Relentless Persistence

*Warning this is explicit – graphic sexual situations.*

Dreams no more... the next chapters are for real. Sexual – but not blissful. Yet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o 6 o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Relentless Persistence

What are little boys made of?

That's what little girls are made of!

~S~

Severus woke up with a painfully stiff erection and the feel of a girl lying next to him. He'd come to bed fairly inebriated and had climbed in, careful not to touch the girl curled in a fetal position on the far side of the bed. However, sometime during the night or really early in the morning, depending how one would look at it, Hermione had uncurled herself and rolled over to his side of the bed, waking him. Her little body had been stretched out with one leg slung over one of his, her arm draped across his chest, her hair tickling his nose and her warm breath making his shoulder uncomfortably hot. In fact, the entire right side of his body had been too warm for an hour now.

He'd groaned in the early predawn hour for a house-elf to bring him some Hangover Potion, trying to brush her hair away from his face. He tried to gently shove her leg and arm off him without waking the girl and then tried rolling her away. Somehow, he'd managed the feat without waking her by the time the elf had arrived with his potion. He took the potion and fell back to sleep, feeling much better after taking the sour brew.

As the bright light of morning filled the room, Severus woke again, feeling Hermione once again stretched out alongside him, having successfully maneuvered him to the edge of his bed. Bloody hell! Why do women always take up the whole bed? Why can't they just sleep on their half without trying to shove me out of bed? he grumbled as he levitated her over and she rolled onto her back. And she's so petite. Why does someone so small need to take up the entire bed? He rolled up on one elbow to angrily look down at the girl who had ensnared and seduced him.

In sleep, she looked so young, although he knew full well she was eighteen and his union with her was in no way illegal. If that had been the case, he could've appealed to the Ministry for assistance. Yeah, me – a wanted murderer, Death Eater in hiding, presumed dead – ask the Ministry for assistance. He smirked at the thought. I'd land in Azkaban before I'd even finished my appeal. Not bloody likely! If the Ministry can break the Bonding, then the answer will be in one of Malfoy's books – or Roquewood's.

He pulled the covers back, kicking them to his feet and looked down at Hermione's sleeping form. The oversize nightshirt had hiked up her body, exposing her from her pubic hair down. Her body is appealing, everything in perfect proportions – slender with just enough curves to entice... Only a month ago, he'd have been flogged for what he thought as he looked at her. Nevertheless, he liked how her body looked nude, but she had been his student and an irritating one at that. Miss Know-It-All didn't bother with enticement or seduction. No! She went straight for ensnare, entrap and capture, and all with a bloody Betrothal Charm! And she hadn't even been aware of what she was doing. Surely, six years of magical education had taught her something? With the slightest pressure necessary, he pushed the edge of the shirt up as high as it would go and then slid his fingers through her curly pubic hair. My wife. My Bonded mate – my Dark Arts enchantress. He ran his finger through her folds until he found her clitoris and began rubbing it. Hermione's eyes opened with a start, gasping as if in shock. "Good morning," he said softly with a smug smile.

She licked her lips, inhaled sharply, and her body shuddered as he watched her. "Good morning," she answered uncertainly.

His penis jerked and was so hard it was painful. So now she's got me – and I'll be damned if I'll let her off easy...

"Did you...?" she started to ask, before his fingers slipped into her heat, stroking her. "Do you?"

"What, Miss Granger, sleep well? Well enough, yes." He shifted over her, making his intent clear to her. "Want something? Yes." His hand slid under her shirt to fondle her breast. "Sit up please. I'd like to remove your shirt," he said in his silky drawl. She opened her mouth to protest, and he leaned down and kissed her. "I could simply just have my way with you, but it is so much more enjoyable if you are willing."

To her credit, she sat up and removed her shirt, her eyes riveted on his. "Are you sore this morning?" he asked as his gaze traveled down her body.

"A little," she admitted as she lay back down beneath him.

Damn. "I'll try to go slow," he said as he eased her legs open and positioned himself, stroking his penis against her. She's too tense. His finger stroked her with each sweep of the tip of his penis, teasing her clitoris as he waited for her to relax and get wet enough for him. "That's it, Hermione, relax," he said in his honeyed drawl as she closed her eyes and her mouth opened slightly. He leaned down and suckled one pert breast, lathing the nipple with his tongue. That's it, relax.

In an agonizing slow move, he slid himself into her, and she inhaled sharply. Damn it, girl, I'm not that thick, he thought with a snarl. "Relax." He withdrew slowly, making long, slow strokes, as he moved in and out of her. He switched to her other breast as he continued his slow assault on her body. When she moaned, he moved faster, his thrusts harder and deeper. Her knees bent and she opened herself wider for him. Yes, thank you. He stopped kissing her, holding himself up above her when his nads started to constrict, and his concentration refocused on the sensations he was feeling, making his movements more fervent. She moaned again, her hands stroking his arms, shoulders and chest, but it didn't matter anymore. He grabbed her hips, gripping her tightly as he plunged himself down into her heat with each stroke. His testicles grew hard and taut, the constriction increasing as he moved. She was trying to move with him and it amused him slightly. He closed his eyes as the pressure in his nads released, sending waves and spurts of come through his penis shaft.

He wasn't sure if she'd reached release or not; her eyes were closed, her breathing labored. He rolled off her in post-climatic bliss, feeling a sense of completion and waited for her to open her eyes and look at him. When she did, he was still uncertain if she'd reached climax. "Do you wish to go down for breakfast here, or do I return you back to the Burrow?"

"Pardon me?" she asked, bewilderment evident in her soft brown eyes. "I can't eat here!"

"Suit yourself; the house-elves make fantastic crumpets." He rolled over and rose from the bed. "Get dressed. I don't want to miss breakfast. Lucius and Narcissa are expecting us, but I'll make your excuses."

Hermione scrambled from the bed, donning her nightshirt quickly and took her dressing robe he'd scooped off the floor and held out to her. He was fully dressed by the time she'd located her Vans. He strode purposefully from the room, certain that she followed him and held out his hand once they were in the east foyer.

"I can Apparate..."

"No, you cannot Apparate off the Manor's grounds, and the hounds are loose this time of day, so I'm not walking you to the gates," he interrupted her. She placed her hand in his, and he pulled her tightly to him, crushing her against his chest, and then tipped her face up to look at him. His dark eyes searched hers, wondering why she was being so receptive to him. After all those years of berating her and dismissing her talents, yet she's here, surprisingly submissive and compliant. He wanted to use Legilimency to read her thoughts, but chose not to. Instead, he leaned down and kissed her. Hermione closed her eyes, and he took his time, savoring her lips with light, feathery sweeps of his lips. She responded, trying to reciprocate with lush caresses of her own. His tongue teased across her lip, and she opened her mouth, allowing him to deepen his kiss. He was amused to feel her wrap her free arm around him to try to bring their bodies closer. He still held her hand clasped tightly in his, holding the side of her face with his other while they kissed, controlling her movements. She hardly seemed to notice that she stood in a foyer anymore and that Lucius or Narcissa could walk in on them, considering her earlier declaration about breakfast. In fact, it was rather nice kissing her, and she responded to him as if they were actually lovers, which amused him. She made a tiny mewing sound when he shifted his head, momentarily breaking contact, and he was sure it was in response to feelings his kiss was invoking.

When he stopped and raised his head, it took her a few seconds before she opened her dazed eyes and focused on his face again. Nice. "Time to go," he said with a smug smirk on his face. He pulled her to him in an embrace and Apparated them to the apple orchard, exactly in the same spot where he'd taken her from.

"Severus," she said, and he scowled at the familiarity she took in using his given name. "I have to – we have to sign the forms for our Bonding Charm. The Ministry expects us to..."

"Hermione," he growled out her name. "I don't care what the Ministry wants. They're not simply going to accept that I didn't Imperius you or use a potion to coerce you into making a Betrothal Charm. They most certainly will not believe that you used Dark Magic to coerce me. Nevertheless, you and I are Bonded. I suppose they said that you and I will have to be confirmed, and they will want me to go with you to the Ministry for approval – am I correct?"

