Now and Forever

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Now and Forever

~H~

Hermione woke up, and Harry was still in bed with Ginny. He must have snuck in late last night. I didn't even feel the wards or hear him come in. They were sound asleep, and Harry had Ginny cuddled in his arms, spooning with her. Awe, they look cute together. As quietly as she could, and while keeping one eye on the sleeping pair, Hermione quickly changed into her clothes and walked over to gently shake Harry's shoulder. "Harry, Harry, wake up. It's morning," she said softly.

Harry stirred. "Huh? Wha' time is it?" he asked, rolled slightly in the bed, nearly falling off the bed and onto his bum.

Hermione smiled. "It's morning. You don't want Mrs. Wesley catching you in here. Engaged or not – she'll carry on like a banshee."

"We're magically Bonded, Hermione," he said, stretching and sliding from the bed. "You read the letters and the certificate. We're as good as."

At least he still has on his pajamas. "Come on, I'll cover for you so you can slip up to Ron's room," she said.

Harry reluctantly withdrew from Ginny, waking her. "Gin, I'm sorry. I have to go now," he said, kissing her on the cheek and getting to his feet.

"Okay, see you at breakfast," she mumbled as Harry leaned down and kissed her again.

Hermione opened the door and peered down the stairs, gesturing to Harry that it was all clear to go up. Just as Harry was slipping past her, she stopped him. "When Ron is up, ask him if I could borrow Pig. I want to send a note to Luna and see if we can get together for lunch," she whispered.

"Sure, Hermione," he whispered, stretching. "But why don't you come up and ask him yourself?"

Because I don't want to hear him whine at me again... "You're on your way up there, aren't you? Please, Harry... I'll owe you one."

"Sure, okay. Hermione, I'm worried for you. Aren't you feeling well?" Harry asked with a yawn.

She looked at him, confused. "Yes, why?"

"I know you take a sleeping potion each night. I thought that maybe you're having trouble sleeping, unless it's because of me? But you know, Hermione, you shouldn't take too much of that Sleeping Potion," he whispered with a wicked grin. "You'll get addicted."

"Yes, Harry, I take the potion because of you. And before you start," she said, holding up her hand, "I only take it on nights you come in here."

He looked at her speculatively, then nodded. "Still wish you didn't, but – thank you."

"Now, go on... before you're caught. And don't forget to ask Ron, okay?" she asked his retreating back.

*

Mrs. Weasley was delighted to have Luna join the girls for lunch and gladly packed a basket for their picnic before she left for St. Mungo's. Ginny wanted to invite Harry, but when Hermione quietly explained why she wanted to go off with just the girls, she relented with a huge grin. "Besides, let Harry, Neville and Ron toss around the Quaffle a bit. The fresh air will do them some good," Hermione had suggested when Luna and Neville showed up together.

Neville had been delighted to fly with Harry and Ron and even Apparated home to get his new broom.

Sitting under a large oak on Stoatshead Hill, Hermione asked Luna how things were with Neville. "Oh, he's a lovely match. A bit shy at first, and he was really surprised when I owled him to come over for dinner. He really likes my Plimpy soup."

"So, he didn't just find you?" Hermione asked, relieved. "You invited him over."

"Oh, yes, I was tired of waiting," Luna said, gazing up into the tree. "He was most overwhelmed when I told him about my dreams."

"You told him? I told Harry too," Ginny said, eating an apple slice. "He confessed to me that he'd been dreaming about me and that these dreams must mean that we were meant for each other." She giggled.

"Wait, Ginny, I thought that Harry came to you because of the spell?" Hermione asked.

"I told him about my dreams the second time he came to me, and he was really surprised. I hadn't the heart to tell him what I did to make it all happen – but he found out from the Ministry letter anyway," Ginny explained, looking at Hermione understandingly. "You saw how mad he was at first, but at least he came around quickly. He decided it wasn't such a bad thing right about the time I whispered that it meant we could repeat the dream whenever he wanted to. He was so nervous he was all thumbs, fumbling with my bra, and I had to remove it for him. He still can't quite get the hooks."

Oh, Circe, Snape'll be mad! He'll curse me! Hermione thought, staring at Ginny, trying to fight back the panic she was feeling, not realizing that she'd murmured softly.

Ginny looked back at her, empathetically. "Hermione, it will be all right, he'll know. The Moon-Song Spell wouldn't have matched you if you weren't compatible and couldn't come to love each other," she whispered, touching Hermione's knee.

