Sweet Dreams Are Made of Thee

I am so terribly sorry that it has taken me so long to update! I hope you will all forgive me, especially inna_chy, and that this is worth the wait. I must apologize to anyone who is offended by an OOC Snape, because he is very much so here. Enjoy. Please review!

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CHAPTER 3: Sweet Dreams Are Made of Thee

She looked so peaceful when she slept. There was a soft blush on the cheeks that were partially hidden by her curls. Those soft curls now tickled at the top of her shoulders, enough to remind Severus of the way she used to look. Four months ago, he never would have thought he would give in to the urge to twist the tendrils that played at the edges of her face around his fingers. And yet, he could not deny himself the indulgence. They felt like cool silk on his skin as he sat cross-legged on the floor beside the sofa. He could feel her warm breath on his face as she slept, one hand beneath her cheek and the other draped over her hip. This was his favorite time of day, when he could sit and watch her, a myriad of thoughts and feelings playing over her features as dreams swept through her mind.

"My Hermione," he whispered as he pushed a curl gently from her brow. Severus let his hand drop to the sofa near her head, his thumb lightly stroking through her soft curls. Streams of watery afternoon sun trickled through the window that was still streaked with rain. Even in the half-light, she looked gorgeous to him. He leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. "My beautiful Hermione."

She stirred and her blank honey eyes fluttered open as he pulled away, startled at nearly being caught. Hermione smiled lazily as she reached out toward him. The tips of her fingers flitted across his brow, easing the care worn lines that years of scowling had etched on his features. She traced the bridge of his nose and his high cheekbones, the strong line of his jaw and the soft curve of his lips.

He smiled against her fingers and kissed them before she moved to cup his cheek. "Did you sleep well, Hermione?" Severus said, nuzzling into her soft, warm palm.

She smiled again and sat up on the edge of the sofa. "Hmm mmm," she mumbled softly. "I think our walk exhausted me today. Has it stopped raining?"

Severus glanced over her head to the window. "Yes, but it looks miserable out there. I suppose I'll have to make dinner after all."

"We can always go to that little café tomorrow, Severus. I had a few delivery brochures in the kitchen somewhere," Hermione said, standing up and stretching luxuriously. "I suppose you haven't noticed them anywhere? Harry gets them when he picks up lunch, but I don't know why he leaves them. It's not as if I'm ever going to use them..."

Hermione sniffled and tried desperately to push back the tide of tears threatening to come out. She closed her eyes tightly and bit painfully into her bottom lip, hard enough to draw blood. It was no use, the tears had been held back far too long. The overpowering stress of hiding the fear and helplessness from Harry and Ron, of trying to be strong and brave in front of Severus. The tears came hot and shameful as Hermione buried her face in her hands. Her shoulders shook, and her breath came in shallow gasps as the salty drops blazed paths down her cheeks.

Something completely foreign and distressing pooled in his chest as Severus saw her resolve shudder and collapse. His heart skipped and nearly stilled at the tears streaming from her once bright eyes. Severus scrambled to his feet as the disconcerting urge to comfort her coursed through his veins. He gathered her close, wrapping his arms firmly around her. Hermione leaned into him, her face still buried in her palms and the backs of her hands pressed into his chest. She shook and sobbed in his arms as he rested his chin against the top of her head.

"I shall speak to Mister Potter about that. You needn't let it bother you, Hermione." Severus embraced her tighter and stroked her chestnut curls soothingly. "There's nothing wrong with crying if you feel the need. No one will think less of you for it. I certainly don't."

She sniffled and turned a tear stained face up toward his. As much as she had grown accustomed to seeing nothing but darkness, Hermione had never wished harder that she could see again. She longed to be able to look into those ebony eyes she had known for so long. She wondered if their harshness had softened over the years. "You don't?"

Severus smiled and kissed her forehead affectionately. "No, love, I don't. I think you have been through more than someone you age should have to endure. And you've come through spectacularly without losing yourself along the way."

Hermione sighed and clasped him around the middle, resting her cheek against his chest. The fabric of his shirt was soft and soothing against her skin. She smiled slightly at the thought of him in something other than his usual black robes. "I feel sometimes as if I have," she muttered softly.

He wrapped his arms tighter around her again. "The person you are is still here, Hermione. I can see her when I watch you going through your Braille books, desperate to learn. She's there when you're talking to Potter and Weasley. The Hermione Granger I knew has never left you. She has just changed and grown with what life has given her." Severus drew a deep breath and debated whether or not to give voice to the words echoing through his mind. "And I still think she is beautiful," he whispered.

The arms wrapped around his middle tightened perceptibly. "Severus..." she began, but the sound faded into quiet nothingness.

The soft sound of falling rain pelted gently against the window as the late afternoon shower revived. They stood in the soothing silence for a few moments, Severus listening to the sound of the rain and Hermione listening to the gentle beating of his heart. Suddenly he removed his arms from around her and took her by the shoulders, pushing her back from him. "Come with me," he said, grasping her hand in his own. Severus quickly set wards on her flat and Disapparated them outside.

It was mid summer, and the air was warm and heavy with the rain that fell in sheets like silk. It pattered against the ground and pinged off wastebaskets and railings. It washed over the two of them, standing in the middle of the empty street holding hands and turning their faces up to the sky like children. Their clothing clung to their skin, their hair plastered to their heads, their faces stinging with the falling droplets. Severus looked down at her as she stretched up on the tips of her toes and reaching her hand upward as if she were trying to grasp a handful of the bursting clouds. He smiled as she pulled her other hand from his grasp and began turning in slow circles, her arms up above her head and reaching toward heaven.

The sun peaked out from behind a retreating cloud and illuminated the sight before him. Hermione positively glowed as the light reflected off the water clinging to her skin and hair. His breath caught in his throat as he watched her, a smile stretching over her beautiful face and brightening her blank eyes. Her eyes crackled with excitement and pure joy as she reached out for him. His wet hand clasped her own and pulled her to him. Their soaked bodies stuck together as he cupped her face in his hands and pressed gentle kisses to her forehead and cheeks. He felt his heart stop when he finally kissed her lips, and his knees went weak when it finally started up again.

Hermione melted into him as he washed away her self-doubt with a soul-consuming kiss. One of his hands cradled the back of her head as the other snaked around her waist to pull her close, as much to anchor himself to reality as to give her reassurance. She was crying again as he ended their kiss, her tears of relief and joy mingling with the raindrops still streaming down on both of them. She smiled broadly and stood on the tips of her toes to kiss him lightly on the end of his nose. "I think you're beautiful, too, Severus."

For a moment, Severus felt his chest constrict tightly, the air forced out of his lungs, the beat of his heart held still. "As you wish, Hermione."

She giggled aloud and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you, too."

The restraint around his chest released, his lungs filled with air, and his heart began beating so rapidly it hurt. So this is love... he thought, gathering her up into his arms so that her feet were dangling off the ground and twirled her in slow circles, the rain washing new life over them.