Love Me

I realize that there are some of you that are thinking I have really thrown characters OOC. I think this chapter explains alot about the people they have become.

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Chapter Four

Hermione smiled in her sleep and turned to nuzzle closer to her new lover. She reached to stroke his chest, but her hand came up empty. He wasn't in the bed. Opening her eyes, she looked at the blank space where he had been beside her. Alarmed, she sprang upright in the bed and looked around the room. Where had he gone? Had he changed his mind? What if he had rethought being with her? The fear coursed through her before she could hush them. Getting up, she wrapped the sheet around her body and went in search of him.

Walking through the sitting room, she continued on her quest to find him. Worry marked her features until she saw a light coming from the adjoining room. Severus, dressed only in a pair of trousers, was standing at his potion workbench with his back to her.

Tilting her head, she bit her lip as she watched him. His muscles were well defined; his body beautiful, even though she could see the scars he had suffered at the hands of Voldemort. They took the form of long, nasty gashes down his back. She had not seen them last night, because he had never turned his back to her. Moving silently, she stood behind him. Her eyes began to mist with tears as she looked at each scar. Her hands were shaking when she reached out to touch one. Immediately, Severus went still, and time seemed to stand still as her hands traced each scar.

Closing his eyes, he readied himself for her disgust. He knew his back was badly marred. More than marred, it was grotesque. Well, he thought to himself, at least I have the precious memory of last night. He wasn't fooling himself; she would be repulsed by his scarred and damaged skin. Suddenly, the breath went out of him when he felt her arms go around him. Her lips were soft as she made to kiss each and every scar. He shuddered at her gentleness. Every woman he had ever tried to form a relationship with after his battle wounds were inflicted had been unable to see her way to overlook the damage done to him.

They did not understand why he never would use a glamour spell to camouflage them; even when he explained the scars were his reminder of the freedom he had won from his days as a Death Eater. No woman had ever touched him like Hermione was touching him now. Setting down the salve he had been holding, he turned and wrapped his arms around her. This wonderful, loving woman had just given him complete, unconditional acceptance, even when faced by his hideous scars. Kissing her forehead, he whispered, "Thank you."

Pulling back from him, she asked, "For what?" Her eyes glistened with fresh tears.

"For not being revolted by my hideous form," he returned gently.

Hermione stared at him in surprise and asked, "How can you even think I would be sickened by your scars?"

He shrugged and looked away from her and said, "Every woman in the past has been." He could not meet her eyes as he remembered all the women, from the time he had become a spy, refusing him because of his ugliness. "I am no beautiful creature to look at, Hermione. I do not know how to be a kind and gentle man. Why, I do not even know how to be nice, without constantly coaching myself to do so."

Hermione sighed before reaching out and gripping his long mane of black hair, pulling gently to force him to face her. "Severus, I love your scars," she said softly, "because they are a part of you." She smiled, dropped the sheet and moved to stand against him. Her voice lowered seductively. "And I want you with every single scar. I don't mind them at all."

Her bare skin pressed against his smooth, hairless chest. Gasping from the sensation of her breasts touching him, he let his arms come around her. Lifting her, he turned to set her on the lab desk; he felt her wrap her legs around him, holding him close.

When she felt the cold desk beneath her, she reached down to free him from the trousers he wore. He moaned when her hands closed over his hard, pulsing manhood. His eyes closed at the feel of her hands closing around him, gripping him, stroking him.

Leaning down, he captured her lips with his and ran his tongue across her lips, seeking entry. With a moan, she opened to him. His tongue merged with hers as he deepened the kiss. Passionately, he reached between them and touched her moist heat.

Pulling away from him, she whined, "Please Severus. I need you so badly." Her eyes beseeched him. "Let me feel you?"

Gripping her hips, he pulled her to where her backside was barely touching the table. He slid himself within her heat, even as his finger continued its assault on her clit.

Leaning back, she used her elbows to raise up just enough to watch him enter her. Opening herself up to him, she gave in to the feelings he was bringing from within her. One of her hands reached out and gripped his arm as she moved with him.

Suddenly, she felt herself tightening around him as the first orgasm hit. "Oh my gods, Severus. Please?" she begged for release as he began to move faster within her.

When he began to come, she pulled away from him. At his look of confusion, she simply smiled. Going down on her knees before him, she took his length into her mouth. His eyes widened as he watched her take him.

The feeling was one of intense pleasure as he let her have control of him. His hand reached out and gently stroked her hair as he felt himself losing control. "Oh, Her-MY-o-NE!" he cried out as his seed spilled from him. He watched in amazement as she swallowed everything that had come from him.

Shaking his head, he reached out to lift her into his arms. Carrying her to the bathroom, he waved his hand, and the water began in the large shower that was easily big enough for the two of them. He simply smiled at her raised eyebrow at his wandless magic.

Standing behind her, he used his hands to spread the lilac-scented soap over her body. He washed her arms, her breasts, her belly, her thighs. Then slowly his hand moved to the juncture between her legs. He soaped her gently there.

Watching her reaction and dropping the soap, he began to rub her clit once again. Standing with his chest pressed against her back, he used his other hand to coax her right leg to bend up. Holding her, so that she was very nearly doing the splits in the shower, he rinsed the soap off of that part of her body, before slipping a finger inside her.

She cried out instantly, her head falling back on his shoulder, as he continued, first pressing one, then two fingers into her. Soon, three fingers were within her depths and he used his thumb to stroke her clit.

"Yes, my precious, " he cooed softly, "come for me. Scream for me." He smiled before running his tongue around the edge of her ear.

She shuddered at his touch, and he moved his fingers faster within her. Opening her mouth, she half moaned, half purred.

He felt her walls tightening around his fingers and knew she was going to come. His thumb continued to stroke her clit and she began to cry out. "Oh, My! Oh, DEAR MERLIN!" she gasped. "SEVERUS!" She cried out his name before her weight buckled and she started to sink to the floor.

Reaching out, he caught her and smiled as he hefted her again into his arms and carried her to the bed. Setting her down, he grabbed a towel and began to dry her. Speechless, she sat panting, looking at him in awe. "Who taught you that?" she asked, dazed.

He shook his head, smiling, said, "That is my secret, my dear."

Moaning, she leaned forward and rested her head on his shoulder. "That was – I mean – how do you – "

Chuckling, he answered, "Someday, I'll tell you of my days of servicing the Death Eaters' wives."

At her slack jaw, he added, "Well, it was either service them, or join them in raping virgins," he scowled, "and I would NEVER – "

He left the rest unsaid as he went back into the other room, only to reappear again, holding a jar of what looked to be a salve of sorts. It was shimmery and smelled of peppermint and clove.

"This is for Hagrid." He said at her confused look. "Your horse? The one you rescued?"

She smiled. "Oh! Yes. For his leg?" A flicker of hope came to her eyes before she asked, "Do you think it will actually help him mend?"

He feigned shock and replied, "My dear! I am the Potions Master. Believe me, they don't call me a Master for nothing." He raised his eyebrow, smiling. "A week of rubbing that onto his joint, and he will be racing Severus for the chance to be ridden."

Hermione's face lit up as she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck, kissing him deeply.

A look of longing came into his eyes before he forced himself to step back and drop his hands away from her. Smiling, he said softly, "As much as I would love to keep you here all day, there are others whom I know want to see you."

Suddenly, her stomach growled. He nodded, raising his eyebrow, and said, "I believe your body is in need of sustenance."

Leaning into his embrace, Hermione smiled. "Yes, and from what Albus says, so is yours."

Severus nodded and looked away from her, replying, "I just had no desire to eat or to be in the company of anyone when I returned."

Hermione felt tears fill her eyes at the thought of the hurt she had caused him. "I am sorry, Severus. I was so ashamed of myself when you left."

Reaching out, he placed his hand over her mouth, stopping her words. "You came to me." He said with a smile. "That is the best and only apology you need ever give me."

Looking into his eyes, she lost her smile as she thought of her horses. "Oh NO!" she gasped. "What if no one has fed them yet?"

Confused, but knowing of whom she spoke, Severus asked, "But didn't you get someone to watch them while you are away?"

Hermione turned back to him, tilting her head. "No, they are here, and Hagrid is watching them for me." She said. "But if I don't hurry and relieve him, they may work themselves into a stampede." Moving to her discarded robes, she transfigured them into a pair of jeans and a fitted shirt. He watched her, moving to sit on the bed. "Tell me something," he said finally.

"Yes?"

"Why did you decide to raise horses?" He was curious to hear the answer.

Sighing, Hermione conjured a brush and began working it through her hair. "Well, I didn't really decide it." She said as she smiled at the memory. "It was more like it fell into my lap. I moved to Texas because the land had belonged to my dad. He had owned it, but had never done anything with it. It was where he and Mum were going to retire, when they lost interest in dentistry." She shrugged and moved to sit on the bed beside him. "When I first moved in, I was simply interested in living out my life in peace and quiet. I have a portion of the land sectioned off where I grow herbs and such for potions."

When he raised an eyebrow, she smirked. "Well I gave up doing the actual magic. My potions were for medicinal purposes and such." Her eyes held his. "You can't expect me to give up the part of my schooling that I loved the most." She smiled as she noticed he was still naked. Reaching out, she ran her hand down his chest as she continued speaking. "My nearest neighbor is Dark Feather. She is a Native American Shaman. She raises horses herself, and she and I began spending lots of time together." He was relieved to hear she had found a friend.

"She was with me when I found Hagrid and Severus. She didn't have any room for more horses on her own land, but she promised to teach me what she knew. The rest is history. Anyway," Hermione continued, "she was very interested in my knowledge of herbs. I was interested in her mastery of shape shifting and Earth Magic." Her eyes seemed to light up when she looked at him. "I will introduce you to her when we get the chance. I think she would be able help you find a more permanent way of helping Lupin. Her son was bitten by a werewolf when he was ten, but he has learned how to control the change."

Severus was immediately curious. "How is that possible?" He sat up, looking genuinely interested.

Hermione smiled and replied, "Dark Feather is practiced in the arts of meditation. She taught Little Arrow to use the powers of his mind to control his reaction to the moon." She was glad he was interested. "It really is quite amazing how strong the mind can be, when properly trained."

"These people do not sound like average Muggles," he observed quietly.

"No," she agreed. "Dark Feather was raised on an Indian reservation in New Mexico. Her people are magical in their own right." She shook her head. "I don't think there is a Muggle among them." Falling silent for a moment, she then cleared her throat, asking, "Are you going to come with me? I want you to show me how to apply the salve."

Severus nodded. "Yes, I will come." He stood and moved to put some clothes on himself. When he returned, he was dressed in a pair of black trousers and a black silk shirt.

Standing, Hermione asked, "Shall we?"

Nodding, he took her hand. Suddenly, he found he didn't care if anyone noticed his touching her as they left the dungeons. He found he was not willing to relinquish their contact.

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Please spare me a review. I do like to know if people enjoy what they read.

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