Forvever Love

A/N: Happy Update Day

19. Forever Love

"The very first kiss with your Prince will change your life. When your lips touch for the first time, the earth will feel like it stops moving, but in the same moment, the world around you spins. It'll feel like fireworks in the night sky. Like a bright light in the darkness. You'll feel your heart beat fast in your ears but silence will surround you. And when you pull apart and open your eyes and look at each other, and really see each other. You'll know it in that moment, through that kiss, that you've just let someone own a piece of your heart, and you'll live happily ever after." ~ Jay McClean, More Than This

Hermione dressed slowly. Her legs ached, but more than that her heart ached. She had promised Harry and Ginny that she would visit on Boxing Day, but she desperately wanted to stay with Severus. Now that they had found each other she had no desire to part from him, especially when he was lying naked in bed with his long legs on show and only a sheet to cover his midriff. He rested his head on his arms as he watched her with his hooded gaze, his hair a mussed mess. Hermione thought he had never looked sexier.

'You could come,' she said quietly, knowing what his answer would be.

'Not this time,' he said. 'You understand why.'

'I do. It's okay,' she sighed. She pulled her t-shirt over head and then turned to him, grabbing his hand with hers. 'Is it too soppy to say that I'll miss you?'

'Probably,' Severus said with a soft smile. He turned his palm and threaded his fingers through hers, and Hermione stared at their joined hands, feeling tears threatening to spill. She squeezed his hand and stood.

'If I don't go now I'll never want to leave.' She bent in and kissed him, shocked when his hand came up to cradle her head as he deepened the kiss and slipped his tongue between her lips gently. Hermione sighed and fell into the kiss, allowing him to explore her mouth, until she reluctantly pulled away. 'I'll try to hurry back, I promise,' she said, a little sadly.

'Good. Now shoo,' Severus said with a chuckle, waving her from the room with his hand. Hermione grinned at him, and felt silently grateful that he was making it easy on her. Deep down she knew that he didn't want her to go either. With a huff she walked into the sitting room, grabbed the pile of gifts she had waiting and Floo'd to Godric's Hollow.

***

Severus was pacing. For the first time in he couldn't remember how long, he was lonely. Hermione had been gone just over an hour and already he was missing her like she would never return. He had tried to read, but he couldn't concentrate of the text. Instead, his mind wandered to the previous day, to thoughts of Hermione's glorious breasts and the feel of him inside her.

He wondered if she had told Potter. He guessed probably not given that she was still with them and hadn't been ejected due to her obviously poor taste in men. He could just imagine the conversation, but it wouldn't do to wallow. He loved her, and she loved him, and thanks to his time in her body, he knew this to be true. He had felt drawn to her when she was in his guise, had found her attractive, had admired the swirl and billow of her robes and had felt the urge to kiss his own lips. These were Hermione's feelings, and the thought of it settled in a warm, happy sensation in his stomach. He smiled. He was happy. Truly happy. All thanks to Hermione. His mind drifted again to the swell of her lower lip, made fuller thanks to her sexy habit of biting it, and he had the urge to pull it with his own teeth and lick his tongue across it. It was almost an hour and a half since she had left him. An hour and a half too long. Severus grabbed his travelling cloak and left for the Apparition point just beyond the castle gates.

***

Hermione sat nursing her glass of wine, not really listening to what Ginny was saying. The house in Godric's Hollow was cosy and comfortable, and Harry had made a great job of redecorating and remodelling the interior to suit their needs. A Christmas tree sat in the corner of the warm lounge, fairy lights twinkling in time with the wizard stereo that was playing something suitably Christmassy. James was sleeping peacefully in his Moses basket, and Ginny kept bending over him to stroke his soft cheek. All of this was going on around her, but Hermione just wanted to be with Severus.

'Sickle for your thoughts,' Harry said, nudging her with his toe.

Hermione smiled. 'Nothing, really. I'm still getting used to being back in my own body, you know?'

'I still can't believe you had to live as Snape!' Ginny let out a peel of laughter. 'Oh my God, I've just realised. You must have been naked for some of that! Tell me, does he really keep the snake of the dungeon in his trousers?' She broke off again as a fit of the giggles took hold. Hermione was thankful that Ginny didn't notice her blush, but she had forgotten just how observant Harry could be.

'I'm sure Hermione doesn't want to think about that. Must have been a bit weird though, going to the loo as Snape?' Harry grinned, knowing that he was just embarrassing Hermione further.

'Can we change the subject?' Hermione was starting to feel uncomfortable. Now that she and Severus were together she had no desire to talk about his nakedness or his privates, even though to her mind they were well worth talking about.

'I'll grab some more wine, I think.' Ginny was sitting on the floor between Harry's knees but stood and walked through to the kitchen. Harry looked at Hermione out of the corner of his eye and Hermione pretended not to notice.

'How is Severus, anyway? I take it you couldn't persuade him to come?' Harry smiled knowingly and Hermione rolled her eyes. She decided to tell him everything and make him swear not to tell Ginny yet, when there was a firm knock at the front door. Harry frowned at Ginny as she walked back into the room with a bottle of wine, a tray full of cheese and biscuits and a large bar of Honeyduke's Luxury Caramel Spice chocolate. 'Are we expecting anyone?' he asked.

'No. Unless it's Neville and Luna? I did tell them you would be here, Hermione. I hope you don't mind?' Ginny handed the chocolate to Hermione and sat back down beside her.

Hermione smiled at the thought of Neville and Luna. They had been a couple since the end of the Final Battle and being together seemed to bring out the best in both of them. Hermione hadn't seen them in ages, and she looked up expectantly as Harry came back into the room.

He coughed lightly and shrugged. 'It's for you, Hermione.'

'For me?' Hermione shook her head. The only person who knew she was here was... 'Severus?'

Harry nodded and grinned as she leapt to her feet and pushed past him to the door. Severus stood on the front doorstep, looking awkward and almost shuffling from foot to foot. Hermione hurried to him and immediately put her arms around his neck, kissing him firmly and letting her fingers trail through his hair. She felt him sigh in obvious relief as he returned the kiss with enthusiasm, his arms tightly around her waist as he pulled her firmly against him.

'So glad you're here,' Hermione gasped between kisses. 'I missed you so much.'

'It was only an hour and thirty-five minutes,' he said through smothered lips. His tongue sought hers, and Hermione moaned and shifted her legs to straddle one of his thighs. There were too many layers, too much clothing, and she couldn't get close enough to frot against him.

'I think you need to let the poor man breathe, Hermione.' Harry stood in the hallway, a look of amusement on his face. Hermione pulled away from Severus sheepishly and blushed at the look of mortification on his face.

'Shut up, Potter,' he muttered. 'I was about to die a happy man.'

Hermione giggled and Harry let out a laugh. 'Not on my doorstep you don't. Come in, Severus. Have some wine with us,' Harry said warmly. He noticed the unsure look that passed between Severus and Hermione and said 'Please?'

Hermione smiled at Harry over her shoulder and pulled Severus forwards. He followed, much to her relief, and they headed back into the cosy sitting room.

***

Eight days later, Hermione and Severus sat at the head table in the Great Hall, finishing their evening meal and making small talk with Filius, Pomona and Minerva. They had spent the day preparing for the returning students with heavy hearts, knowing that the bubble they had been in since Christmas day was about to burst. For over a week they had barely been apart, spending most of their time in Severus' quarters, apart from New Year's Eve, when Severus had Apparated them both to London. They had eaten in a small, intimate restaurant, and then stood in St James's Park to watch the fireworks. They had talked, made love, read together and soaked up each other as much as they could before having to go back to reality. They needed to tell Minerva that they were together, but decided to wait. They weren't sure what the fall out would be, so in the meantime, they decided to be as discreet as possible and use the Floo to travel between their quarters.

Severus felt Hermione nudge him slightly with her foot, their given signal that it was time to depart. He heard her say her goodbyes to Filius and Pomona and felt her chair shift.

'Goodnight, Professor,' she said quietly.

He nodded at her and muttered, 'Granger,' before turning back to Minerva. He was stilled by the amused look on the Headmistresses face and looked back at her innocently. 'What?'

'Honestly, Severus. You and Hermione have spent the best part of this year together working on her project. Do you think you could try to be a bit nicer to the girl? I think if you gave her a chance you could even be friends.' Minerva shook her head and turned back to her dessert, and Severus had to turn away to stifle a laugh that was desperately trying to escape. He disguised it by coughing loudly until the urge went away, and Minerva clapped him hard between the shoulder blades.

'My thanks, Minerva. Next time you want to kill me, perhaps you should suggest I marry the chit?'

He shoved his chair back in what seemed like a fit of pique, scowled at everyone and marched swiftly from the hall, until he let the doors close behind him and dissolved into a heaving fit of laughter.

***

Hermione checked the time and smiled. She lifted her beaded bag, and stepped into the Floo. 'Severus Snape's quarters,' she said firmly.

She arrived gracelessly at the other end, stumbling over the hearth as she went. She was immediately caught by long, strong arms, and smiled up at him. 'Hello,' she said. 'Thank you for catching me.'

Severus smiled at her. 'I'll always be here to catch you.' He bent to kiss her softly, and she smiled beneath his lips.

'Do you think it will always be this perfect?' She grinned up at him as the look of wonder crossed his face. She was still surprised by his almost disbelief that they were together, and it made her love him even more.

'Define always,' he murmured, bending to nuzzle her neck and planting kisses against her skin that made her shiver in anticipation.

'Always, forever, never ending... You and me, and no-one else for either of us, ever,' she whispered.

She felt Severus still against her and he pulled away to stare into her eyes. 'You mean that, don't you?'

'You know I do, you git.' Hermione poked him in the stomach playfully and he grabbed her hand before she can do it again.

'Fine then. Yes. It will always be this perfect,' he grinned at her. 'But if you poke me again I shall have to spank you.'

Hermione flushed and her mouth opened softly. She dropped her beaded bag, looked Severus in the eye, poked him hard, and ran.