Chapter 27

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

Thanks go to ladyinthecloak for beta reading this.

Hermione wiped her eyes and was surprised that there were no more tears. Everything that had happened could have been prevented if only she'd made the right decision about Severus before. She'd chosen Ron when she shouldn't have. Her reasoning now seemed so childish to her. And yet Severus' feelings had never wavered.

Things he'd done and said all made sense to her now. He was just fighting to keep what he loved in his life. It could have all gone about differently, but what was done, was done, and there would be no changing it. The first thing she had to do now was get her husband back.

She felt the loss of the bond more deeply than ever and longed to be tied to him again. "And I will be," she said determinedly.

Going over to sit at the desk in the corner of the room, she took out some parchment and an inkpot before fishing out a quill. She began scribbling on the page.

To-Do List

5. Plan Ginny's Hen Party

"There's more, but this will have to do for now," she muttered as she looked over the pitifully short list again.

Then, feeling rather emotional, she wrote out her feelings:

Hermione loves Severus

Severus and Hermione always

A bubble of laughter left her then, and she was filled with hope. How many times had she done that in the past? It was as if writing it out solidified it. Decision suddenly made, she pushed the parchment aside and was bent on getting at least one item from her list taken care of. She strode across the room and sat next to the chest, placing a hand on the top and lovingly caressing it.

"What secrets have you placed in here, Severus?" she wondered aloud as she flicked her wand to unlock it. The lid creaked as she opened it and peered in to find several parchments scattered about. She recognized his handwriting immediately.

Gently lifting one parchment, she untied the ribbon holding it closed and allowed it to unroll. "I hope I'm doing the right thing," she whispered before looking down to read his words.

26 December 1997

Definitely something to ponder. For now, I must deal with the Carrows.

"So it's a trunk of letters and writings containing his private thoughts." Unable to stop herself, she reached in and pulled out another parchment. This time, her heart dropped as she read the letter's salutation.

My Dearest Hermione,

Severus

"This must have been after I left him that day... when I hid from him in the library." Hermione frowned. How could she have hurt him so? Why had she been so childish in her decision, thinking of others and the easy way out?

Snatching a scroll partially rolled up with red spiky writing on it, she sat back against the headboard to read it.

God forgive me, but I've done it. I hexed her. She'll not lay with him no matter what she thinks is right unless I release her.

Hermione sucked in a harsh breath. She knew without reading anything else what he was speaking of. It was he...not Malfoy...who'd cast the spell to make sure she'd not want to have sex with Ron. Feeling angry and betrayed, she tossed the parchment aside and closed her eyes.

When had he done it? It had to have been after she'd forced her memories to hide. Little indignant voices began whispering in her mind: 'So he planned it all along, eh? Oh, he was more worried about safeguarding his return from the Otherworld, that's why he did it! He did this without your consent! He's a dark wizard after all, harming she whom he loves!'

"No," she said firmly. "I'll not let this poison my feelings again. I know what I want. He's not perfect, never has been, but it's part of why I love him. Who knows? I might have done something similar if I'd been half as desperate as he apparently was."

She lifted the paper and began reading again.

I told Malfoy about it, and he thinks it's a brilliant spell, but he feels I've wasted it on a Mudblood, as he calls her. I hate when he says that about her. It makes me want to strangle him. Next time, I'll take him to task, no matter how much money he has or how many connections he has. She doesn't know what she's thinking, and I won't let Potter ruin her in a fit of passion. She'll regret it all her life when she returns to me.

"Potter?" Hermione's brow furrowed. "What in the..."

And then it came to her. The chest didn't only contain things about her but also things about Lily. It was Lily he'd cast the spell on. And Malfoy did know about it after all. So possibly, it could still have been Malfoy who'd hexed her and not Severus.

"Severus was so obsessed with Lily," she said. "Am I only his next obsession?"

She hoped that was not the case. He seemed so vehement in his love, and with the bond they'd shared, she'd felt the extent of his feelings. Why hadn't she understood this then? Why had she made such a mess of things?

Still, he must have released Lily from the spell, else Harry wouldn't have been conceived. That proved that he ultimately let her have her happiness at the expense of his own.

Tenderly, she placed the parchment down and vowed not to read any more of his private thoughts. She had no right to trespass on his things, for she wouldn't have wanted him to do the same with her. If he decided in the future to let her read through them, then she would choose if she wanted to do so or not. She was uncertain if she wanted to know so many things about his past with Lily.

That didn't matter to her anyway. The man Severus was once didn't matter either. The here and the now mattered. She loved him, and she would be with him again. Hermione fixed the chest's contents back as she'd found them, closed the lid, and then magically locked it before placing it beneath her bed. She moved towards her desk again, lifted her quill, and scratched out the fourth item on her To-Do List.

4. Explore Severus' chest

Deciding it was time to try to explain things to her friends...completely...she left her room. The house was dark and quiet. Ron had apparently gone to bed, and she wasn't sure that Ginny and Harry had returned yet. She'd have to wait until the morning before she could speak with them, and she promised herself she'd not leave a single detail out. They deserved to know the truth, especially Ron.

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Lucius woke from a pleasant, erotic dream and decided to roll over and pull his wife closer to him, allowing his hand to wander down her abdomen and to rest between her thighs for a moment before sliding his fingers beneath her lacy knickers to delve into the moist heat of her body.

"Already wanting, are we?" he purred, moving to turn her over and position himself between her thighs, pushing down his underpants as he did so. "Let's get rid of these," he murmured as he bent forward and nipped at her knickers with his teeth to pull them down her thighs as she readily lifted her arse and maneuvered to help him. On his way up her long limbs, he kissed and laved her succulent flesh, stopping for a moment to tease her clitoris before quickly moving himself over her and plunging in hard and deep.

As he rocked on top of his wife, her legs tightened around him, and she moved with him, moaning and urging him on. He leaned forward and kissed her deeply, holding himself up on his forearms as his rhythm became choppy and rough, deliberately trying to hit her inner spot of bliss. Once the kiss ended, he rested his head against her shoulder, sucking the sweetly scented skin at the base of her throat as he continued to thrust into her, bringing her...and himself...closer to the edge.

"Lucius! Oh, don't stop. Harder, faster!"

"Yes, yes," he agreed, doing as she bid.

"Lucccciuuuusssssss, yeeesssssssss..."

He felt her tighten around his cock, and then his balls tightened in answer as his seed pumped forth. "God, Narcissa," he murmured with a few short, erratic thrusts.

Placing light kisses on her throat, eyes closed, he dared not move away or out of her until his breathing calmed, as did hers. "I love you."

"I am not the sssentimental type, Luciussss," came the answer, "but you have a way with your cock if nothing elsssse."

His eyes opened wide, and he realized that he'd not made love to his wife, and it wasn't she who lay beneath him. Slowly, moving up, he shuddered as he gazed into the ruby-slitted eyes of the Dark Lord. His flaccid prick slid out of the Dark Lord's arse immediately, and Lucius felt he might be sick.

"I feel the need to come again," the Dark Lord said, grabbing Lucius by the hair and pushing his head down to his huge, hard cock. "Suck it."

"Yes, my Lord," he replied, nearly gagging and wondering how this had come to be. One moment he'd been fucking his wife and the next...

Over and over the Dark Lord pushed Lucius' head and forced him to take his thick member into his throat entirely, choking and gagging him as he did so. When will it end? When will he come? Lucius thought over and over.

"Never... never," came the Dark Lord's reply.

Lucius vomited and awoke from the nightmare, the remnants of his dinner on his bedsheets. "NO!!" he shrieked, scrambling out of the bed.

"What is it?" Narcissa asked, very much awake suddenly. "Oh God! Lucius, the sheets! Disgusting! Bozzy!"

"It was a nightmare," he panted. "I thought... It felt so real... It was like..."

His eyes widened in sudden realization: nightmare, bad dream. How had he not put it all together sooner?

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The first thing Hermione did when she woke the next morning was to cross the room to sit at her desk. She lifted her quill, dipped it in her inkpot, and then scratched off the next item on her list.

3. Exact a final revenge on Lucius Malfoy

She'd tortured him enough, and if she couldn't get past what had happened, she couldn't get on with her future. She would let Severus deal with Lucius, and she would be done with it...though she'd not forget or forgive. Soon the protective ointment Lucius had placed on his head to ensure Severus wouldn't harm him would be null, and then true revenge could take place.

"What if Severus kills him?" she wondered. Then she shook her head. She wasn't sure that he would, though Lucius might wish for death. Hermione didn't let her thoughts stray any further, keeping what he'd done to her and to her family in the forefront of her mind.

For now, she had to talk to her friends and explain all that had happened...even the details she didn't want them to know (if they took an oath that they'd not turn Lucius in to the Ministry, as per the oath she'd taken with him). Regardless, she would feel that burden had been lifted from her.

Decision made, she scratched another item off her list.

2. Explain everything to my friends

Hurriedly, she dressed and made her way down to the kitchen where she found Ginny cooking porridge.

"Good morning," she said as she seated herself at the table and poured a glass of orange juice for herself.

Ginny smiled. "Morning to you. Guess our plan didn't work, huh?"

"Nope," Hermione replied before sipping her drink. "But there's much we need to discuss. Is Harry coming down soon?"

"He was right behind me. Think he needed to use the loo first."

"Good. I hope Ron's not left yet."

"No, he was just waking when I passed his room," Ginny answered. "And already grumbling about being hungry."

"As usual," Hermione said, laughing lightly.

"Of course."

She rose and began making toast while waiting for Harry and Ron to join them. Once the toast and porridge was done, both men appeared magically as if summoned by ready food. Purposely, she sat at the head of the table so she could face the three of them.

As plates and glasses were filled, she cleared her throat. "I thought it was time to be honest with you lot about... about everything. I think you deserve to know the full truth."

"Hermione..." Harry began.

"No, I need to do this, Harry, but first, if you want to know, you have to promise me that you won't use what I am about to tell you against Lucius Malfoy in a way that might land him in Azkaban. And apparently," she said, "you won't be able to tell anyone either. I took that stupid oath when I began working with him, and it's one of the conditions."

Ron put his spoon down very slowly and deliberately, focusing his attention on her. "I don't like it, but I want to know all of it. You have my word."

Ginny nodded. "Mine as well."

Harry frowned. "You've got me in a tight spot, but... you know you can count on me. I promise that I won't turn him in." His knuckles turned white as he gripped his spoon and tried to look calm. "What is it then?"

She took a shaky breath and began her tale nervously, knowing they'd think badly of her for the lengths she went to...at least momentarily. She hoped, however, that they would understand; actually, she knew that they would.

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"Ron, please say something," Hermione pleaded, knowing that his red face and narrowed eyes were a warning.

"What do you want me to say?" he said, voice loud, as he expelled a harsh breath. "I hate that bastard." Suddenly jumping up, he tossed his uneaten bowl of porridge to the side and stormed out of the room, yelling, "He'll pay for this!" as he did so.

"H-Harry?" Hermione said, voice trembling. "Please stop him!"

He nodded and quickly followed in Ron's footsteps.

Ginny eyed her sadly. "So... all this time you've been in love with Snape, removed him from your memories, Malfoy... Malfoy used you to get him back, Snape was in on it, and poor Ron never had a chance."

"I'm sorry." It was all Hermione could say.

Opening her arms, Ginny scooted closer and hugged Hermione, who promptly began to cry in relief. "I was used in a similar way once, Hermione," Ginny said quietly. "I know how it feels to think one thing, do another, have no place to turn, no answers... It's horrible. I'm sorry you had to experience something like that."

It was strange how easily she could forget that Voldemort himself had used Ginny when she'd only been an eleven-year-old girl. Ginny just seemed so strong, like it hadn't had any repercussions in the least. "I didn't think about that, Gin," she admitted. "I wish that had never happened to you either."

"Thank God for my Harry."

Hermione nodded and continued to hold her friend, afraid of what Ron might be planning to do. When they heard a yell and a thud, both girls startled from their own thoughts and ran to see what had happened.

They found Harry lying on his side, wand a few feet from his body. He'd been Stupefied. "Harry!" both girls cried out, running forward to help him.

"Finite," Hermione said with a wave of her wand. "Ron's gone, isn't he, Harry?"

Harry sat up, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah. I think he's gone to Malfoy Manor. Come on! We've got to stop him. I think he might... kill Malfoy."

"Shite!"

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Lucius pounded on the door until the small elf answered. "Where is your master?" he demanded, barging past her and knocking her down.

"Master isn't being here," she said.

"Find him. Now!"