"Are you worried that Professor Snape won't come, Hermione? He will," Luna said, smiling, missing the soft-spoken exchange. "He'll be drawn to you, magically."

"How?" Hermione asked. "I mean I still don't even know that he's alive. I know that the Aurors are looking for him, even though Harry showed Kingsley and a few members of the Wizengamot Snape's memories, and they spoke to Dumbledore's portrait... but there hasn't been any sign of him anywhere."

"Hermione, are you sure you're okay with this?" Ginny asked. "I know you aren't sleeping well, you're restless, and you toss and turn a lot, even when you're not dreaming. Are you really that worried about Snape?"

"Yes, ah – no. I – err – yes. I'm afraid he's going to hex me, or worse, when he finds out. That's if he's alive, if he's having the same dreams, and if he comes to find me..." Hermione took a deep breath. "Luna, Ginny, is this real? Am I really going to shag Severus Snape?"

"Oh! If he's the one in your dreams, Hermione, then yes, he's having the same dreams. Exactly the same. Neville did," Luna said, looking at her with the most serious expression Hermione had ever seen Luna have.

"So did Harry," Ginny added.

Luna nodded. "And yes, if he's the one you've been sharing these dreams with – he will come to you, and you will consummate the spell. The longer you wait, the more the moon waxes, his need for you will grow and so will his desire to find you."

"But how will it happen? How will he know where I am?" Hermione asked, trying to swallow her fears.

"He'll simply know – as if by magic. He will feel you I suppose," Luna said. "But you will be drawn together by next Tuesday – before midnight. Don't worry, Hermione, it will be all right. It will be like in the dreams, only real. I just didn't want to wait so long for Neville to come around. He was nervous enough as it was, so that was a good thing." She picked up a sandwich. "I do think his gran was quite surprised when the Ministry sent their letter and our Bonding certificate. But she'll come around. I do make Neville happy – he told me so."

"So he will just come to me, right? Come right up to Ginny's room, and we'll – he and I will..." Hermione started to say but couldn't finish the sentence. "Just like Harry did."

"Oh, Circe! You're right!" Ginny exclaimed, covering her mouth, her eyes becoming as large as saucers. "Mum will flip if he comes in the house after you," she said, giggling, and then suddenly stopped, her eyes wide. "Urm, Hermione, you do have more of that Deep-Sleep Potion, right?"

~S~

Severus was amassing a pile of books on the table in the library, and Lucius wasn't being any help at all either. Although, he could have been more forthright with his friend, Severus didn't want to tell Lucius any more than he had to. So far all he'd said was that the dreams felt real, he could control the actions within the dream, but he couldn't change whom he was with. It was always the same witch. He never said who haunted his dreams either. Lucius would laugh like a humeldinger. He's already grinning like a Clabbert every time he looks up at me.

Severus set another tome back onto the shelf and turned to face the windows. By now he could practically feel Hermione's presence. It had been growing minutely stronger every minute all day long. His mind replayed the locations of the dreams, and except for a few, most had occurred where he was and on his terms. However, he knew that tonight he would find her; tonight he was going to have her. His mind pictured trees, a stream and a gravel road, a large hill and an orchard. It was as if he knew the place, it was familiar, yet still unfamiliar. The Burrow. She's at the Burrow. That complicates things. He picked up a book he'd perused in his search and reread the Allurement Charm. If I can determine which room she's in – which window is hers – I might be able to cast the spell at her through the window. Make her come out to me... He set the book down after memorizing the spell. Trees, a stream and a worn gravel road, a large hill... outside the Burrow – somewhere. I'll find her.

~H~

She couldn't stand the wait; she was restless and antsy. The night was full of stars, but it was a moonless night, as if the moon was gone, and to her it felt like the new moon was leaving a black hole in the sky.

Hermione walked down the road turning toward the stream, following the bank back in through the trees, listening to the water, the night creatures stirring, the crickets and grass as it rustled. The old beaver pond was tranquil and peaceful in the serenely quiet stillness of the night. The puppy dogtails swayed in the gentle breeze surrounding one-half of the large rock, which Hermione knew the Weasley boys like jumping off of into the water when they swam. She'd had fun jumping off it, too.

