The Duel and Aftermath

Severus Snape moved to the center of the quickly deserting street, both eyes firmly on the fuming platinum blond man before him.

"Severus, concede now and let me take the girl. I'm sure there are plenty more muggleborn students of yours you can petition," he said as he approached the other man.

"Hermione," Snape said without taking his eyes off Lucius, "get back to Hogwarts, NOW."

"How touching, keeping your mudblood out of danger, Severus?" drawled Lucius. He followed with a snap of his wand and shouted, "Diffindo!" A stream of light shot from his wand and sliced across Severus's torso, slicing through his robes, shirt and into flesh with a spurt of red.

"Expelliarmus!" Snape shouted in return, but Lucius was too quick with his own "Protego!"

Hermione couldn't leave. She watched as Severus's shirt flapped open and the blood flowed from the gash across his chest. She did, however, back away out of his sight.

"Incendio!" Severus shouted and aimed the jet of fire to the feet of his attacker.

"Locomotor

Mortis!" Lucius shouted at the same time.

Severus's legs snapped together from their former wide dueling stance and he toppled, but managed to fall in a seated position. The flames from his curse caught Lucius' trousers and lower hem of his cloak on fire. He put it out after only a moment, but his legs had been badly burned in that time.

Severus aimed from his seated position in the street, shouting, "Diffindo!" Lucius had been rising from his position as he was crouched aiming a spell to douse the flames around his shins and Severus's slicing spell cut through the long platinum blond hair and into the side of his face. Malfoy recoiled and drew a hand to his face where he had been cut, giving Severus just enough time to cast a counter curse and once more regain the use of his legs. He flew to his feet and they stood poised to attack or defend.

Severus was beginning to feel dizzy and sluggish from the blood loss, though the adrenaline counteracted the effect somewhat for the time being. The gash across his chest wasn't too terribly deep, but it was long and he was careful not to slip in the slippery puddles which were forming around his feet and he tried to ignore the hot stickiness which flowed down his front and through his pants. Lucius Malfoy wasn't looking good. His fine trousers had patches burnt away under his knees and he could see the blisters rising quickly from the burns. The formerly long blond hair was now cut at an odd angle along his scalp and several thick locks of white-blond hair lay scattered about him along with splashes of deep crimson.

He knew he had to act quickly, Malfoy was nearly his equal in dueling and he could not allow him to win. Duels to the death were rare, but he had no doubt that Lucius intended to kill him. It was something of a surprise that he would risk his own life to win Hermione; but perhaps his inflated ego caused him to overestimate his skills and he thought that he was superior to Severus in his dueling skills.

"Expelliarmus!!!" they both shouted together. The two spells struck simultaneously and they each flew backwards with the force of the blast. Snape hit the cobblestone street with force enough to knock the breath from his lungs and for a moment he felt paralyzed. He drew his strength together and scrambled to his feet and saw Lucius doing the same. For a frantic moment, they both looked around for their wands.

Snape saw his lying near a potted plant by a store entrance and rushed to retrieve it with a quick glance to Lucius who was getting to his feet. Wand retrieved, he pointed it back to Lucius who came rushing towards him in an insane, wandless, rush.

"Petrificus To...." Snape was cut off, mid-curse as Lucius leapt through the air with a roar and tackled him bodily. They fell to the ground with a crash and Severus felt a sickening thud and a bright flash of light and pain as his head hit the street. He was dazed for a moment, but it was long enough for Lucius to reach under his cloak. He reacted quickly, grabbing the wrist of his attacker which wielded a dagger. He didn't have time to think of the absurdity of Lucius Malfoy stooping to muggle street-brawling.

"She's mine Severus, give her to me now and live," he growled as they struggled.

"No," Severus gasped as he brought a knee up to Malfoy's groin and gave a quick jab to his throat. Malfoy was thrown off but lunged back with a desperate slash which landed on Severus's inner thigh. Pain lanced through his leg and his body as blood spurted from the wound in a high arc. With his other leg, he pulled back and kicked Malfoy full in the face, toppling him backward.

He leveled his wand and pointed to his legs again and stated "Brachia Ermendo!" Lucius attempted to get up, but his boneless legs merely writhed on the ground sickeningly. Severus Snape looked over at the pathetic figure...it would be so easy to end it now, there were too many witnesses to use an 'Avada Kedavra' but there were other spells...something to keep him permanently out of the picture...and then he realized what it would be. "Obliviate!" he said firmly. The memory spell could be used in varying strengths and he took the opportunity to get him out of the picture once and for all. Lucius Malfoy wasn't dead, but in effect, he may as well be. He watched with satisfaction as the spell hit and Malfoy collapsed in the street, his head made a pleasing thud on the cobblestone.

"Professor!" Hermione shouted as she ran to him...the duel was over now. It had been fierce and quick. Severus closed his eyes as a wave of dizziness overwhelmed him.

"Miss Granger..." he gasped, "You were supposed to go back..." he said as sternly as he could.

Hermione took in the scene...the front of his robes were open and the gash in his chest was seeping copious amounts of blood. A wound in his thigh was spurting blood...she immediately realized it was a punctured artery and wasted no time in applying pressure to his upper inner thigh. Her parents had insisted on advanced CPR training during her summer breaks, and even she knew that there were times a wand wouldn't necessarily solve everything.

"What are you doing?" Severus asked weakly, his voice was hoarse and distant and he was having difficulty in keeping his eyes opened.

"You have a severed artery," she explained as she reached for her wand, "I'm going to help you." Hermione muttered a gentle cleaning spell over the wound and clamped down on her tongue to keep focused and to stave off the wave of dizziness and nausea. The wound was deep, and she could see the torn muscle before the wound was filled once more with blood. The pressure on his femoral artery was enough to stop the spurting, but the veins which filled his leg were emptying quickly. She quickly thought of a healing spell and was relieved to see the muscle knitting together. It was a stop-gap measure, but it would hold him together until she could get him to a medi-witch.

She looked behind her when several pops filled the air. Aurors were apparating to Diagon Alley. Someone had apparently flooed the ministry to call them in.

"What is going on here?" asked a stern looking man with short-cropped brown hair as he quickly walked over to where Hermione was crouching near her fiancé.

"A duel, Watson," Snape intoned after he had glared at the auror for a few seconds. Hermione looked to him with surprise.

"Professor Snape, sir," the slightly startled auror acknowledged...apparently he had known him from school.

"Malfoy challenged me to a duel over a disagreement regarding my recent engagement," he explained, quickly gaining his professorial tone.

"Your engagement, sir?" he nearly squeaked.

"Watson, do you typically carry out your investigations with this level of futility?" he bit out.

"No sir, sorry sir," he said hastily and tried to recover what was likely his typical air of authority on the job, "Brudnell, get this man to St. Mungo's," he ordered, pointing at the prone, unconscious form of Lucius Malfoy. "Pearson, get eyewitness statements...you too Grundy." The other aurors snapped to follow directions and Malfoy was apparated away by one auror while the other two started calling out to several concerned bystanders.

"Professor Snape, I will apparate you to St. Mungo's...you look as if you could use immediate attention, sir," he said as he crouched down next to his former professor.

"In a moment, Mr. Watson. Hermione, you seem to have misplaced your bag, and if you would gather mine as well," he directed in a voice which only slightly betrayed the strain it took to remain conscious.

"Oh...yes, of course," she answered and looked around for the bags containing their wedding apparel. Though he looked nearly ready to pass out, he retained the ability to think clearly, and insult former students, even in the midst of it all. She found her bag near the storefront with the decimated sign, and his bag a few feet away. When she returned she could see that Severus was struggling to hold his head upright, yet he continued to give his rendition of events to the auror.

"We need to get you to St. Mungo's sir," the auror said.

"I would prefer to return to Hogwarts, Mr. Watson. I trust you can perform a double apparation without causing a splinching incident?"

"Yes sir."

"Good, apparate Miss Granger to the Hogwarts gates and then return directly for me," he directed.

"Sir, I can't leave you here like this, I'll take you first."

"No," Snape snarled, "You will take Miss Granger directly to Hogwarts. Lucius Malfoy was intent on acquiring her by any means as his unwilling bride, and he may have associates waiting for us to leave. You will take her first," he ordered. It may not have worked had the auror not known through seven years in Professor Snape's classroom that even covered in blood and near unconsciousness as he was, Professor Snape was not to be trifled with.

"Very well then sir," he answered stiffly. "Miss Granger," he said as he stood and faced Hermione, "I'll be right back for him," he said as he placed a hand on her shoulder and apparated them directly to Hogwarts front gates. Hermione blinked with the sudden change and just as soon as she had her bearings, the auror Watson apparated away. She waited only half a minute before he returned, this time with kneeling with Professor Snape on the ground. He took one look around and finally ceased his struggle to remain awake and alert. He slumped back and Mr. Watson caught him then performed a "Mobilecorpus," and ran quickly to the entrance of Hogwarts to deliver Severus Snape to the care of Poppy Pomfrey. Hermione followed at a slower pace, and by the time she reached the infirmary Watson was exiting and asked to speak with her.

******

Hermione got back to her room late Sunday afternoon and collapsed on her couch. She'd had several more "interviews" with aurors which seemed more like interrogations as well as a long talk with Professor Dumbledore who seemed to be confident that she would be much safer now that Lucius Malfoy was out of the picture, but he had also warned that trouble may come from his son.

Draco had been informed of the duel, and of his father's incapacitation. He was still underage, but would inherit control of the Malfoy fortune upon reaching majority later that year. He had left Hogwarts to visit his father, but he would likely return soon, and Hermione was warned to stay in the company of friends or with her fiancé when he did. The Headmaster would do his best to keep Draco under constant surveillance, but caution was still the best policy even within the halls of Hogwarts until Draco was gone from Hogwarts for good.

Lucius Malfoy had regained consciousness, she had heard from one of the Aurors, in St. Mungo's with boneless legs and complete unawareness of who he was. She remembered that moment in which her fiancé had paused before casting the Obliviate curse...she was sure he would have killed him, but he hadn't. However, she did realize later that the killing curse would have landed him in Azkaban, legal duel or not.

She had asked to see Severus, but had been told he preferred to recover alone. She wanted to thank him. Severus Snape had held true to his agreement to protect her even after the obvious danger had passed, even as he lay bleeding and in intense pain in the street he had thought of her safety first.

Of course, that was what this whole arrangement was about, but she felt safer now. She knew Lucius Malfoy was dangerous, but the duel in Diagon Alley really brought to reality the seriousness of the situation. He couldn't hurt her now...but there was still Draco to deal with and after seeing Severus in action she felt much more confident. There had been a worrying moment or two in the duel, but he had held his own and had defeated Lucius. If there was a next time, she knew he would be prepared for that as well.

She jumped slightly when she heard a knock on her door. Sighing deeply, she crossed the room to open the door, wondering who it was this time to offer condolences on her impending doom. She was relieved to see Ginny Weasley standing in the doorway, looking concerned.

"Hey Ginny, come in," she said as she opened the door wider to admit the youngest Weasley.

"I just wanted to see how you were doing...I heard about the duel and all," Ginny said with genuine concern.

"I'm fine now. There for a bit of it I wasn't sure who was going to win...but Malfoy will be joining Gilderoy Lockhart in St. Mungo's spell damage ward."

"Really?"

"Yes...Professor Snape obliviated him, directly after he removed all the bones in his legs," she said with a bit of a smile at the memory.

"Wow...that's good," Ginny said with a little giggle as she took a seat in the head girl's room. "I heard he's in the hospital wing though," she said, face sobering. "Is he going to be alright?"

"Yes...he looked really bad yesterday, but Madam Pompfry told me he'll be fine in a few days. Mostly he's dealing with blood loss and some nasty cuts. I did a little bit of healing on him before we came back to Hogwarts, right after the duel. He was bleeding so much..." she shuddered at the memory of all the blood.

Ginny nodded seriously before asking, "So...did you get the ring?"

"No...I did get a dress, and he got something to wear for the wedding too, but Malfoy attacked us when we were on our way to the ring shop."

"So have you thought about what kind of ring to get?"

"I'm really not sure, Ginny. I don't even know what all the stones mean. Being muggleborn and all you know...most of the wedding rings I've seen were gold and diamond, and occasionally some variations. You know, they've got Muggle studies, but they really should have 'introduction to wizard society and customs' for us muggleborns."

"Okay...well, I'll give you a rundown. First, the cut of the stone determines it's symbolism as well as the type of stone it is. Wedding bands usually have several different kinds of stones and often the stones associated with the various wishes for the marriage are square-cut to symbolize the building blocks of the marriage. Usually you would also have a larger, central stone in a round cut which symbolizes encompassing all aspects. Take my parents for example, diamonds are for true love...my parents have diamonds as the center stone of their rings flanked by rubies for passion," Ginny said.

"Well that's out...this isn't any kind of a true love marriage," Hermione said a bit sadly.

"You're right Hermione...but think of it this way...you choose based on what you hope to have in the marriage...you may not have true love now, but the kind of ring you get has magical properties to help guide the marriage in that way. So, what are your hopes?" she asked.

Hermione thought on it a moment. "Well...I suppose first of all this is based on protection...so something that signifies that...and another hope is that we'll tolerate each other..."

"That would be sapphire...they're believed to promote tranquility, peace, and amiability, and to suppress wicked and impure thoughts," Ginny recited.

"Now that would be good..." Hermione said thoughtfully, and then amended, "tranquility and peace for Professor Snape would be helpful." She hoped Ginny didn't press the issue on the 'wicked and impure thoughts' part.

"I thought you said he was being nicer about things?"

"Yes...but it's still Severus Snape...my fiancé...oh gods," Hermione sighed and buried her face in her hands. "I'm going to spend the rest of my life with Professor Snape."

"What about passion?" Ginny asked suddenly.

"Passion? With me and Professor Snape?"

"Well Hermione, you will be married to him for the rest of your life. I know you may not think of him like that now...but that is something you may want to think about," she said seriously. She got a gleam in her eye and smirked after a moment and continued, "I mean, I've always thought there was something intense lurking under all that black wool and scowling sarcasm."

"Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Well you are going to be married to him...I know the law says you have to...well, do it once a week. You should at least enjoy it!"

"Well...I guess..."

"You absolutely should. Just because you'll be married to Professor Snape is no reason you shouldn't enjoy some aspects...it really can be too nice not to enjoy," Ginny said with a faint blush and a smile.

"Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed again.

"Oh come off it Hermione, I wasn't going to stay a virgin forever," she said with an air of play exasperation. "Oh wait...you've never..."

"No, I haven't," Hermione admitted.

"Oh...well, take my word, it's quite nice," Ginny said. Hermione was quite surprised with Ginny's assurances on the positive aspects of carnal knowledge.

"So you and Harry?"

"Actually....no," she said and blushed. "It wasn't anyone from Hogwarts...a muggle actually."

"A Muggle?" Hermione was shocked. "But when? How?"

"Well, this past summer I spent some time touring muggle London. I had already decided I wanted to well, lose my virginity, but I had also heard enough to know I didn't want it to be with someone who wouldn't know what they were doing. So, I met this guy...an American on vacation actually, from Texas...his accent was really nice," she said with a wide smile and deeper blush, "and he was agreeable to helping me."

"Oh gods Ginny...I can't believe this! You just went and jumped some poor helpless muggle?" Hermione was laughing now.

"Well...I wouldn't say he was poor or helpless. He had quite a, ah...commanding...personality. That and he wanted to see my drivers' license because he didn't believe I was of age."

"But you don't have a driver's license Ginny," Hermione stated in confusion.

"Hermione, do you think I would roam muggle London without the appropriate muggle identification? Before I left I transfigured one which stated that I was eighteen, just in case I wanted to order drinks while I was out."

"But still, he asked for your drivers' license? Isn't that a little weird?"

"I thought so too...but apparently he didn't want to get in any trouble...said something about 'jail-bait'"

"Well then...so how was it?"

"Very educational," Ginny said and both girls burst out in giggles. To Hermione, it felt as if there could be some normalcy...she hadn't had a chance to really laugh and talk since she had learned of the new law and she had missed it. She was sure Ron and Harry would get over it soon enough and life would be back to something similar to what it was before.

****

Severus Snape eased into his seat at his desk in front of his classroom Monday morning. He usually went for the dramatic entrance, but the limp he was currently sporting would diminish the effect. Albus had tried to convince him to take a few days off of teaching, but he had refused. He'd been hurt worse than this before and had survived just fine. He considered a pain-killing potion again since the last was wearing off, the deep aching across his chest and in his thigh were becoming distracting, but the pain-relief potions tended to dull the wit and senses...he would take it after classes today and woe unto any student who stepped a toe out of line in his class.

The clock struck nine and he used his wand to unlock and open the door of his classroom for the students to enter. His Gryffindor/Slytherin double potions seventh year class entered quietly and took their seats. He looked up to see Hermione looking at him, apparently worried. He hadn't allowed her to visit him in the infirmary, he never allowed anyone but Poppy and Dumbledore to see him in that sort of weakened state and he would make no exceptions for his fiancé.

"You will be brewing a blood-replenishing draught today; directions are on the board, ingredients in the storeroom. Begin," he instructed the class. The blood-replenishing draught wasn't on the usual schedule, but since he had used the last three bottles in the infirmary they needed replacing. There would be a few potions which would not be up to par, but overall his class of seventh years would be capable of brewing the potion.

He began to grade essays from his fourth years as the students began to move to get their ingredients. He was soon aware of a presence at his desk and he looked up to see Hermione standing there.

"Are you ok, sir?" she asked timidly.

"Miss Granger, my well-being is none of your concern at this time. You will brew your potion with the rest of the class and keep silent. Is that understood?"

"Yes sir, sorry," she replied quietly, appearing slightly shocked at his harsh tone.

He watched as she turned to the storeroom, her jaw was set in a way that made him think she was angry. Perhaps she thought their impending marriage would cause him to treat her differently in class. However, her concern for him was surprising, he hadn't expected that. Then again, since he was her protector, his welfare was of some concern. Poppy Pompfry had told him before he left the infirmary last night that Hermione Granger's quick action had likely saved his life. He would thank her later, after he was sure she would not expect preferential treatment in his class.

He was finished with the essay grading by the time class was coming to a close. He glanced up to see most students had finished their potions. Hermione had taken the initiative to begin bottling hers as well.

"Why are you dunderheads standing around looking useless? Bottle a sample potion for grading and bottle the rest of your potions, including your name on the label in the storage bottles. After seven years in this class I would think you would have learned something by now."

The students scurried to comply and soon a queue was lining up at his desk to turn in their potion samples. After he dismissed the class, he called out to his fiancé before she could leave.

"Miss Granger, I require your presence after class." Hermione packed her books and waited for everyone else to leave. When they had done so he spoke. "Miss Granger, while you are in my class you will continue to treat me as your professor and no more. Is that understood?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Good. Also, we should meet again next Saturday to pick our rings since we were disrupted in that endeavor last week," he said as if it were nothing more than an inconvenient delay. "Additionally, I would like for you to have dinner with me this evening in my quarters at five, I have something to give you to help ensure your safety. Mr. Malfoy may decide to take revenge upon you for his father's incapacitation and it would not do to have him succeed should he attempt to do so."

"Yes sir."

"You are dismissed," he finished curtly and turned his attention to the fresh potion samples on his desktop. However, he realized Hermione had not yet left. He looked at her again, this time with anger. "Did you not hear me? You are dismissed Miss Granger."

She set her face in a stone mask and turned and hurried from his classroom. He realized she probably was going to have some difficulty separating the fact that she was his betrothed as well as his professor, and acting appropriately for each situation. He was glad she would be done with school after this year, but still, it was only the start of the year.

****

Just after five pm, Hermione settled herself in what were to be her quarters in a few weeks across from the man who would be her husband. She hadn't said anything yet, and was still a bit off-balance by his rudeness in class. She didn't see a dinner service platter around, and so figured he wanted to get a few things out of the way first.

"Hermione, just to make things clear before we start; when we are in class I will treat you no differently than I have in the past, and you will behave as you have always done before. I will not have insinuations from anyone that I am showing you any partiality."

"Yes, I see that I guess," Hermione answered. "I did want to ask you something else though. I thought since we were already contracted that a duel wouldn't make any difference...I mean, could Malfoy have just come along and won me like some kind of prize?"

"Lucius fully intended to kill me. If I had died, you would have gone to the next available suitor, which was Malfoy. He believed I would be no match for him, but I was careful to mislead him in previous years as to my full abilities," he explained. "There is also the possibility that he meant to incapacitate me and simply take you and wait until the scheduled wedding date had passed. However, if he had done that it would have been more difficult for him to legally marry you, but I don't think he cared much for that plan anyway. It was just a convenient way for him to legally acquire you."

"Thank you, Severus. You've risked your life for me."

"From what Madam Pompfry told me, you may well have saved my life. If you hadn't acted quickly I would have likely bled to death. So, thank you, Hermione."

"Oh...well, of course I wouldn't let you die either. I am glad you are better now."

"Well, that is good. But, enough of that for now...I have something for you," he said as he got up. Hermione watched him curiously as he entered the bedroom. He returned a few moments later with a small box and opened it. "This is a communication amulet," he explained as he withdrew a pendant on a gold chain from the box. It was a gold pendant, with an oddly glimmering jewel in the center which appeared to be an opal which had been enchanted.

"Stand up," he prompted, not unkindly and she complied. He stepped beside her and drew the chain around her neck. Hermione pulled her hair out of the way and closed her eyes as she felt his body heat near her. It was disconcerting how he could go so quickly from strict business-like attitude and then switch...it wasn't anything really observable, it was as if the very air in the room changed as he drew closer to her and held the chain before her. She was surprised to hear him whispering an incantation in much more than a regular whisper...it was as if he harnessed the wind itself and its power moved around her.

She felt his hands brush her neck as he clasped the chain together. She held her breath as he continued the incantation and then felt both his hands on her shoulders as he finished. "The incantation is a kind of ward which will alert me if this necklace is removed or if you are in danger at any time."

"Thank you," Hermione finally said shakily. She let her hair go and dropped her hand to her side. His hands remained on her shoulders and she wondered if she should move away.

"Hermione, relax," Severus said in a near-whisper directly behind her ear. She jumped, startled at the fact that he had moved so close and she hadn't noticed. She heard him chuckle behind her and felt him step closer, his chest against her shoulders. "Do I scare you?" he asked.

"Um...no," she lied in a voice half an octave above normal.

"Close your eyes Hermione," he directed softly. She wasn't sure where this was leading but his presence was overpowering. She gulped and did as directed. "Very good Hermione...very good," he purred and began to massage her shoulders. She tensed at first, but as his large hands moved over her neck and shoulders, squeezing gently she felt the tension begin to ebb.

"Come sit with me," he said and directed her to the couch. His leg was beginning to throb again despite the potion he had taken earlier. Once seated, he continued stroking her shoulders and back with one hand as he spoke softly in her ear. "I would prefer it if you became more comfortable with me. We will be married in a few weeks, after all."

"Yes...I know," she responded and nodded nervously.

"Kiss me Hermione," he said.

"Um...I don't know..." she turned to look at him and his lips descended upon hers. His hand at the back of her neck prevented her from leaping away as was her immediate reaction. She sat stiffly on the couch, lips clamped shut and eyes wide open as his lips caressed hers. Even as awkward as she felt, it was still a better kiss than she'd had from Ron or Victor in the time they had dated. He pulled away from her and raised an eyebrow, smirking at the shocked look on her face.

"I'm sure you can do better than that," he teased. He leaned over again to nibble her neck and she couldn't help but react to the chills which ran over her body at the nip of his teeth under her ear. It felt incredible...nothing like the time Ron had tried to lick her neck...that had felt more like being slobbered upon. This was quite different. She began to relax at his ministrations and at the hands which were softly rubbing up and down her spine. Really, she could get used to this...it probably would be a good idea to get used to this since she would be married to him soon and would likely get a lot of this. Maybe Ginny was right, if she was going to be married, she may as well enjoy it. And so, tentatively, she brought a hand up to graze along his jaw line and tangle into his hair. Yes, it was a bit greasy, but he didn't smell bad and in their previous dinner conversation she had discovered he washed twice daily...so maybe he just didn't like shampoo. Hermione stifled a giggle at her train of thoughts. She was experiencing incredible sensations while still fully clothed and was pondering his shampoo usage.

Severus pulled away from her a moment to gaze deep into her eyes...he saw she was much more relaxed this time and leaned in to kiss her properly. She stiffened slightly at first, but relaxed soon enough, and allowed him to part her lips and delve his tongue in...not far, it wasn't his intention to scare her at this time. He enjoyed the sensations; it had been a while since he had properly kissed a woman and now he found it quite satisfying to think that he would have the opportunity to do so frequently, and much more, in the near future. The fact that she was responding was encouraging.

She was his legally, but he wanted more than that. It had nothing to do with any affection on his part...she was a duty to him, someone he was to protect. But, it was also so much more than a duty; she would be a welcome diversion from the stress of teaching, a fitting reward for his years of spying and doing without for the good of the Order. He idly wondered how long it would take for her to become fully comfortable with him as he worked out a timeline of what to introduce her to and when...how many months would it take to have her waking him willingly in the morning with her lips around his cock. His hardened length jumped at that thought. He was quite convinced marriage may not be bad at all for him.

"That was much better," he purred as he pulled away from Hermione and was pleased to see her half-lidded, flushed expression. "And now, would you care for dinner?"