Making The Choice

20. Making The Choice

The risk of a wrong decision is preferable to the terror of indecision.

~ Maimonides

It had taken Minerva a little time to notice that things were different between Hermione and Severus. That they had both left the castle together on his birthday should have been the first clue. Catching Hermione in Severus' quarters on more than one occasion should have been another. But catching the two of them snogging in the curtained alcove by the Great Hall was the moment the sickle dropped, and she failed to take points from Slytherin and Gryffindor for the poor example set by her staff, simply because she was far too happy for them both. What had followed was the most romantic and intimate wedding, organised in tandem between Molly Weasley, Minerva and the house-elves, and six months after declaring their love for each other, Professors Granger and Snape were man and wife. Now things were official, Hermione had agreed to empty out her quarters. It wasn't clear where they would live long-term, but neither of them had a desire to teach and had tendered their notices to Minerva to leave Hogwarts a year from now, giving her ample time to fill their vacant posts and for them both to plan their future.

Hermione emptied out her desk. A pile of parchment, documents and official looking scrolls now sat on the table by the fire, ready for her to go through them with Severus. She scanned the almost bare dungeon and smiled to herself. This was a special place even though it was cold and uninspiring and she could only hope that the next occupant would find some happiness here, as she had.

'Winky,' she called out. The house-elf appeared with a smile on her face and Hermione couldn't help but smile back.

'What is Winky needed for, Mistress Snape?'

'Can you take this desk into my office and put if where the old one used to be, and then let Professor Snape know that I need him?' Hermione had not even finished her sentence before the desk and the elf disappeared with a light 'pop', so she turned her attention to the paperwork. There were research notes that might be useful at some point, so she put them to one side. There were her unsigned and undated Ministry agreements for the Polyjuice Project. Hermione put them to the other side. Their wedding certificate, sealed with Gryffindor and Slytherin colours, she lifted and held in her hand, and was wondering if they should get it framed when Severus stepped out of the Floo. Hermione looked up and smiled at him. He was wearing black jeans and a green, v-necked sweater, which meant one thing.

'Everyone gone?' she asked.

'Every last annoying, whinging, intrusive, nosy, cheeky, spotty one of them.' He grinned back at her.

'Thank goodness.' Hermione handed Severus her research notes. 'Start with these? If there is anything you think is worth pursuing, keep them. Anything you know won't work, incinerate it.'

'Whatever you say, dear,' Severus said dryly. He raised an eyebrow at her and sat beside her on the couch, nudging her shoulder gently. 'You're still bossy, you know.'

'Shush, Severus, I'm reading,' Hermione muttered between pursed lips. Her Polyjuice Project was in her hand. All the months of research, detailed accounts of the mistake they had made included. The important points about misuse and the risks involved. Her spells were clearly and painstakingly written out in long hand, alongside the diagrams of wand movements. Hermione frowned and shook her head.

'Severus, can I ask you something?' She turned to her husband, obvious concern in her eyes.

'Of course.' He put down the sheaf of parchment and took her free hand in his.

'Do you still feel different? I mean, of course, we're both different. We're married now, and being in love, that changes a person anyway. But after the trial, I noticed differences and I think they're still there. I'm no longer scared when someone takes out their wand, for one thing. That's something I have kept from being you, I think.'

'I see what you mean.' Severus looked over Hermione's shoulder as his thoughts drifted, and a smile played over his lips. 'I still have a taste for ketchup? Does that count?'

Hermione laughed and bent to catch his lips with her briefly. 'Idiot.'

'I think I laugh more, if that's the sort of thing you mean. I feel lighter, happier inside. And I don't think that is just because I have finally found my true love,' he said softly, stroking her face with his pale fingers. 'The things that used to make me irritable don't seem to affect me in the same way. I have more patience, I think.'

Hermione nodded in agreement. Severus had definitely mellowed, and she had never been quite sure what had triggered the change – her, or the Polyjuice. Perhaps it was both, but she would never know the real answer.

'This is what worries me. We have both changed because on some level, but we're fortunate in that the changes have all been positive.'

'Apart from the ketchup,' Severus interrupted.

'Be serious.' Hermione laughed again. 'Imagine that an Auror has to go undercover, to disguise themselves as someone they would never wish to be. A Death Eater, or a murderer. Now imagine that they have to be that person for weeks at a time. We know from experience that it can change the very nature of a person. I think I've created a monster, Severus.' Hermione shook her head and put the papers on to the table as Severus pulled her into a hug. He stroked her hair and started to kiss her ear lightly, and Hermione pressed herself against him as her fingers slipped beneath the edge of his jumper to find bare skin. She sighed as Severus started to speak.

