter of pleasure.

When the last tremors had settled, he allowed himself to settle at her side. In loving benediction, he pressed gentle kisses onto her body, worshipping her. Kissing each breast and then the valley between them, in reverence for the gift she was to him, he then reached and pressed a final kiss to her glistening forehead. As he let out a long breath, Hermione smiled and placed a small, quick kiss on his nose. Drawing his arms around her, she angled away from him and allowed him to curl his body around hers. His arms slid under her neck and along her waist, pulling her tight against him, his one hand under her neck instinctively moving down to palm the nearby breast. Hermione closed her eyes and sighed with contentment as peace enveloped them.

They lay in silence until Hermione's wistful voice broke through with a small sigh. "I wish I could be there to see their faces."

Severus chuckled quietly into her hair, pressing kisses into the tangled mess. "Indeed. However, I am slightly appalled that you are still thinking about your friends. It is disturbing. Seriously, Hermione, you need to focus."

Hermione's laughter joined his in the room for a time, and then, as the peace settled once more around them, the pair drifted off for a lovely mid-morning nap.

*~*~*

Hannah Abbot, Pansy Parkinson, and Luna Lovegood were sitting at the table in the tearoom at Affodell, Inc. and chatting over their morning tea and scones when there was a tap at the door, indicating the arrival of the morning post. Absently, Hannah picked up her wand and flicked it at the door, causing it to swing open. The sound of fluttering wings flooded the room as the morning post arrived. The girls watched the owls drift in and out of the room, dropping letters in the company post boxes, as they did each morning. Suddenly, an odd look passed over Pansy's face.

"Do you smell something?" she asked as her face screwed up in disgust.

Hannah looked about the room for a moment and was just about to respond in the negative when it hit her. As she took a breath, she began to choke and cough. "What is that smell?" she gasped out.

Luna smiled knowingly. "I believe we may have a visitor."

The trio turned to the door, and there, before their eyes, stood the ugliest, smelliest troll of a man they had ever seen.

As his large feet clomped into the room, Pansy stifled a wretch, her hand covering her mouth and nose in a futile attempt to filter out the stench wafting off him.

Luna, seemingly immune to his scent, laughed lightly as Hannah's eyes grew to saucer size.

Dully, the ghastly beast-of-a-man spoke, "I bring you this." Digging into his pockets, he drew out a crushed and slightly damp letter which he extended toward the group of women.

Pansy and Hannah both drew back in their chairs, moving themselves as far away from the creature and his letter as they could without leaving their chairs.

Rolling her eyes, Luna stood and smiled politely as she retrieved the letter. "Thank you. Would you care to join us," she said sweetly indicating the pastries at the table as her friend gaped in horror.

"Well, ladies, I do believe we have a letter to read," Luna chirped.

Hannah and Pansy jumped from their chairs and moved to the far side of the room as the troll man sat himself at the table and began to devour a plate of scones.

Opening the letter, Luna's laughter began to ring through the room. With a twinkle in her eyes she turned to her two friends. "My dear friends, I do believe we've just received a gift."

Luna grinned as she began to read:

Pippa, Queeny and Luna,

PPS: Don't worry, he has a Portkey on him, and he'll be returning to Lisbon shortly. He is rather fragrant, isn't he? I still shudder at the memories. Love you! ~H.

*~*~*

The Palacia de Quinta de Regaleria is a real palace in Lisbon, and it is beautiful. Need I say more? http://www.lisbonlux.com/sintra/quinta-da-regaleira.html