Hermione slipped off her shoes and her robe, wearing little else than a nightshirt that barely reached the middle of her thighs and a pair of knickers, but the night air felt cool, not uncomfortable on her bare skin. She stepped into the water, crossing herself with her arms, knowing how deep the water was on this side of the rock. The ache in her was pounding, her desire to touch herself intense. She walked away from the edge of the pool, wading into the water up past her knees. A cracking pop-like sound made her turn around.

Severus Snape simply appeared on the bank looking at her, staring at her with a darkly desirous look on his face. In a few quick steps, he was entering the pond, walking through the water toward her. He wore little else but black pajama bottoms under a dressing robe that opened as he strode into the water to get to her. His pale skin made the light dusting of hairs stand out in stark contrast to his lean muscled chest. Hermione backed up apprehensively, immediately comprehending that this was no dream, this was for real, as he reached for her. Suddenly unsure and frightened, she took a step back and stumbled, falling into the water with a splash. Severus simply reached down and grasped her arms, pulling her to her feet and into his embrace, and then his mouth descended on hers.

It was just like in the dreams except she could finally taste his kisses, hear his breathing and feel the wetness of the water. His body was strong and lean, firm and familiar under her hands. Another difference, she was chilled and soaked, craving his warmth to warm her, and she embraced him to feel his body heat. She began to crave his hands on her even as hers began to explore the familiar ridges of muscle down his back. She felt her knees weaken and her heart race as his mouth moved from hers, down to her throat and along her neck. She held onto him, shivering with desire as much from the cool water. He was warm, although the water from her nightshirt was now dripping down between them.

He kissed her neck, and his hands explored her body through the wet nightshirt. One hand slipped down her body, caressing her stomach before plunging down between her legs, and she immediately began longing for his touch on her sensitive spot. He slipped his hand under her knickers, sliding one, then another finger, into her, stretching her. This isn't like the dream, this hurts! she thought as the stroke of his hand on her sensitive spot warred with the dull pain of his penetrating fingers. She tried to back away from him, but he followed her, his hand slipping from her knickers as his other hand slid from her back to her shoulder.

"Hermione," he said softly, his voice thick with desire for her.

She paused, looking at him, her eyes darting down his body to his groin, his wet pajama bottoms peaked by his erection. She quickly averted her eyes back to his face. He was smirking at her in amusement. "What are you doing here?" she managed to ask.

"I came here – for you," he said, stepping close to her again.

She tried to step back again, although Severus followed her easily, and she found her retreat halted by the presence of the rock at her heels. He loomed over her, his dark eyes searching her face as his hand grasped her waist

Her hands landed on his chest as he embraced her, leaning her against the large rock. "Damnation, Hermione, it was as if you'd called to me every night. I had to see you," he said, his mouth descending on hers again, crushing her legs into the rock behind her.

The water worn smoothness of the rock was cold, its surface scratching against her legs. The stone came up to her thighs, nearly to her bum before it sloped away from her, and he was nearly pushing her to lean against it. She hesitated, unsure, her mind spinning, both in fear of what she knew he wanted and in desirous anticipation that it was going to finally happen.

His hands roamed her body, down to her hips, gliding his hands on her skin as he pulled her nightshirt up. Like he always did in the dreams, he fondled her breasts, and then slipped her nightshirt up and off her. He leaned back, his eyes roaming over her hungrily. "So, beautiful," he growled, and he pulled her to him again, kissing her. One hand covered a breast, his fingers gently pinching her nipples. She began to kiss him back, relaxing, allowing him to fondle her, enjoying the familiar feeling of his caress. Once again his hand slipped down to cup her between her legs, into her knickers, his fingers finding her sensitive spot, and as he'd done in her dreams, making pleasurable ripples, shoot throughout her. Her knees became weak again.

"Hermione, I want you," he said, his voice slow and silky.

"Yes," she responded, unthinking.

"Lean back against the rock," he instructed. She leaned back against the slanted side of the rock, resting her buttocks on the cold stone as Severus leaned over her.

He looped a finger on each side of her knickers and slid them down, allowing Hermione to lift first her hips, then each leg as he removed them. There's no turning back now, she thought as she stood, leaning against the rock naked in front of him, watching as he removed his pajamas.