'You are an incredible witch, Hermione. What you have created is incredible, too. But I have to agree with you. I have always worried about the use of this formula in the wrong hands, you know that. But it's not wasted research. You own this, so you can chose what you share and don't share. The Long-Life Polyjuice and the antidote are both viable products, but keep the spells to yourself. You'll probably never need them, but you'll know that you have them and perhaps that will be enough.'

Hermione shook her head against Severus' warm chest as he tightened his arms around her. 'No. I can't keep them. There will be a time when I'm no longer here, and who knows what would happen then. No,' she said, sitting up. 'There is only one way to do this.'

Hermione sifted through her papers and pulled out all of the sections detailing the personality spells. She withdrew her wand, and they disappeared in a puff of smoke. She immediately felt a weight lifted from her shoulders.

'Sell the Long-Life Polyjuice and the Anti-dote, Severus. The spell never existed,' she said with a smile.

Severus grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him, kissing her softly at first and then deepening the kiss, his fingers drifting from Hermione's slim neck to cup her ample breast.

'We have an hour before we leave for the hotel, wife. I have a few ideas on how we can pass the time,' he murmured. Severus nipped Hermione's nipple between his thumb and forefinger, and sucked at her soft flesh. He pulled away briefly and chuckled to himself.

'Don't tease, Severus,' Hermione said, squirming until she had pulled him on top of her and began to unfasten his fly. 'What were you laughing at?'

'I just remembered something else I've taken away with me from being Polyjuiced as you,' he rumbled against her. His hand slipped under the waistband of her jeans and he deftly unbuttoned them, sliding his fingers lower until they probed her moist lips, rubbing frustratingly close to her clit.

Hermione groaned, then slid her hand inside Severus' fly and grasped his hard cock firmly. 'Tell me,' she whispered huskily.

'Well,' he said, kissing her lips swiftly and slipping his tongue between her teeth, 'I know how to frig you until you're almost about to come... and then tempt your lovely cunt until you beg me to thrust home.' He smiled seductively as he dipped his head lower, sliding his wet tongue across her belly and then up, catching a pert nipple between his lips and sucking firmly.

'That's because you cheated and played with my body without permission. Don't think I didn't guess,' Hermione said, panting as Severus slipped his hand even lower and teased her entrance with the tip of his index finger.

'And you were totally innocent, of course,' he growled. He pulled his hand away and hooked his fingers around the top of Hermione's jeans, pulling them and her underwear downwards and trapping her knees with the bunched fabric. He shuffled downwards, and nuzzled at her lower lips, snaking his tongue out to lick her juices.

'Not innocent,' Hermione gasped out. 'Just wanted to know... Gods, Severus, please!'

Severus looked up into Hermione's face and grinned. 'My favourite know-it-all,' he growled, then he plunged his tongue into her, licking and flicking in turns, until Hermione came with a cry, her hips undulating forward and pushing her quim further onto his eager mouth. He watched with a smile as she finally collapsed back onto the sofa cushions, totally spent, her curls now loose and wild from her orgasm. Her eyes fluttered closed, and Severus felt his heart swell with love. He still couldn't believe she was here, with him, that they were married and planning a future together. He needed her as much as he needed to breathe. Taking advantage of the lull, he divested Hermione of the rest of her clothes, and then lay gently between her open thighs, resting his cock along her damp crease as he planted feather light kisses on her softly-parted mouth.

'Make love to me,' she whispered, gazing into his eyes.

He stared at her for a brief moment before shifting his hips and sliding into her tight heat with a low moan. He held himself there, feeling her muscles clenching, and he gasped as Hermione ran her fingernails over his bare buttocks and gripped him. Taking the hint, his started to move with slow and steady thrusts, and he lifted her hips beneath him. He curled into her, and then increased his pace, slamming himself deeply into her until they were both grunting and moaning incoherently. Severus felt his balls tighten and with a shout, he came, his semen coating Hermione's tight cunt in sure, steady spurts. Slowly, carefully he laid them both back down, being careful not to crush his precious witch and keeping himself inside her.

Hermione kissed Severus on his cheek and brushed his hair from his face. He opened his eyes, and smiled.

***

Daily Prophet ~ Exclusive Report

'Snapes launch revolutionary Polyjuice Potion.'

We can reveal that this project, developed exclusively for the Ministry Auror Office, was fraught with problems and issues and required the services of an exceptionally gifted Slytherin student, Miss Phoebe Gilroy, daughter of the highly respected Gaius Gilroy, to sort out the mess they created. For further details of this and another exclusive interview with Miss Gilroy on her new apprenticeship at St. Mungo's, turn to page 34.'