Lucius strode into the sitting room and helped himself to Severus' bottle of firewhisky. The man...and the bitch he called wife...had a lot of explaining to do. If he had to, he'd send Severus back to the Otherworld without any qualms. He'd missed his friend, but if Severus weren't loyal to the cause and all the plans they'd made, it wouldn't pay to have him about where he might ruin things. And Granger would pay for it as well.

He smirked and mentally patted himself on his back. Having the foresight of creating the ointment and anointing himself with it had been genius. Severus could do nothing to stop him.

A loud crack sounded.

"Lucius, what do I owe the pleasure of a visit so early in the morning?" Severus, looking surly, strode forward and extended his hand.

Taking the proffered hand and shaking it, he said, "And why were you not here with your harpy, I mean, wife? Surely a newly married couple such as yourselves have a lie in now and again."

Severus frowned, turned, and went to pour his own glass of firewhisky.

"What is it?" Lucius asked curiously.

"She's not here," Severus said before tossing back his tumbler without a grimace.

"Oh? Do tell."

"We had a row...and she's gone off to stay with Potter for a few days. I decided I needed time away from her anyway," Severus said, pouring himself another drink. "More?" he asked, nodding to Lucius' half-full glass.

"All right."

Both men settled into comfortable chairs with their refilled glasses. "She's not as easily controlled as I'd hoped it seems. I'm working on something to change that." He smirked at Lucius. "We shall see if it works later today, for I'm going to go to her and slip a bit into her drink.

Lucius looked at his own drink speculatively before replying. "Where is your Dream Stone, Severus?"

Severus' brow furrowed. "Izzy!" he called.

"Yes?" she asked, immediately popping into the room.

"Fetch my Dream Stone."

"Master, Mistress is having the Dream Stone," the elf said warily.

Noting the way Severus' face turned dark, Lucius knew the man wasn't behind the dreams he'd been having. He felt a moment of relief, for he hadn't really wanted to dirty his wand and kill his friend. He needed him far too much. It was so much easier to allow Severus to take the chances while he, himself, pulled the strings and ultimately had control.

"That will be all, Izzy," Severus said. He then faced Lucius. "Tell me. What are you not saying? What's she done?"

"I believe she's been behind my troubles...the nightmares, the sleeping problems, the lot of it! That fucking Dream Stone." He sneered. "She will pay for this, Severus."

Severus nodded. "Let me handle that."

"For now," the blond man replied. "I will have satisfaction. Last night was... the last straw."

"Do tell."

"I'd rather not. Suffice to say that it could possibly be one's worst nightmare concerning the Dark Lord." He placed his glass on the table next to his chair. "Why did you not tell me you were having trouble with the bint?"

Severus shrugged. "I expect I didn't want you to think I was failing at something. I suppose I tried to give her a little leeway. It seems to put her in the right mood for manipulating."

Lucius flashed a feral grin. "Indeed it does, my friend." He sighed slightly and then sobered. "What say you to having our first meeting? I've been able to sift out a few who would join us without much prodding. The Ministry seems to have stopped their sniffing around for the time being."

"You want to move things forward already?" Severus asked, seemingly surprised.

"I think we should."

"All right. I've been able to work out some ideas. Want to see my notes? I think you'll be surprised to..."

A loud pop sounded, and Bozzy scrambled into the room. "Master is needed at home, sir! My mistress is calling for him."

"What's the problem?" Lucius asked, sitting forward, ready to spring into action.

"Master Draco is home. Mistress isn't happy."

"Draco!" Lucius stood quickly. "Severus, do you want to come along to the manor? I need to see what he's divulged. I might be able to use your expertise in that area."

Severus nodded and rose. "Certainly."

"I can't believe the little ingrate has been hiding from us, his own family!" Lucius huffed, striding out the room.

"I expect he doesn't appreciate his treatment. You'll have to concoct a good story."

"Or none at all, depending what he's let slip. I've still got some of the potion left after all."

"As you see fit, of course," Severus said, Disapparating a moment before Lucius.

AN: And so, what do I say about the length of time it's been since I updated? ~pulls from hat of excuses~ I've had surgery last week and have been recovering. Before that, I was in the midst of some serious life changes (liquid diet, etc.), and I've been incredibly busy with martial arts and other RL things.

I can only say that I'm sorry for keeping you waiting...those of you still following anyway. I think my slow updating has caused most readers to drop the story. No matter. I'll still plod along. It's nearly done now. ~grin~