He stood in front of her, allowing her to stare at him a moment before stepping up to her, reaching out to glide his hands along her sides. He pressed into her and lifted one of her legs up, then the other so that she straddled him. His penis poked at her, and his fingers once again began to fondle her as he leaned down and kissed her. He slid one finger into her, then another, moving them slowly in and out. The entry of the second finger hurt, but she could feel herself become wet in his hand. Gently, he pushed his penis at her entrance and leaned against her. The pressure of his body helped him thrust slowly into her, and she hissed sharply at the sudden intrusion of pain. He held still a moment, eased off a bit and pushed again. It felt like he was ripping her. He kissed her, and for a moment, she almost forgot the pain until he pushed again, causing her to gasp loudly and tighten up against his intrusion.

"Relax," he said in his silky drawl.

Hermione tried, and he kissed her neck as he pushed in again. She whimpered in pain, and he pulled out slightly, then pushed in, making her cry out.

His tongue licked her earlobe, distracting her as he moved again. She grabbed his arms at the sharp pain. He reached up and cupped her face with one hand, still gripping her hip with the other. His tongue licked her lips as he moved again, then he kissed her hungrily. Hermione tried to let go of his arms, realizing that she'd been digging her nails into his skin. He moved within her again, still causing her pain, and she tightened her grip on his arms.

"Relax, Hermione, let go," he said, his voice a seductive drawl against her mouth.

She shook her head, tensing around him and breathing heavily.

"Relax, it won't hurt so much if you relax," he said in his rich, silky voice.

It sent shivers down her spine, and she managed to relax a bit.

"Hermione, touch yourself," his soft, silky voice said seductively in her ear.

Hermione shook her head, and he laughed, releasing her face, and his hand glided down her skin to her groin until his fingers deftly located her sensitive spot. As if with well-practiced ease, he stroked her, causing jolt after electric jolt to shoot within her. He moved out slowly and pushed back in, flicking her nub. She quivered, feeling both the intense pleasure of his touch and the hard intrusion of his penis. His movements became faster, his pace more ardent, and Hermione whimpered against his shoulder.

"Kiss me," he demanded, his voice thick with desire.

She complied, stroking his tongue with hers, tasting his mouth. He kissed her back, allowing her to control his tongue and lips. He flicked her sensitive spot with each trust, and the jolts of sensation began to ripple in her in sync with his movements, which still hurt and burned a bit. She tried to relax and trust him, like in the dreams, but unlike the dreams, her mind kept becoming unfocused, aware of everything around her as well as the man before her.

His touch was the same, his kisses familiar, but the feel on him inside her was painful. His fingers were deftly creating the same pleasurable sensations that were building up inside her core, but it was different somehow, and she groaned. Her muscles tightened, and she clamped down on him, making him groan and his pace quicken. She began to moan. The faster movements were still painful to her, and the rock was uncomfortably hard against her bum. He moved his hand, gripping her hips tightly, grinding into her with each pounding thrust, his pubic hair brushing her nub with each stroke.

"That's it, come, Hermione, come, let the feeling go, let it go, just feel..." he said, his silky voice thick with his own driving need. The sound of his voice made her relax into the feelings inside her, and the pressure deep in her core peaked regardless of the burning ache. Her body started shaking, and the spasms rolled over her in waves as he grunted three times and buried himself deeply inside of her. She moved one hand into his hair and the other along his back, her head falling back as she gasped for air.

After a long pause, he pushed himself up to look down at her, and Hermione moaned at the loss of his weight and warmth against her. "What have you done?" he asked, nearly a growl, his groin still pressed tightly against hers, pinning her to the rock.

"Nothing!" she exclaimed, startled. "I just went for a walk. I couldn't sleep."

He straightened up, bringing her up with him, her legs still straddling his hips. He grasped her hips to him, lifting her off the rock, and Hermione clung to him, afraid of being dropped. He carried her to the edge of the pond as if she weighed nothing, gently lowering their bodies, laying her on the soft grass of the bank, and then leaned up to look her, still sheathed inside her. "What did you do?" he asked again, his dark eyes boring down into her own as his penis twitched inside her.

"I don't understand. What did I do what? When?" she asked, suddenly afraid of what he might say to the truth.

He started growling and she became afraid of him. "Tell me, witch, what did you do to me. What spell did you do?"

"Luna and I made a potion and said the poem for the Moon-Song spell," she answered as he stared down at her.

"Where did you get the directions for the potion?" he asked angrily. He straightened his arms, taking some of his weight off of her and looking at her intently. "Tell me, witch, what was in the potion?"