She nodded and he swore. "I am not going. You'll have to do without the pretty, golden-embossed certificate. We are a magically Bonded couple, and they cannot change that – unless I am dead. But they will lock me away for life and declare me dead so the Minister of Magic can have you released from me. I'm not going to give them the chance to lock me away by entering the Ministry on some trumped up nonsense."

"But they say we have to sign it and wand verify it," she tried to explain.

"No, I do not." I don't want to. He took a deep breath and slipped into professor mode to hold her attention. "Look, you are Muggle-born so I don't expect you to fully grasp the situation. When a witch or wizard casts a Pairing, Betrothal or any matchmaking spell, curse or charm – it creates a binding magical contract. Such magic is recorded automatically in the Marriage Registration ledger in the Ministry of Magic and becomes a permanent record. Most pairing and matchmaking spells have conditions that have to be met. If those conditions are consummated or completed – such as our copulation – the magic of the spell is sealed. The certificate is a formality. The magical Bonding has already happened – hence it's called a Bonding Charm."

Hermione stared at him, finally understanding the difference in her letter and Ginny and Harry's letter. "But it would be nice to have it..."

"Forget it. It's a piece of gilded parchment, nothing more," he said firmly, growing annoyed at the conversation. "You will meet me again night after tomorrow. I expect you to be out in the back garden after ten. I'll be waiting and summon you."

Then he left, leaving her standing in the orchard, feeling even more confused than before about why she would've used a Pairing-Troth Curse in the first place. He was still angry with her. Angry that somehow she'd decided to trap him into a relationship with her, especially one he couldn't find any acceptable escape from. Hermione Granger is now my wand mate – for life. Can the fates be that unkind? Why did her spell connect me to her? Why not some Ravenclaw or Gryffindor?

Severus entered the manor and headed for the dining room to join Narcissa and Lucius for breakfast. The scent of fresh crumpets filled the air from the kitchens as he passed. Lucius and Narcissa were already seated, sipping on fresh breakfast tea. "Morning," he said, sitting down.

Lucius raised his eyebrow, taking in Severus's appearance. "Either you slept in your robes, didn't bother to change or didn't see the clean robes hanging in your wardrobe?" he said softly. "Surely, your wife..."

"Wand mate, please," Severus said, laying his napkin on his lap. "I'll change later."

Narcissa watched him, her pale, blue-grey eyes speculative. "Isn't your – wand mate – going to join us?"

Severus turned politely to Narcissa. "No, I'm sorry. I had to take her home."

"Home?" Lucius asked. "To her parents' house? Exactly how old is the witch?"

"I'm sure the young lady is of appropriate age," Narcissa softly chided her husband, "or her parents wouldn't have cast the spell."

Severus tried to suppress his emotions into indifference. Lately it seemed harder to do. "I'm afraid that the young woman cast the spell herself, Narcissa. However, she is of legal age, so I cannot request an annulment." A house-elf set a plate of freshly baked crumpets before him.

"She used the Moon-Song Curse, dear," Lucius informed Narcissa.

"That old one?" her eyebrows rose in surprise. "Surely she's... I'm sure she's lovely. So, when do we meet her?"

"Not today." Severus took a large bite of his crumpet, hoping to end the conversation.

"We'll have to throw you a reception party," Narcissa stated. "I'll need her name for the announcements, and if you'd give me a list of her friends and family..."

"I don't believe you'd like the guest list," Severus said, trying to suppress the smirk on his face. "I'm sorry, Narcissa. Let's see... There's Harry Potter, the Weasleys, the Lovegoods, the Longbottoms, the Joneses, several members of the Order of the Phoenix. I'm sure we would need to invite several members of the Hogwarts staff – including Hagrid. I hope that he won't bring his giant brother with him to the party, but apparently she's well-acquainted with Grawp... I'm sure I could get a list of her school friends for you..."

"And of course, Severus, your circle of friends," Lucius added with an amused smirk.

Narcissa tried to conceal her shock, but her face had paled slightly.

"Yes, my dear, that would be quite a challenge for you to pull off," Lucius said with a grin. "What date should I clear off the calendar?"

~H~

Hermione returned to the Burrow not sure exactly what she was feeling. Her night with her husband wasn't exactly what she thought it would be like. Well, what exactly did I expect – he's Snape – Severus, I mean. He's never exactly liked me all that much, and I can't expect him to change his mind over night. She laughed at the thought. He gets magically Bonded with the insufferable know-it-all Gryffindor, who he's called silly girl more times than I can count, and I expect him to act like he did in a dream – dreams. Actually, he's not being as terrible as I might have expected. What she wanted now was to slip into the Burrow and take a nice long hot bath.

However, as soon as Hermione opened the door, Mrs Weasley cried out and came running over to greet her. "Hermione, where have you been? We've all been so worried about you!" She pulled Hermione into a crushing, motherly hug. "Ginny said you were out all night."

"'Mione!" Ron cried out as he and Harry entered the room.

"You okay?" Harry asked, looking relieved. "Ginny said you didn't sleep in your bed."

Hermione knew that Ginny didn't need to tell him that, Harry was now slipping into Ginny's bed nearly every other night. "No, I was... with Severus, and he took me to his place..." she started to explain as Ginny bounded down the stairs.

"Oi, there you are!" Ginny said, sitting down to breakfast as if nothing was amiss. "So, how did it go?"

"You were where? With whom?" Mrs. Weasley looked confused. "How did what go?"

Mr. Weasley came down carrying his briefcase. "How did what go, exactly?" he looked up, startled to see Hermione in the kitchen. "Oh, there you are. You should tell us if you'll be gone all night. Almost sent for an Auror in case – well, you're safe."

"She was with Snape," Ron said accusingly. "Weren't you?"

"Snape?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "Severus Snape? How could she? He's dead."

"Yes, I was, only he's not dead, and yes..." Hermione started to confess before she was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Now who could that be at this hour?" Mrs. Weasley asked, concerned, moving to open the door.

Mr. Weasley's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Hermione, is there something you need to tell me?"

'Yes, Mr. Weasley, there is..." Hermione stopped as two wizards she didn't know but recognized from the Battle of Hogwarts entered the house.

"I'm Auror Lerman and this is Mr. Darthmyer from the Auror Department, special Death Eater assignment," a tall, lanky-looking fellow said, pointing first to himself, then to a squat, square-faced wizard next to him. "We're here to see a Mrs. Hermione Snape." Both Mr. and Mrs. Weasley looked gobsmacked while Ron glowered and Ginny and Harry shook their heads.

"Hermione, what's going on?" Mr. Weasley said as Mrs. Weasley shrieked, "Snape?" as she turned to Ginny and Harry and then back to Hermione, "You didn't do it too?"

"We detected an Apparation this morning on the premises, and we believe that Severus Snape may have been trying to abduct Miss Hermione Granger. We have discovered that Miss Granger is now Bonded to Severus Snape and believe he preformed a Matchmaking or Betrothal Charm to align himself with her," Darthmyer stated. "Although, we were unable to determine who Apparated. So we'd like to speak to Miss Granger..."

"It was me," Hermione said defensively. "I'm Hermione Granger. I just returned this morning." She quickly turned to Ginny, mouthing, 'Get Kingsley.'

Mr. Lerman had turned to Hermione, interrupting her. "You prefer to be called Miss Granger rather than Mrs. Snape?"

Thankfully Ginny understood and nodded, turned and whispered to her dad.

"Don't call her Mrs. Snape, they are not married," Ron blurted out, cutting off Mr. Lerman.

Mr. Lerman looked confused and pulled out his note pad and quill to recheck his facts. "The twenty-third of June at approximately eleven forty-nine, Severus Snape performed a magical Pairing-Plight Betrothal Charm on Hermione Granger, and they are now Bonded."

"They are what?" Mrs. Weasley asked, staring at Mr. Lerman with her mouth agape. Mr. Weasley, however, disappeared in the Floo. "Wait! She's...? You're saying she's Bonded – to Severus Snape?"

"We are aware that Severus Snape has conducted and conjugated a Bonding Charm with Mrs. – um, okay, Hermione Granger-Snape. We believe that he is intending on using her name and status to gain his freedom. Mr. Snape has been successfully eluding us, and his whereabouts are currently unknown. We now know that Mrs. Snape – Miss Granger is in a unique position to assist us in capturing this hardened criminal..."

"You think that Hermione will turn him in!" Ginny exclaimed.

"Well, of course we do – she helped Harry there hunt and fight against Tom 'Lord Voldemort' Riddle!" Darthmyer stated. "We are very well aware of Mrs. Snape's involvement in assisting Harry fight and destroy..."

Bedlam broke out as several people tried to respond at once. "I can't do that!" Hermione exclaimed.

"He's not a bad guy – you've got things wrong about him," Ginny said defensively. "The Carrows would have hurt everybody..."

"He was in the Order, and he was working on our side through all this war," Mrs. Weasley declared. "He helped save lives..."

"He was Dumbledore's man, his spy – I know it for sure," Harry added. "He helped me loads of times..."

"What did I miss?" Mr. Weasley asked, coming through the Floo.

"You cannot really expect me to simply turn him in!" Hermione exclaimed aghast. "He's my husband!"

"There are memories in a Pensieve; they explain everything," Harry stated. "Dumbledore's portrait – you can ask him yourself..."

"He tried protecting the kids at school," Ginny stated. "Did what he could so no one was truly maimed..."

"At great personal risk to himself, too, might I add," Mrs. Weasley finished. "Gave us loads of information... warnings..."

"Aurors Lerman and Darthmyer want Hermione to turn Severus over to the Ministry," Ginny explained to her dad as Kingsley Shacklebolt stepped from the Floo.

"Just tell us where to find him and we'll take it from there," Mr. Lerman said, sounding very much like a demand.

"I cannot do that," Hermione determinedly.

"Why ever not?" Ron cried out.

"Because he's not a criminal!" Hermione answered him angrily.

"He most certainly is! He killed Dumbledore, young lady. Surely, you aren't under his spell or Imperiused are you? I could take you in and question you..." Mr. Lerman stated, pulling his wand. Four other wands pointed right back at him.

Mr. Darthmyer drew his wand.

Minister Shacklebolt stood up to his full height and bellowed, "HOLD ON THERE!" as Mr. Weasley pulled his wand from his robes.

The room fell quiet.

Mr. Lerman still had his wand pointed at Hermione. Hermione, Ginny, Harry and Ron had their wands pointed at Mr. Lerman. Mr. Darthmyer had his wand pointed at Harry. Mrs. Weasley's wand was centered on Mr. Darthmyer's chest. Mr. Weasley had his wand out, pointed at Mr. Darthmyer's should he do anything to his wife, but he was the first to lower his wand, although he watched the wand tip pointed at Mrs. Weasley closely.

"Wands down, now." Everyone turned to look at Kingsley, and slowly wands lowered. "Now would someone please tell me what – wait," he said, holding up his hand. "I know why you are here, Lerman, Darthmyer. Miss Granger – or should I call you Mrs. Snape now?"

Hermione, feeling safer now that Kingsley was in charge, turned around and faced him. "Please call me Hermione."

"Fine," he said. "From what I know you and Severus Snape have consummated a Bonding Charm of some kind, of which I have a few questions of my own. But what has my interest now is – why on earth are you protecting him?"

"Stan Shunpike," Hermione and Harry said in unison. Hermione smiled at Harry and he blushed back at her. "He was not a Death Eater. He was simply bragging and landed in Azkaban. Remember Charlie Smythers? Not a Death Eater – was Imperiused – but jailed anyway. Ministry jails first, and then forgets to ask the big questions," Hermione stated. "I've my reasons. He's not a saint, but he's not – well, is – was a Death Eater, but he's not what everyone thinks he is. Besides I don't know where he is at this time."

Kingsley crossed his arms regarding her closely. "And if you did?"

Hermione shook her head.

Kingsley held up his wand and raised his eyebrow. "May I check?" He waited until she nodded and swept it over her, nodding to his Aurors. "UnImperiused. Hermione, why? Legilimens. "

The soft invasion was quick. Very few flashes crossed her mind, but they were mostly images from Order meetings, times that Hermione'd seen Severus standing at Dumbledore's side, and Hermione suddenly realized, He didn't pull forward any of my memories about the dreams or being with Severus last night! He's not looking! He's giving me a message! The contact broke and she looked down at the floor to hide her smile. He's telling me that he knows what side Severus was on, that he was one of us, the good guys!

"She doesn't know, gentlemen. I suggest we let the family have their breakfast." He turned to Mr. Weasley and Harry.

Hermione successfully repressed her smile, knowing that Kingsley just lied to his Auror's regarding her knowledge about Severus' whereabouts, although she had no idea why he'd do that.

"Arthur, come by my office when you get to the Ministry. Harry, I'd like to see you, too, if you don't mind." Kingsley crossed the room ushering his Aurors out the door. He turned and looked at Hermione one last time before leaving. "I suggest you change your mind, Hermione, and decide to help us out. I would like to see you in my office later today as well."

Hermione nodded and watched him leave, wondering if she should have told him, then decided now wasn't the time. She needed to be sure of her feelings before she caused Severus to be sent to Azkaban. She sighed and started for the stairs. "And where do you think you're going Mrs. Snape?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

Hermione took a deep breath, turned and faced Mrs. Weasley. "Okay. Yes. I did the Moon-Song Charm – the potion and ritual – along with Ginny and Luna. And yes, somehow, it linked me to Severus Snape – not Ron."

"Ha! I knew – wait you thought me and you?" Ron said flabbergasted. "You thought it'd be me?"

Hermione ignored his outburst. "I didn't know how to break it so – well – it happened. And now all this and..." She made a sweep of her hand. "I don't know why he wants me – but he seems to and... well..." She looked at Ginny. "It will work out somehow I assume. But for now all I'd really like is to clean up and change."

"Hermione, do you have any idea where he is?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"No, I don't, well, not really," she said, not sure why she'd just lied to him. "But he'll come back. He told me so. He said he'd summon me... Please, can this wait?"

Mrs. Weasley walked over and put a motherly arm across Hermione's shoulders. "Oh, of course it can. Go up and take a quick bath, and I'll fix you a spot of breakfast."

"Thank you," Hermione replied, gratefully.

"Hermione, wait!" Ginny called after her, reached up and pulled something from Hermione's hair. "You've a bug. Mum, do you have a jar?" she asked, examining the beetle with a wicked grin.

The beetle instantly Transformed into Rita Skeeter. "No! No, please – not again. I'm sorry! I was on Darthmyer's robes – I had no idea!" Hermione, Harry and Ginny all looked at her in disbelief while Mrs. Weasley beamed in delight! "I just thought, since I'm writing a book on Severus Snape, and Darthmyer is investigating him – you know... first-hand scoop. Information straight from the..."

Harry's eyebrows went up. "You're writing a book on Snape and you came here?"

"On the Auror Darthmyer's robe! I assure you, I had no idea where we were going... Okay, I did, and I was curious, and I thought..." Rita turned to Hermione. "Don't think you'd like to make it official. Tell me a few facts, something the readers might love to know?

"No!" Harry, Hermione and Ginny all said definitively.

"No juicy tid-bits? No little snippets... no juicy news? You could tell the wizarding world your side," she begged. "How you ensnared him? How he reacted? I would pay handsomely for an interview."

"That's enough," Ginny said, quickly casting her Bat-Bogey Hex on Rita.

She shrieked, batting at the flying bogeys around her face. "I have plenty of gossip already – I know what you did! I – I know what you all said. I heard you..."

Harry stepped forward. "You'll print your lies, and I'll come out and tell the truth."

Rita tried to look at him, and Harry stepped toward her, his wand raised. "But listen to me, Rita, you'd better not make Hermione's life miserable. Do you hear me? I'm warning you."

"Fine," she snarled as Harry corralled her toward the door, making her leave.

~ T B C ~>

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Author's notes: