Hermione's Tale

Part 13

The story now moves forward one month. Severus and Dobby had been honing their defensive skills on a horde of invading mice after Cissy, with the help of Andy, had removed the wards protecting the garden and the peacock seed. Cissy had not given the attending law officers permission to participate. It was during one such practice session that Severus received word that Hermione Granger wanted to see him. He arrived at her flat where he received a cordial welcome.

"It's midsummer's eve," he said. "You've chosen to meet me when the forces of good are exalted."

"Did it never enter your mind that I've made you a garland and planned to gambol away the long evening among the daisies?"

"Of course it did," he said. "I am wearing my gamboling outfit, but I know I must be patient since you will want to dispose of business first."

"Parvati has made twenty miniature brooms, and I have the relay transmitters," said Hermione, "and Luna has brewed a bottle of Pixle repellant. She says they take delight in thwarting adventurers, but a drop on each broom will keep them away."

Severus replied that he knew he could count on the team to be thorough. Andy and Cissy, telling the law officers they were making bibelots for a charity auction, had made good progress on sensors, although the scholar in Hermione might be disappointed to learn they were concentrating on locating precious metals. Hermione said the previous expedition had only found enough bullion to give each of the four witches a nest egg to invest for retirement and it hadn't improved their current lives.

He asked to see the relays and was rewarded by a display of enthusiasm. They took several of them to a nearby field with Hermione apologizing that the field was only large enough to test them over a short range and they needed to test them on a mobile platform.

"You finished your first year as an instructor and immediately began designing and building relays," said Severus. "You need a break. I'll put on the garland you made for me and we will hie ourselves to yon meadow with its babbling brook."

"You seek to call my bluff about the garland, but it will avail you nothing since all know the better ones are the fresher ones and the best are made on the spot by fair maidens. Hence, whisk me away to that patch of dandelion weeds and stain your outfit on the grass while I weave stems and feminine stratagems."

"You speak to my heart," said Severus.

"Do you have room for a heart amid your inhabitants?" asked Hermione.

"We have a soul turned romantic in its reconciliation of opposites," he said as he spread a quilt and pulled a melon and a bottle of Chablis out of his rucksack.

"Don't the Southwest Indians have healing rituals?" asked Hermione. "Couldn't they have driven out the spirits?"

"I invited Coyote Spirit and Crow Spirit on my own accord. The healing rituals are for those who realized they have transgressed and recognize the enormity of their error, but I have not yet reached that exalted state."

"You make it sound as if nothing can be done," said Hermione as she placed the garland on his head and stretched out beside him, "but I've always felt better knowing that someone was interested in my well-being."

"I feel relaxed," she said hours later as the sun set. "This was a good idea."

"Then you'll agree to rest tomorrow," he said, "and the day after come visit us at the Malfoys. We've mastered the wands found on a previous raid."

"What about the law officers? Won't they be suspicious?" she asked.

"They believe you to be a Child of Light and, hence, there to aid them by worming out of the Black sisters where they hid the contraband. It's mysteriously disappeared, and they're beginning to think there's a leak somewhere in the organization."

Part 14

Hermione appeared at the Malfoys as agreed, and those present gave her a good greeting. They had tea under a shade tree while Andy and Cissy asked her how she liked teaching. Dobby brought out the wands, and they asked Hermione to choose one.

Hermione examined several before saying, "I think this one will match my necklaces and earrings."

Andy and Cissy cheered and declared her to be a Black sister in spirit. It was a mark of good breeding to accessorize properly. Hermione said it seemed to be calling to her but she was hesitant to wield it. Severus replied that caution was good since the wands were potent, and that one might have gone rogue since they last tried it. He picked it up and suggested walking over to a small orchard where he could test it again. He pointed the wand at a flower on a fruit tree and obliterated it. Next, he pointed it at a small fruit and obliterated it. He handed the wand to Hermione who took careful aim at a small flower and obliterated the tree. Bark, leaves, and splinters rained down upon them.

She handed the wand back to Severus who pointed and obliterated two more flowers before returning it to Hermione. She took careful aim at a small fruit and obliterated another tree.

"I never realized how important it was to properly accessorize," he said.

They returned to the waiting group and described the trial. All assembled declared it a success. They had heard Hermione was fond of pineapples with whipped cream, and they would celebrate before she had to return to school.

"I'm sorry about the trees," she said.

"It only takes eight years for them to mature," said Cissy, "and we have more."

"Won't the officers be suspicious about the wands?" asked Hermione.

"They counted them when we arrived, and they will count them when we leave," said Severus. "Their job description is to seize suspicious Malfoy articles."

As Hermione was saying goodbye at the front gate, Severus said, "We may have deadly weapons, but we're not bloodthirsty. Let Dobby tell you about his idea."

"Dobby thinks we should use weapons of mass discouragement," said the elf.

"That, combined with Parvati's idea of using the brooms in an offensive manner, gave me the idea of delivering nonlethal potions by aerial means, either broom or levitation," said Severus. "I'll talk to Luna about developing more repellants."

Part 15

The story now goes forward two weeks. Severus, Hermione, Parvati, Luna, and Dobby were at a tract of wilderness owned by the Malfoys and testing the detection and relay devices. There were a number of abandoned dwellings clustered together. Severus mentioned that in the past when wizards were more numerous, people lived here and herded livestock. Hermione thought the structures could be put to use. It would be a place to teleport and store anything they found. Cissy and Andy visited the site several days later.

"We have talked this over," said Cissy, "and Andy and I will stay here while you are raiding. We can watch over the spoils as they arrive."

The others thanked them for their generous offer.

"It is little enough. We, too, would go raiding, but we cannot under the current circumstances," said Andy, "but if you would take some advice, I recommend practicing on your brooms for speedy flight."

Hermione, Parvati, and Luna said they had not thought of that.

"It is ever our way to push our luck," said Cissy, "and when you quit your quest, you may do so with the fiends of hell after you."

Part 16

The story now shifts to the second day of the quest. Hermione had climbed to the top of a small knoll to match the topographic map with the features of the terrain. The wind began to blow her hair around and into her eyes so that her vision was blurred and she could make out little except that no where else seemed to have a breeze. The wind became cold and it whistled past her ear and it formed a melody.

The secret of the wands you bear.

Hermione looked around but saw nothing. The wind hummed.

The real power of the wands. The key to the scrolls.

Hermione saw a dim shape. The wind sang.

The workings of the wizard staff. Lost in time. Wisdom from the ages. Knowledge beyond mortal comprehension.

Hermione saw a path leading to a strange figure. The wind piped.

More knowledge than now possessed. Revealed to you. Revealed to you alone.

Hermione began walking toward the beckoning image. The wind chanted.

Knowledge. Lost secrets. Arcane philosophy. Insight into all. Power.

The other two witches were gripping her arms and pulling her back. She was struggling to free herself. Severus was between her and the advancing form and waving his wand. Sparks were flying. Hermione was protesting that she had to open the book. Dobby stood forth and pointed his wand. There was a clap of thunder. Hermione and the other two witches were knocked to the ground. Severus was on his knees and screaming spells that hurt her ears. Lightning sprang from the tip of his wand to a multi-armed entity with gaping maw. Dobby hurled a soul-curdling curse. There was an implosion. There was quiet. Hermione looked around at the serene landscape. Birds chirped in the distance.

The party spent the rest of the second day examining the nearby sites located by the reconnaissance brooms. They woke the third day to the sound of distant drums.

Part 17

Dobby found Severus arranging pottery shards.

"They appear to be from the same period," he said. "The decorative designs are similar to each other, but different from the last site."

"The scholar in Severus is troubled," said Dobby, "even though we are marking each box we send back with its site location."

Severus replied that was something and it was probably the best they could do although the information was likely to be lost as they searched the items for objects of monetary value. There seemed no hope of a peaceful coexistence with the denizens of the region which was essential for a careful excavation; the government was not going to fund an organized expedition; and the girls needed seed money if they were to lift themselves out of their current existence.

"The girls are scholars, too," said Dobby. "They appreciate the scrolls and artifacts for their own sake."

Part 18

Dobby was standing guard when he gave the alarm. The others appeared and went into a defensive position. They considered the menacing shapes surrounding them and advancing toward them and decided they should use a weapon of mass discouragement. Severus attached a canister to a broom.

"Crow Spirit, be with me," he implored as he sent the missile on its way.

The broom dodged the stones the advancing horde threw at it and wove through their ranks as the canister slowly opened instead of exploding as it was designed to do. A greenish mist enveloped the natives. They were violently ill. They had diarrhea.

"Eww," went Parvati.

"Yuck," went Hermione

"It worked splendidly," said Luna.

"Thank you, Crow Spirit," said Severus. "I will smoke a pipe on your behalf."

They quickly packed what they could from their current site, teleported it, and moved to a new sector. They woke the next morning to discover the drums had a deeper beat and concluded new forces were being summoned.

Part 19

The story now goes forward three days and moves to the abandoned farm where the two custodians had made themselves comfortable. They came alert when the wards informed them that a party of five was approaching at high speed. Andy and Cissy and took their assigned positions on high ground overlooking a ravine. The fliers went single file into the ravine, around a hill, and between two boulders where they vanished as had been arranged. Andy and Cissy followed when they were satisfied there was no pursuit.

"Is any one injured?" asked Cissy.

"No," they answered.

"Is it over? Are we safe?" asked Hermione.

Cissy replied there had been no pursuit, that it was finished, and all was secure whereupon Hermione ran behind a shed, dropped to her hands and knees, and was sick. She rejoined them and apologized, but Severus stated that she had held up splendidly when it counted and they were all a bit shaky.

"What we all need is a good, strong tea," announced Andy.

"That wasn't funny, sister dear," said Cissy.

They opened the sherry and toasted their success. The three girls refilled their glasses and proceeded to the hot tub. Severus sat by the fire and merely sipped his drink.

"Is something wrong?" asked Cissy.

"I do not trust myself to relax," he said. "I will wait until I am safely home and out of sight of polite company."

Andy and Cissy protested that he should not do that alone in a gloomy part of London but that he should commune with nature on the Malfoy estate. He was welcome since he had taken over the raid and preserved the Malfoy reputation. Severus rose the following morning, ate a light breakfast, and took a bottle of Chablis to a nearby waterfall where he spent the morning. Hermione appeared at the Malfoys around noon and asked for him. She found him under a shade tree, dreaming the spray.

He gave her a friendly greeting but warned her that he was becoming unraveled. She said he looked composed enough, but he replied that he intended to spend the day at it and slide imperceptibly into a state unfit for refined society.

"I can warn you if any refined society appears," she said as she spread her own cloak beside him.

He waved his wand for another Chablis and another goblet. Hermione said she was surprised he wasn't drinking from the bottle to which he replied that unraveling was best if the proper forms were observed. She accepted his offer of wine and asked how this last expedition differed from his time in the American Southwest. He replied that she was the first to ask. He supposed it was because the American experience had damaged him. He finally said he had gone to America to temper his bitterness and to that end he had sought Potent Spirits. He had found them. She was moving closer and closer as he talked until no space separated them. He let her rest her head on his shoulder, and she soon fell asleep. He told the waterfall and the breeze that Hermione Granger had been working too hard. He told the birds in the sky and the animals on the earth that others beside him might need solace. He woke her several hours later when it began to rain.

"It's strange," she said. "I never knew spending time with someone would make me content."

Part 20

Hermione was at school the next day preparing for the beginning of the school year. At noon she sent a message to the Malfoys but they informed her Severus had returned to London. She knocked on his door that evening. He was surprised to see her, but he gave her a cordial welcome.

"I have been thinking," she said, "that I interfered with your unraveling."

He was amused. "A strange thing to apologize for, but there is no need. Your company was relaxing, and it was better than unraveling."

"I'm not used to hearing that, Severus. I think I make people nervous."

"You're talented and ambitious, and others aren't certain they measure up. That makes it difficult for them to see your kind-hearted nature."

"Severus, I don't know if I have a boyfriend or not."

Hermione put her hand in front of her mouth. "Forgive me. I shouldn't have blurted that out."

"Are you speaking to me as a friend, a neutral confidant?" he asked.

"I don't know," she said.

"If it helps, I consider you attractive."

She shook her head. "I know I'm not a beauty queen."

"Doesn't that make it better?" he asked. "It's your special beauty that attracts me."

He took her hand and sat her next to him.

"Did you never think that being with you was something special?" he asked.

She put his arm around her shoulders and snuggled into him. He sat motionless as Hermione relaxed into being with someone. Her hand was on his chest; she was nibbling on him.

Outside, crows were gathering.

Hermione was telling him he was brave and steadfast. She was kissing him softly. He was telling her she had healing power.

In the air, the crows were calling

Her body was warm against his. Nothing was more natural. She was squeezing her thighs together.

Overhead, the crows were circling.

Her kisses were demanding. Her fingers were gripping his shirt. There was a low moan and the girl was quiet.

Hermione leaped to her feet, out of breath and flushed. "I didn't ask you to do that."

He stood. "I am of dubious morality."

She took two deep breaths, took both his hands in hers, kissed him, and fled out the door.

He strode outside and looked up. "I know your ways, Crow. You would form a vortex and draw up the unwary."

He stepped into the shadow of a tree and said, "I owe Crow Spirit," and opened his trousers.

"You may have my first offering to Hermione Granger." His cock spurted into the air. "But ask no more for I know other spirits and not all of them are friends of Crow."

There was pandemonium overhead. The flock departed.

Part 21

The next day, Cissy asked Severus about Hermione. "She is much with you."

He replied that he was of two minds about the matter. She was a talented companion and splendid company, but their past had seen animosity, and everyone believed she had a boyfriend.

"Do you wish to bed her?"

He replied that he desired her more than any other even though he knew there were women who were more beautiful. But who knew what passion he would stir up if he broke through her exterior? Who knew what would burst forth?

"I think you have the right of it," said Cissy. "Her reserve hides fierce emotions. Does that attract you or repel you?"

"I will have to find out," he said. "Things happen beyond my control when I'm with her."

Part 22

Hermione faffed about her office the next two days. She visited Andy at work and took her aside.

"How do you resist a wizard?" asked Hermione.

"I'm not the person to ask," said Andy. "If I found a compatible wizard, I would put myself in his way. You could talk to Parvati. She thinks Severus is possessed by evil spirits."

"Both he and that elf are possessed, and that's what saved us when we went raiding, but they're dangerous." said Hermione.

Andy gave Hermione a close look. "Who are you trying to resist, Severus or yourself? Do you want to save him, or do you want the wild animal within?"

Hermione was silent.

"I fear, love, that you have been fighting yourself and your resistance is at an end. But you are right, being possessed can be terrifying."

Part 23

Hermione appeared at the Severus residence and received a cordial greeting. She accepted a tea and commented that his home was now more crowded than before.

"We and the others went raiding with you, but I'm afraid we are not now doing our part to sort through the spoils," said Hermione.

"I think all of you are doing what you can," said Severus. "Parvati and Cissy are working on transferring the bullion to the mundane market. The Malfoys have invested in the mundane world for centuries, and the Patils have business contacts everywhere. I trust them to do this well and honestly since both families want to preserve their good name."

"There's the scrolls and artifacts," said Hermione.

"The fate of the scrolls is almost amusing," said Severus. "Andy works in the Historical Artifacts Division, and Luna has joined her. It seems the scrolls are a record of ordinary life thousands of years ago, and they are using them to deduce the plant and animal life at that time. All her searching for exotic beings has given Luna a feel for ecology."

"And there's the recipes," said Hermione.

"They believe they've discovered the earliest known Ale Spell," said Severus. "They can't wait to try it out." He shuddered.

"There's the artifacts," said Hermione. "They would have more value if we knew what they did. We could photograph the more familiar looking ones, and I could search the school and Malfoy libraries for references."

"You would be the best candidate for that, but you might have to wait until you're familiar enough with your teaching duties that they have become routine."

"You don't want me to help," stated Hermione.

"I see I have not been a good host or a gracious companion," said Severus. "I meant by means of a warm welcome and attentive conversation to make you feel your company was desirable and I wished more of it."

"Just my company?" asked Hermione.

"Yes. Did you think you had to perform some sort of task to be accepted?"

"That's the way it's always been," she said.

"I want you to be here, and I want you to want to be here," said Severus. "I hadn't said anything because I thought people fell into that naturally, but perhaps I was wrong."

He took a breath. "But I can show you an interesting find. I didn't discover it until I opened a wood box. It's three stones. They're polished, and they are the deepest black I've ever seen."

He opened an old box to show her three polished, black stones. She had never seen anything so dark.

Hermione slammed the lid shut. "Those things are dangerous."

She looked at him. "You've been playing with them, haven't you."

"I've been examining everything," he said.

"Well, you shouldn't examine these," she said, taking the box from him.

"What are they for anyway?" she asked as she set the stones on the floor. "If there were four of them, we could orient them with the four cardinal points, but they're a puzzle."

She arranged them as an equilateral triangle and skipped around them and declared they must be good for something and their full benefit probably required dancing within their confines. Severus was pulling Hermione away from the power figure. She was struggling to return to the triangle. She was clawing at him as he put the stones back in the box. He held her as she yelled about new frontiers and fought to get free. When she was exhausted enough to quit struggling, he sat her on the couch.

She took a deep breath and said, "I told you those stones were too dangerous to examine by yourself."

He took her hand and said she was right. She made him promise not to do anything if she wasn't there to guard him. He promised. She said she wouldn't believe any promise unless he sealed it with a kiss. He gave her a chaste kiss on her forehead.

"More than that!"

He coaxed her into his lap. His fingertips were stroking her temples, and he was telling her she was beautiful. She was shaking her head and saying she knew she didn't have a full figure. He was telling her he preferred her athletic form. She asked if he was certain.

"I have refined tastes," he said.

She was biting her lower lip.

"Would you like to show off your figure?" he asked.

She blushed and nodded and began unbuttoning her blouse. He kissed her. He kissed her deeper. Her tongue was between his lips. Her top was off. She guided him to her breasts. Her fingers were in his hair.

"Would you like me to kiss all of you?" he asked.

She arranged herself on the couch. A tongue dispensing fire trailed the rising skirt. Flaring nostrils took in her scent. Eyes gleamed yellow at the sight of opening legs. She was pushing her knickers down. "You'll keep the animal under control, won't you?" she asked

"I'll try," he said.

Severus is entering Hermione. She is spreading wider. He is sliding in and out. Her face softens. She is pretty. He is all the way in. Hermione Granger is mounted. He looks into deep brown eyes. Her arms reach up for him. He is riding her. He is gentle. Her body moves as she makes small noises. All of Hermione, the whole woman, is overwhelming. She pulls him down to kiss him. He is lost in her affection. Severus cannot stop. He will not last.

"Coyote Spirit," he implores.

Old Man Coyote licks his chops. He will take Hermione Granger's first time.

Her body is moving with him. He is stripping her more than naked. She is afraid.

"It's too good. It's too good," she says

But her legs are wrapping around him. She is wet and slick and wonderful. He does not stop. She is smiling. He can feel her intimate ripples. Gentle as the merciful rain. He holds her. Severus is right. This is the most desirable of all women. He can feel her heart beating. He comes inside her.

Later, Hermione was staring at the floor. "Are you going to leave me now that you've had your way with me?"

"Why should I leave you?"

"Oh, you want more nooky. Was I fun? You were a sarcastic man, and now you're a predatory wizard."

"That's true," he said. "You would have a better life if you left."

"So, you do want me to leave."

"No, I want you to stay."

"What do you really want?" she asked.

"A life enhanced by you."

"I don't know if I can live that way. That's scary. I'll be crushed if it goes wrong," she said.

"Do you want to take a chance?" he asked.

"Okay, but you have to be nice to me. You have to sleep with me and cuddle me."

Severus woke the next morning and checked the bedroom rug.

"Of course," he told the creature, "I expected a cat."

He fell back asleep but woke a little later to find Hermione looking at him.

"I didn't hear any drums," she said.

"Drums?"

"Every night since I returned, I've had nightmares filled with drums and monsters," she said, "but they're gone."

The feline saw her give him a kiss of gratitude, saw her pause, saw her give him a kiss of affection. Its eyes widened as it saw her response, saw her hesitation, saw her resistance crumble. Its ears pitched forward at her soft sounds. Its whiskers twitched with her ecstasy.

The cat was on the breakfast table as the couple sipped their tea. Hermione was gripping her teacup.

"I can't do it. I can't do this," she said.

"I'm not ready for this," she said as she stood and grabbed her cat.

He waved goodbye as the girl fled into the bright new day.