"Luna had it in her diary from her mum. We used sugar, spices, rain water, a unicorn horn, asparagus root, lavender, quince flowers, yesterday-today-and-tomorrow flowers... and hawthorn..." She couldn't remember it all with him staring at her like that. She still hurt between her legs, a dull throbbing, tingling kind of ache.

Still inside her, his penis twitched again, and his eyes narrowed. "What else was in it?"

She could feel her vagina tighten and loosen on him in response to each twitch of his penis, and she tried to relax, but her mind was focused on the feeling of having him still inside her. "Flowers, spices, aphrodisiacs and..." She couldn't think as he pulled away, hurting her as his tip drew near her entrance. "No, please don't, stay in," she begged him, and he groaned in frustration, swore again, but then pressed slowly into her, his entry less painful than before. "Oh, please," she moaned, and his penis jerked inside her again.

He smiled briefly, and then his face became a scowl. "Did this potion by any chance have a snip from a Bowtruckle tree, a snail and a puppy dogtail rush pod, Hermione?" She nodded and he swore. "Damn you, don't you realize what you've done?" he asked, drawing from her slowly.

"No, yes," she said, sighing. "Please, no... Severus," she pleaded, trying to lift her hips up to him. "Don't stop – stay in." He thrust down into her, and she gasped, the pleasure of his entry greater than the discomfort this time.

"You like this, witch?" he asked, nearly a snarl, although his lips curled up into the semblance of a smile.

"Yes, I do," she moaned in response.

"Then good, Hermione. Because we will be doing this every night for the rest of your life," he snarled. His mouth claimed hers as he moved again, drawing out of her and thrusting back in.

She cried out, her sounds muffed against his kiss. "What?" she asked, pushing futilely against his firm chest.

"Yes," he said as he stopped, buried deep within her. "Your poem if spoken by a witch under the right conditions, which you have obviously done, casts a magical Pairing-Plight Betrothal Charm, Hermione." He pulled out of her slowly. "And if it's consummated, which, witch, we are currently doing – have done – it's magic becomes permanent, binding you and me together... for life."

He leaned down, nipping at her chin, kissed her neck, then marked the soft skin on her breast. Hermione cried out startled and he shifted, folding her legs up, his penis easily, finding her opening, and he slipped inside of her again. She groaned in pleasure as he filled her, this time causing only a dull ache as he plunged into her.

"So now you and I really are married?" she managed to ask, her breathing hard and her heart racing, both from the reality of what he'd declared and from his lovemaking. He withdrew, her feet dropping to his sides as he pushed into her again.

"No, stronger than that. We are magically Bonded, Hermione," he said, his dark eyes watching her face as he continued his move within her in rough strokes. "But for all intent and purpose – yes, we are now bound together. A magically consummated union." His lip curled as she gaped at him. He deftly glided his fingertips down her throat and around her breast before kissing her, and once again, her body reacted to his touch as she arched her back to meet each thrust he made into her. A low growl of pleasure escaped his throat. "Yes, Hermione. You are now and forever – mine."

~MoM~

The next morning, back in the Ministry of Magic, in the Magical Marriage and Birth Registration Office of the Magical Licenses and Certificates Department, Maggie Whitmire noticed a glow coming from the Marriage Registration ledger. She walked over to peer at the large tome and saw immediately that the names: Hermione Jane Granger and Severus Sean Snape had changed. The entry now read: Bonded.

"So he is alive," she mumbled to no one. "The Aurors were right!" Maggie stared at the ledger. Mr. Lerman and Mr. Darthmyer have been very interested in my ledger lately. Ever since... since I mentioned the Plight Charm between the three couples... No! When I told Agethia that Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter had made a Plight Charm – the same night Severus Snape had cast one on Hermione Granger... and Mr. Lerman had been quite concerned that all three had happened on the same night... "They will want to know this..." Returning to her desk, she pulled down a pale yellow piece of parchment and drafted a quick note.

Severus Snape is alive. He has consummated the magical Pairing or Plight Charm on Hermione Granger, culminating the Bonding Charm to be irrevocably solemnized – forever. They are now Bonded. He is apparently still very much alive. I thought you should know.

Magical Licenses and Certificates Department

She tapped the paper with her wand and the parchment magically folded into a parchment aeroplane and flew off for the Auror's office.

~ T B C ~>

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Author's notes: