Chapter 7

Disclaimer: See Chapter One please.

Thanks go to charmed_nay and ladyinthecloak for beta reading.

Hermione woke feeling as though she'd drunk an entire bottle of wine by herself. "Ugh. My head," she grumbled aloud, rubbing her sleep-crusted eyes. Then she remembered where she should be, causing her eyes to snap open. Sure enough, the thick curtains that surrounded Snape's bed were hanging next to her, and she felt a heavy arm flung over her waist possessively.

Small snatches of the night before came back to her in quick blurs: massaging Snape's lifeless body, Snape's hand twitching, eyes filled with only black gazing at her intently, sandalwood assailing her senses, Snape over her... inside her. Hermione sat up quickly and gazed down at the sleeping man. What would happen next? What exactly had happened, and why was everything so foggy? She had the feeling that there was something important that she'd forgotten. What was it? Would it come to her eventually?

She slid out of the bed slowly, not ready to face him if he should wake. She remembered Lucius saying that he'd likely rest for a long while. As she pulled on a dressing gown that had been laid next to her bed, she called out for Bozzy, Lucius' house-elf.

"Miss is calling Bozzy?" the elf asked immediately.

"Yes, I need Lucius to come here please. Would you fetch him for me?"

"Yes, miss."

Once the elf popped away, she closed her eyes to try to clear the mist from her mind and rubbed her temples tenderly. She could see Lucius clearly in her mind, telling her something, but she couldn't read his lips or make out his words. It was obviously something important, as she could feel the panic she'd felt then flow through her anew.

The door creaked open, and Lucius strode in, looking from her to the bed where Severus lay sleeping. "Hermione? All right?" he asked, a worried expression on his face.

Though she felt uneasy, she couldn't help but to stride forward and embrace him. "We've done it. Severus is alive!" Hearing Snape's given name fall so easily on her lips felt odd, yet it had been so natural. The memory of her crying out his name during their coupling came to her, and she released Lucius and looked away.

"How was he?"

"Pardon?" she asked, startled.

"His mannerisms? His words?"

"He... At first, I can remember being afraid of him. God, his eyes. They weren't normal. They were a demon's eyes...all black, no white at all, and yet, he... he was kind to me." She shrugged and looked at him squarely. "The anointment perhaps?"

"I've some news," he said gravely, pulling the tome from beneath his robes. "Do you remember our conversation before I left you alone with him?"

She thought hard. "I can remember that there was something, but... no, I'm sorry. I can plainly see you telling me something, and then things get foggy and dark."

"Hermione, remember the tome's words about your blood, your body, and your soul?"

"Yes."

"I've learnt what the soul part meant. I told you last night, but you agreed to carry on anyway, as you truly had no choice. Perhaps you've blocked it out, it being such a shock and disappointment."

"Just say it. What?" She wanted to know and didn't...not if his expression was anything to go by. "Will I die?"

"No," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder reassuringly, "but you are now Severus' wife, bound to him for all your lives."

"But how?"

"The potion, your virginal blood, the willing sacrifice of your body... I'm afraid that it was sealed when you and he had intercourse."

"NO! I would have seen that coming. I..."

"Neither of us had ever seen this potion before, and the bloody book wasn't very forthcoming, was it? How could we have known?"

"Lucius, there has to be a way out of this. I can't be bound to him. Ron and I have some things to work through, and... oh." Then she remembered the pictures of Ron and his lover. Other things began coming back to her: acceptance of her decision, Severus gazing down at her possessively as he slid into her welcoming body, the feel of hope... of power.

I'm trying to bed my wife, he'd said.

"I've done it, haven't I? I've married Snape."

"Unconventionally, but yes, you are now his wife." He pulled her into his arms and held her, rubbing her back soothingly. "I have no words, Hermione."

She pulled in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Snape's wife. Marriage. Images of a laughing Ron filled her mind, him holding her, gazing at her tenderly, his bittersweet farewell. All that she'd planned would never come to pass. There would be no wedding, which she'd been mentally planning since she'd seen how lovely Fleur and Bill's had been. Her parents would never understand her sudden choice to marry a man whom the Wizarding world believed to be dead. God, Harry. What will I tell Harry?

"What do we do now?" she asked in a broken voice.

"I believe you wanted to make a journal about all we've done for future reference."

She nodded. "I'll take the tome as well to see if it will give me any other information." Hermione turned around and walked over to Severus, pulling the duvet up slightly to hide the crack of his arse from Lucius' view. "What about him?"

"I think it wise for you to be here when he wakes... just in case. I can have Bozzy situate you? Bring your things?"

"Please." A sigh left her suddenly. "Will he be fully aware, do you think, of all that's gone on?"

"Of that, I am certain," he said with a gleam in his eyes, turning towards the door. "Oh, before I forget, I've had an owl from Narcissa this morning. She'll be coming home soon, misses me it seems."

Hermione's eyes widened. "What will she say about this?"

He chuckled. "Narcissa, like me, owes Severus much and will be happy to know that he's rejoined us. It was our greatest wish after all."

"Will she not hate that I am here?"

"She knows, remember?"

"I..."

He gazed at her for a moment. "I think it's best that we keep some aspects of our research to ourselves?"

"Yes, I agree." She knew he was referring to the night they'd spent together. "I think I'll feel very awkward though. Maybe I'll just go home to Grimmauld Place."

"Your place is with Severus now, Hermione. You are married. Don't forget that."

"Oh, I... This is just all too much, too sudden." She snorted and shook her head. "Maybe he'll not want to keep our vows, maybe he'll be glad to send me packing." Even as she said it, she knew that wouldn't be the case...not if his whispered words had truly meant anything.

You are my own.

She shivered involuntarily and felt gooseflesh rise along her arms.

My wife.

Lucius chuckled, obviously not thinking that would be the case either. "I highly doubt that, Hermione. Fear not, Narcissa will not make you uncomfortable. We are indebted to you for doing this. You have given so much."

There was something in his voice that made her look up. His expression seemed genuine, but his tone had held a hint of sarcasm. Surely she'd imagined it. "Send my things to me, and I'll get to work documenting everything. Most of it's done already."

"As you wish."

She took the tome from him and watched him leave the room. Once he was gone, she opened it and flipped through the pages. The passage was near the beginning, obviously eager to be read, its message taunting.

Now that you have completed your tasks your loved one will be spared.

You have been chosen to be by his side...remain there for all your days.

Hermione sneered as she read the message a second time. She'd see about this. She'd not given up her future and happiness to be treated in such a way. While she knew better than to test the tome's warnings, she knew that she wouldn't sit timidly aside and serve her new husband as women did in the past. She would talk to him and have him see her as his equal. Of the pieces she could remember from the night before, she'd ended up feeling safe and pleased with his handling of her. He was definitely not the Snape she remembered from her school years. The kind and smiling Snape from her dream at the beach filled her mind.

"I could possibly be happy one day, couldn't I?" she mused aloud. Still, she hated that it was all due to the meddling of some book. The meddling of some book and something else... something just out of reach.

Go by your instincts, care for him...

Hermione closed the book and went to sit next to Severus, placing her hands on his shoulders, massaging them lightly. It was good to feel warm, live flesh beneath her fingers. It took away the horrible vision of having shagged a dead man...some Inferius or worse.

"You're so soft," she whispered. Her hands stopped rubbing and trailed lightly down his back towards the duvet that covered his body from his arse down. "Will you be happy, Severus Snape?"

Beneath her hands, his body shifted, and he turned over to gaze at her, black eyes boring into hers intensely. "Will you be happy, Hermione Snape?"

Her eyes widened as she heard her new name on his lips. "I suppose that depends on you, doesn't it?"

"My answer is the same."

The next several minutes were spent staring at each other, as though sizing up opponents. She never realized that one of her hands had traveled to his face to rest on his cheek until he nuzzled it slightly with his mouth.

"W-what do we do now?" she asked finally.

"First, I would like a loo, and then I would like a shower. Later, we will discuss things further."

"You'll need to take things easy at first. You're supposed to rest and..."

He arched an eyebrow and smirked. "I am capable of seeing to it that I remain among the living." However, when he sat up, he was a little shaky. He said nothing more as she slid his arm around her shoulder and helped him to rise and make his way over to the loo that Lucius had had connected to the room. Once inside, she closed the door to give him privacy.

Slightly annoyed that he'd not thanked her for saving his life, she sat at the desk, preparing to make some notes. It was then that she noticed her strewn clothes from the day before...her jeans, jumper, and underclothes. The flashes from the night before had had her clad in nothing or a black nightgown. When had she put that on? The image of Lucius raking his hands over her body as he peeled away her clothes came to mind. She shuddered. Surely that hadn't happened. And then she could plainly see a malicious glint in his eyes, and she felt paralyzed, unable to fight him.

Hermione tried to examine the thought more, but then it was gone, replaced by the vision of Bozzy holding out the nightgown. Had it just been a dream? Her overactive imagination, always suspicious and conjuring new scenarios? Regardless of what it was, she quickly pulled on her clothes, knowing them to be clean, as she'd only worn them a few moments. At once, she felt comfortable and more confident.

As she picked up the quill to dip it in her ink well, she had the feeling that Severus needed her. He'd not called out to her, but she could feel it as easily as if he'd spelled it out for her. She dropped her quill and went to knock on the bathroom door.

"Severus?"

There was no answer. She opened the door, hoping she wasn't invading his privacy, only to find that he'd already used the toilet and had stepped into the shower stall. He was braced against the wall with the steaming spray just pouring down on him. She went closer and could see the emotion on his face, in his eyes.

"All right?"

He lifted his head and looked at her almost sadly, shaking it negatively. Without thinking, she peeled away her recently donned clothes and got in with him, taking most of his weight onto her and holding his shaking body to her tightly.

"I can't say that I know how you're feeling right now, but I can try to imagine how overwhelming this is for you...being here again. There is so much I can tell you, so much I want to ask you about what you remember, but we'll do this one step at a time. Together. I promised I'd help you."

To her surprise, her words prompted one of his arms to wind around her waist in a tight squeeze. She could feel him heaving against her and knew that he was crying, hiding his face in her hair as he did so. Her heart melted for him. This man had given so much to aid their world, had lost so much, had lived in such pain for all those years.

Hermione pressed a kiss to his wet shoulder. Compassion filled her, and nothing mattered more to her in that moment than soothing him, helping him adjust. She moved slightly, and her lips found the crook of his neck where she opened her mouth to taste him, sucking lightly. The shaking in his body subsided slowly as she trailed kisses along his throat towards his jaw.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice an emotional, incredulous whisper.

"Do you mind?" she asked with a small smile, tossing his words back at him from the night before. "I'm trying to kiss my husband."

The raw emotion in his answering kiss was enough to weaken her legs, especially with the added weight of his body against her, so they somehow managed to tumble out onto the thick rug on the bathroom floor, her on top of him, bodies slick with water from the shower.

"This is awkward," she said lightly.

"Beautiful," he quietly said, his hands reaching up to push her hair aside and cup her breasts, causing her to gasp in surprise.

She bit her lip, feeling her cheeks heat, realizing she was completely naked before him. She hadn't thought twice about doing it before, but now she questioned her judgment, especially seeing the lust and fascination in his eyes.

"I want to know every part of you," he stated plainly.

"Are you not disappointed?" she asked suddenly, uncertain what gave her the courage to bring up what was bothering her.

"How do you mean?"

"That it's me whom Lucius chose to work with?"

One of his hands tangled into her hair and then twirled a finger around a curl. "I find it hard to believe that it could be anyone else."

Hermione brightened at this. "Really?"

"I taught many students in my time, and I must say that out of the lot, you were one of the most promising and also one of the most logical. Tell me, Hermione, how exactly did you and Lucius figure out what could do this? Why have you agreed to do this, giving yourself to me when I've never done anything kind to you?"

"Never done anything kind? You died for us! You protected us so many times, and you put yourself at risk repeatedly, knowing what could happen."

"Don't think me so noble. I'm afraid there were other reasons," he said quietly, eyes suddenly unfocused as he lost himself in thought.

She knew that he must be thinking of Lily and wished that she could somehow compare to Harry's mother. "I know you loved her."

His eyes found hers again. "I do, yes."

And he probably always would, she gathered. The disappointment was surprising, as she knew there would never be love between them. Besides, she loved someone else, too. "The tome, it sounds as though you and I are to be on unequal terms, you lording over me. I don't want to live like that."

"What tome?"

"The one that chose me to help you."

"Can you show me this book?"

"Don't you remember? You came to me in my dreams. The tome was always there."

"I have snatches of visions, but I can't be certain what's real and what is not."

"Where were you all this time? Is there an afterworld?"

"I shall answer your questions, but I would like to look at this tome."

Hermione moved off of him, kneeling and placing her hands over her breasts to cover herself. "It's in the room."

"Why do you cover yourself?" he asked, placing his hands over hers and attempting to move them. He seemed unabashed about his nakedness.

"I... feel strange."

"Never feel the need to hide yourself from my eyes. I want to see what is mine," he said seriously.

Anger bubbled inside slightly. Was she to be nothing more than a possession? "Please, talk to me about our relationship. The only way that this can work is if..."

"This can do nothing else but work. We are bound together. Do you not feel it? The thrum of awareness? It's as though you are part of me."

She thought for a moment. "When you were in the shower, I felt the need to go to you. You hadn't called to me, but I knew you needed my assistance. You did, didn't you?"

"In a manner of speaking," he admitted with a nod, slowly rising and extending a hand to her.

Hermione swallowed her pride and accepted his help, no longer trying to hide her body from his piercing gaze. After all, he wasn't hiding himself from her gaze. Why should they both not be able to feel comfortable in each other's company? "This way, Severus."

She showed him to the desk where she'd placed the tome, and while he opened it and thumbed through it, she found her dressing gown once again and a matching one for him to don.

"Stand. Let me put this on you," she said, tugging on his arm.

"Where is my wand?" he asked after he'd seated himself again.

"I don't know."

"Where is your wand?"

"I have no idea," she admitted. Her brow furrowed. "I think Lucius took it from me, but I don't know why."

"Why would you let him disarm you?"

"I... It's a little foggy. We came in here, and then he and I shared a glass of wine to celebrate. I was so nervous and a little afraid. But then..."

Severus slammed the tome down onto the desk and went to the bed, tearing away the duvet, looking at the bed sheet. "Am I not your first?"

"What?" she asked incredulously. "You can't be serious!"

"I most certainly am." He spun around and gazed at her darkly.

"I'm nearly twenty years old. You surely can't expect me to have never..."

"Did you not know what you were doing here? When I took you, did you know that we were consummating a marriage agreement?"

"I... Not until the last minute, I think. Lucius said that he told me, but it's unclear."

"You didn't know what to expect."

"Of course I knew that we had to have sex. It was the third part of the spell that went along with the potion." She backed away a little as he stepped closer and looked into her eyes unblinkingly. "What's wrong?"

"Where is Lucius?" Each word was drawn out and angry, frightening Hermione.

"He said for me to stay here with you while I finished documenting everything." She stepped away from him and looked away, not wanting his gaze to bore into hers any longer. "His wife will be home soon, so I expect he's preparing things."

"I will go speak with him."

"Wait!" she said, grabbing his hand. "You need to rest. You've not even had anything to eat or drink yet."

"I believe I have rested enough." Severus wrenched his hand from hers. "And I've quite lost my appetite. I will see Lucius now, and you will remain here."

"I most certainly will not!" she said angrily. "I won't be kept in the dungeon like some... pet. This is my life as well, and I deserve to know what's going on!"

"Is this how you plan to live, fighting me at every corner? I need to speak to Lucius alone. There are things that I intend to find out, and I highly doubt he'll speak of them in front of you."

"He and I have been working together."

"You are a fool if you think he's not been hiding things from you." He strode back to the desk and picked up the book, throwing it across the room. "Or manipulating you."

"Sorry? What?"

"Will you wait for me here?"

She frowned but nodded.

He seemed pleased with her answer, reaching out to place his fingers beneath her chin. "I will discuss this with you when I return."

"Will you tell me everything and be honest with me?" She clasped his fingers with her own. "It's very important to me. Severus, something... something's not right, is it?"

"Leave that to me." And then he was gone.

More confused than ever, Hermione went to the tome and picked it up, whispering, "Please don't let my father suffer because of his anger."

And then it struck her as interesting. His opinion of the book wasn't very high, but yet it had been instrumental in recruiting her and explaining things to her so that she and Lucius could give Severus his life back. All this was just too much to take in at once. Everything was happening so fast. Her mind was awhirl with thoughts that she couldn't quite remember, words she couldn't quite hear, so many questions, fear, anticipation, and strange feelings. She simply wanted to flee.

The Snape she'd just witnessed had been more like the one she remembered. He'd been quite offended that she'd not been a virgin when he'd had her. She now wished she'd have thought to toss it in his face that the bloody potion needed that personal ingredient and took that choice away from her. However, she'd been so indignant at what he'd said that she couldn't think straight for a moment. Perhaps she should have asked him if she had been his first and then pretend to be insulted when he admitted that he'd had other lovers before her.

"Prat," she said as she made her way to the bathroom to once again don her jeans and jumper. She had work to do, and the sooner she got all of her notes together, the sooner she could figure out ways to help others. She could only hope that Severus would support her decision. Surely he would. He'd been dead for heaven's sake, and it was likely he'd want to save others from that fate. But what was he so angry with Lucius for? What did he suspect that he didn't want to tell her?

That feeling of unease was upon her again, and she thought back to the earlier vision of a sneering Lucius, obviously saying cold words, and hard, silvery eyes gazing at her. Unbidden, the words Lucius will pay for this came to mind, sounding loudly in her ears.

"Good grief. I'm going mad."

Hermione wrote and made notes for what felt like an hour, and she'd had enough of waiting. He should have been back sooner than that. Frustrated, she went to the door, but she found that it was locked! Severus had locked her inside.

"How dare he!" she yelled angrily, kicking at the door. "Bozzy?"

The elf didn't appear as he had so many times before. Why? Fear gripped her heart. What if something had gone wrong with Severus? What if he and Lucius had fought, causing him to leave? Was Lucius holding her as a hostage? But, of course, not. He'd never do that to her. He had too much to lose. If he did such a thing, he'd land himself back in Azkaban.

"But who would tell anyone about it?" she asked bitterly. She'd made an oath that she'd never tell anyone anything incriminating about him if they'd use it against him. And everyone she knew would definitely use her words against the man...except Severus. They'd been friends for years as far as she knew.

"Oh, Severus, where are you?" she asked, rubbing her hands up and down her arms as if to warm herself. Wanting to retreat to the only place that she could "feel" him, she lay in the bed, snuggled into his pillow, and pulled the duvet up over her body. It was then that she realized exactly how exhausted she was and allowed her eyes to close for a bit of rest... just until he'd return, no longer.

What have I got myself into? she thought. I should be with my father and mother at the hospital. I should have taken Harry's advice and just stayed away! But then Severus would still be dead. God, I'm married. I have a husband. Will this never feel real to me?

A/N: Not good!