Denial Chapter 24: The Ring of Fire

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The Ring of Fire

Chapter 24 of 34

Hermione gets a little revenge.

Humor Drama Romance General post-HBP/HBP compliant Epilogue What Epilogue? Potions Under Duress 214,187 Words 34 Chapters Complete

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A/N: Here you go, my loyal readers. As I’ve said before, this is very short, and was supposed to be a humourless look-in on Theo and his cousin. It was never really meant to be part of Denial, which is told exclusively from Hermione and Severus’s POVs, but due to popular demand, I will add it to the main story this time around. Apologies for the multiple swear words. It’s Theo’s fault. Thanks to lyn_f and evi10 for providing me with copies. Enjoy!

LB x

Love is a burning thing

and it makes a fiery ring

bound by wild desire

I fell in to a ring of fire.

I fell in to a burning ring of fire

I went down, down, down

and the flames went higher.

And it burns, burns, burns

the ring of fire

the ring of fire.

Johnny Cash – The Ring of Fire

Hans Michelob Schneiderlidl looked up with a frown as his cousin, Theodore Nott, sprang from his chair, hissing a string of expletives through gritted teeth.

“Something the matter, Theo?” Hans asked in a disinterested tone of voice.

Theodore flicked his smouldering joint onto the floor and stamped it out. “I told you there was something wrong with that fucking hash,” he spat.

Hans glanced at the carpet, and his frown deepened into a scowl, very different from his usual expression of bored indifference. “That’s my mother’s best carpet, Theo, and that was a perfectly good spliff.”

Theo started to rub at his left hand with his right, a mixed expression of horror and disbelief on his gaunt face. “It’s not the hash. It’s my ring,” he whispered. He looked up at his cousin and raised his voice. “It’s my fucking wedding ring. It’s burning the fucking hand off me!”

Hans sat up, suddenly intrigued. “Your ring? You mean ... Hermione is ... is …”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I fucking mean,” Theo snapped, looking frantically around the room for something that might dull the pain. He rounded on Hans, who began to chuckle. “You find this fucking amusing, do you?”

Hans shook his head. “Hermione, eh? I wouldn’t have thought she had it in her. Do you reckon she’s doing it with an actual human being or just with a good book, perhaps?”

Theo ignored him. “Merlin’s fucking beard! I can’t take this. Do something, Hans. Get me a bowl of water!”

With three lazy flicks of his wand, Hans Conjured a small table and a glass bowl full of water. “Sit down,” he said. “You’re ruining the mood.”

“Ruining the fucking mood?” Theo asked in disbelief, submerging his hand in the water.

“Better?” Hans asked.

Theo shook his head. “No. Worse, if anything. I can’t fucking believe this!”

Hans raised a blond eyebrow. “You didn’t expect her to get a little revenge? How many times have you made her ring burn over the last few months?”

“I just didn’t think she was the type,” Theo said, annoyed. “Are you actually sticking up for her?”

Hans shrugged. “It was bound to happen sooner or later, I suppose.”

“Fuck, this hurts,” Theo said, pouting.

“Be a man about it,” Hans grumbled, returning his attention to his newspaper.

“Be a man about it? I’d like to see how you’d cope with this amount of pain. Seriously. It’s fucking agony!” Theo started to pace the room, rubbing his left hand agitatedly on the leg of his jeans. For the first time since he had left his wife, he knew a moment of guilt. He had known her ring would activate when he’d been unfaithful, but he’d had no idea it would be so painful.

He wondered who she could possibly be with, and whether she’d done it because she’d wanted to, or just to get her own back.

He strode angrily from one end of the extravagantly furnished room to the other, swearing under his breath and shooting covert glances at Hans, irritated by his cousin’s lack of concern. After a few more minutes of tortuous misery, the burning stopped as suddenly as it had begun.

“It’s stopped,” he muttered in surprise, raising his hand to his face and examining his ring. “The burning. It’s gone!”

“Thank fuck for that,” Hans whispered.

***

“Five times,” Theo snarled, banging his fist on the table. “Five fucking times in less than a week!”

Hans laughed and gave an unconcerned flick of his blond fringe. “I’ve never heard you swear so much, Theo. It rather suits you. Funny, really. You’re using the F-word, while your wife is actually doing it.”

“Yes, thanks for reminding me. I know exactly what she’s doing, thanks.”

“No problem,” Hans muttered as he lit a cigarette.

“I went out for a drink with that Swedish girl last night, and the ring burned so badly I had to leave the fucking bar. And it lasted for over an hour!”

Hans smirked. “So, now your wife’s sex life is interfering with your own?”

“Hermione fucking Granger.” Theo shook his head and stared into the distance. “Who the fuck is she seeing?” he whispered, his eyes narrowed.

***

Hermione groaned as Severus wrapped his arm around her waist and began to nuzzle at her neck.

“To whom are you writing?” he whispered in her ear.

“You don’t want to know,” she said, signing her name at the bottom of the parchment and summoning a small bottle from the storeroom.

Severus frowned as she caught the bottle and began to wrap it in brown paper. “Is that Murtlap essence?”

“Yes,” she said quietly. “Or you could call it penance, perhaps.”

He realised with a start that she was writing to Theo. “You think he deserves it?”

“No, I don’t think he deserves anything. But it will make me feel better,” she explained.

***

“That’s Hermione’s owl,” Theo said as Hans accepted the package from the large barn owl at the window.

Hans tossed the paper-wrapped package to his cousin. “Maybe you should actually read this one,” he suggested.

Theo fingered the parcel suspiciously. He shook it and could hear the unmistakable sound of liquid within. He tore the note from the wrapping and tossed the package back across the room to Hans. “You open it.”

Theo read his name on the slip of parchment, recognising his wife’s handwriting. It didn’t seem to be a Howler: it would have started yelling well before now. He crossed to the fireplace, and was on the verge of tossing the letter among the flames when curiosity overcame him. Ignoring his apprehension, he opened the note.

Dear Theodore,

Please find enclosed one small bottle of strained and pickled solution of Murtlap tentacles. You’ll find it eases the pain greatly. You will need it over the coming weeks, so I suggest you learn how to brew it. If you desire a permanent solution to our problem, you know where to find me.

Hermione.

It was almost as if she knew that he had finished reading her note. The second he’d read her signature at the bottom, his ring flared with intense heat. He dropped the piece of parchment to the ground and swore.

“Quick. A bowl,” he said to Hans, his jaw clenched in pain.

Hans Conjured a bowl and poured the yellow liquid from the unwrapped bottle. Theo lowered his hand into the solution and gave a sigh of relief.

“It works?” Hans asked.

Theo nodded. “The burning hasn’t gone completely, but it’s eased.”

Hans bent to retrieve Hermione’s note from the carpet and quickly scanning the contents.

“It’s definitely better than it was before,” Theo said. “But what the hell am I supposed to do? Go around with my fucking hand in a bowl every time my estranged wife fancies a shag?”

Hans frowned and glanced down at the letter again. “Hermione suggests that there’s a permanent solution to your problem.”

“And what’s that?” Theo hissed. “Chop my fucking ring finger off?”

Hans rolled his eyes. “You can be incredibly thick for someone supposedly so clever, Theo.”

“What’s the fucking solution, then?”

Hans smirked. “Get your ass back to London and get yourself a divorce, cousin mine.”

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Latest 25 Reviews for Denial

639 Reviews | 7.4/10 Average

10/10

Lumos

I have read this for zillenth time still love it as much as i did the first time

0/10

lulululu

I read and loved this story the first time around... mourned its disappearance, and just TODAY discovered it is back in its new form! I'm devouring it and so very very happy. THANK YOU!!!

0/10

lulululu

Ohhhhh..... So good again. I'm so sad it's over!! Back when the first version was up, I wrote a few notes about how much I loved your original characters. They have SO much life. Lance and Moe are amazing; bitchy Cordelia is amazing! You are so gifted. My heart is full of this story.

10/10

Shay14689

I just finished reading Denial. I'll admit, I did not read it the first time it was up, so I can't compare, but I just wanted you to know it was one of the best I've read in a while. I don't normally comment on stories, and I'm trying to get better about it. It made me sad when yousaid how it caused you such sadness to lose all your thousands of reviews from the first version. And I hoped that this would help make up for it a little, and I wanted you to know that I appreciate your sacrifice to bring us a better written story. :)
Sincerely,Shay

10/10

LMGurl

I must say that for being revised and edited I'm finding a lot of grammatical errors and/or typos in each chapter.

10/10

ssdawn

Beautifully written chapter as Severus realizes what he truly feels for Hermione. Excellent writing! Thank you for this story.

10/10

siage

Love the happy ending!!! It's perfect that Moe gets to help with the baby and check in on Lance. The future sounds promising - will we see Twice again? New work would be great, but as always my first love is for WMFL (edited or unedited), PLEASE!
Definitely my favorite fanfiction of all time.

10/10

Moyra

It’s been a great pleasure to read ‚Denial‘ again – has it been really five years? It was one of my favourites when you first published this story. You’ve done a brilliant job with the rewriting - it is more stringent, not each aspect spelled out elaborately in every little detail. Though I can feel with everyone who has to cope with miscarriage, the first time around the theme dominated the last part of the story to much in my opinion. I think it’s far better as it is now, probably thanks to your experience in writing.
Anyway, thousand thanks for all your time and energy you’ve put into ‚Denial‘ – please don’t remove it again. Or at least give us a little warning well ahead when you think it would be necessary for your RL endeavours in publishing – all the best with that, btw – so we are able to secure it for another read. And it would be truly wonderful to see more SS/HG-fics from you.

10/10

luvinthunder

Great story! Thank you for reposting. Good luck with your writing career.

10/10

Prof M McGonagall

This has been a delightful reread of your story! Thank you for reposting it! I believe I enjoyed it even more this time around.

10/10

Prof M McGonagall

That was a lovely proposal scene. *sighs happily*

10/10

HBAR

LB ... it has taken me so long to review this final (sniffle) installment, because I have been so pressed for time, and it would be unfair to give a drive-by review for a story that is so dear to my heart.

You've done an amazing job with this epilogue. Often times they are surplus to requirement, but this was so very necessary. At the end of the previous chapter, you feel hopeful for Severus and Hermione, and it could have ended there with us knowing they would likely be okay. But, there were far too many loose ends that would have been tragic to leave hanging.

I love that you don't shove any details down our throats, but instead, you show us a day in the life and slip in little comments here and there that let us know what has been going on, and the state of emotional affairs. Severus is being such a loving husband, exactly what Hermione needed after such a loss. They are so good together, and I suspect that will only grow year after year.

Lance and Moe ... after reading this story, they feel like family to me. They certainly are to Severus and Hermione. And true to form, Lance comes through for them with his gift of Moe. Nothing would have made the house-elf happier than to be around babies. And she is not going to leave Lance hanging by any means. It just isn't in her nature.

Hermione's parents learned of Severus and didn't react too badly. And Hermione finally had someone to share in her grief who knew exactly how she felt. I'm sure Padma and possibly others had plenty of love and sympathy for Hermione, but without having gone though a miscarriage, they can't exactly understand what she is going through.

Harry and Severus made nice. Not that they were at terrible odds or anything, but there was sort of a "Hermione is important to both of us, so we get along or else."

Theo came to the wedding, and I, too was touched by that. I don't know why it seemed so important to me, but somehow I suppose it was an official closure to the past, and even though they didn't need his approval, perhaps it was his way of atoning for leaving her in the first place. Regardless, it seemed important to me.

And sweet, sweet Neville and his lovely bride. I couldn't be happier for them.

I should stop rambling, but I can't imagine a better ending to what has been one of the most fulfilling rides in all of fanfic. I do hope that this is not the last we see of you in the fanfic and ofic world. Best of luck to you in both!

10/10

Lumos

Fantastic. I may just re-read AGAIN!
Thank you for re-posting this it has yet again been a pleasure.

10/10

Lkmaide

even better this time around.

10/10

ABMM6

I suck at comments/reviews, but I felt I had to leave one here. You are an amazing writer, and you've written an amazing story. I read the original years ago, and I thought it was great then. This version is even better. I'm so glad that you've decided to re-post it. I hope you never stop writing--whether it's fanfiction or your very own stories. I look forward to your future works!!!

0/10

moor

Thank you for adding this epilogue -- it was a wonderful way to tie up the story! :)

10/10

snapeophile

I've just read this wonderful story through to the epilogue and you've brought me joy, tears and laughter tonight--thank you for sharing your story and talent with us!

0/10

chowcats

Ohhhh..... Thank you little beloved for sharing all of this with us again. Thank you for sharing the story of why you hid it for a while. And thank you, thank you, thank you for the promise of future writing. You have really made my weekend. I wish you the very best with your original fiction... I hope we hear from you soon! --Ruth

10/10

AuntieL

What a touching insight into their pain and loss -- and hoe for the future. Thank you for such a lovely story.

10/10

pickles

thank you for a wonderful story

0/10

Kailin

This was one of my very favorite stories the first time around, and nothng has changed. It's simply wonderful. Best wishes as you try to become a published author, but meantime, follow that SS/HG plot bunny!

10/10

breastlady

As this story comes to an end, I am forced to think about the real world again and reflect on how very very fortunate Hermione Granger Snape is to have so many people who love her so much. I am very happy that Severus has found someone who loves him and is getting to have a real family. I thought of Hermione's trials and tribulations and was reminded that there are many people living in this world who are like Severus Snape than we would like to think about; people facing life alone, enduring awful problems with their health, with money and in sadness, without family or dear friends to comfort or advise them. Thank you for providing solace with your stories.

10/10

breastlady

So much unnecessary emotional pain in just 48 little hours. Hermione can't go through life wigging out every time she hits a hard place. It does affect others when she does this. I do hope that she develops some common sense and emotional self control as she matures. Severus has. He didn't rush into worse case scenarios when she disappeared. The old Severus would have realized he waited too long to let her know what happened, imagined she had washed her hands of him and would have retreated to his lair to lick his wounds with a bottle of fire whiskey. If Hermione had not rushed into imagining the absolute worst, without substantial proof, she would not have had to endure this alone.

Severus had promised her they would be together no matter what. She could have grasped onto that and held onto it. She didn't trust him. Yes, finding his things gone would have been quite alarming. But she knew he was asking for a divorce so that they could be together. Would it be out of the realm of possibility that Cordelia Mill would proverbially "throw all his stuff out on the lawn" over it?

Sure, she could be angry and hurt over him leaving her so long without a word, but she could have done something to distract herself while she waited to give him a piece of her mind and demanded an explanation. Yes, he said he didn't want children. I understand, she would be worried about telling him she was pregnant, but he has clearly demonstrated that he is not the old Professor Snape. He has shown himself capable of change. Unfortunately, he still hasn't done enough to earn Hermione's trust.

It would be tempting to want to hide and not face him with this new emotionally charged problem, but after all he has done for her in the last year, he deserved better.

Hermione still has some growing up to do. She hasn't actually been concerned about Severus' feelings. Hermione has only been able to be worried about her own feelings and her feelings about Severus' feelings as she imagines them to be, and how those feelings might affect her. He may have done a dumb "guy thing", but Severus' has mainly been worried about Hermione's well being and her feelings from the very beginning of the story.

10/10

braye27

*Sigh* It has been such a wonderful experience to be able to enjoy your story again. It has been our great fortune that you've come home and shared your talents with us once again.After reading the epilogue I recalled that the first time I'd read it, I left you a review about how I could see the happy future that lay ahead of Hermione and Severus--the beautiful family they would have and even their grandchildren. Your writing is so vivid and compelling that my imagination just runs away with me.I've been overcome with a fit of smiling ever since I read your comment about having "been bitten by a rather insistent plot bunny with an idea for a longer, chaptered SS/HG tale." Woo Hoo!!!May you enjoy every success in your ofic and your fanfic. I will be watching this space for the next one of your stories you post here.I remain your devoted reader,Beth