Chapter 5

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

A/N: All praise and much thanks to my betas, Alienor and Septentrion, for their kind words, hard work and input.

Packing...? He's talking to you, Hermione. He said something about packing. Don't just sit there like a stranded goldfish, you idiot. Say something!

She gulped. 'I-yes. Of-of course I'll help you pack.' To her embarrassment, a large bead of sweat dripped off the end of her nose and onto his hand. Severus withdrew it immediately.

'But... Um, could I use your loo first, please?'

Severus sat back in his chair, his face impassive. 'You may. You'll find the bathroom upstairs...first door on the right.'

'Thanks.' Hermione got up and made what she hoped was a dignified exit, even though every instinct was telling her to leg it as fast as she could. She took the stairs two at a time, Summoning her bag as she went, ran into the bathroom and locked the door behind her. What the hell must he think of me? She groaned. Did I really just drip sweat over him?

Looking about her, Hermione quickly appraised her surroundings. Like most bathrooms in houses of that age and style, it was small and poky. Not even the rays of the early morning sun could alleviate the sense of gloom and neglect. The difference between it and the sumptuous facilities Hermione had glimpsed at Hogwarts could not have been more pronounced...Severus' bathroom seemed like a hovel in comparison, but then, whose wouldn't? Although, having said that, the fixtures and fittings appeared to be the original Edwardian, and her mother would have killed for the cast-iron, roll-top bath with the clawed feet. She wrinkled her nose up; the place didn't smell, exactly, but it could have done with a lick of paint and a damn good clean.

I don't suppose Severus has been here in ages, Hermione thought charitably, lowering the heavy, wooden seat on the toilet. 'Oh, well...'

Settling herself on the loo, Hermione pondered the night's strange turn of events. Could she really be attracted to Snape? And more importantly, did he fancy her? The feeling in the pit of her stomach had been unmistakable, but... Snape? No, not Snape... Severus... The image of him asleep and vulnerable on the sofa came to mind, and she caught herself smiling at the memory... And then there was the way he'd looked at her when... A shiver ran down her spine. 'Severus.' She rolled the name around her tongue, trying it out for size, prolonging the sibilant 's' at the end. A name to be savoured, whispered in a shared moment of intimacy or screamed in the height of frenzied passion. Hermione giggled as she stood up. Her thoughts were starting to sound like a really cheap romantic novel.

She pulled the chain and stepped over to the washbasin. Catching sight of herself in the mirror as she turned the tap on brought her up short.

'No wonder he was staring at me.' Hermione regarded her reflection with horror. Blotchy skin, puffy eyes, escaped tendrils of hair frizzed beyond redemption. Her robe, dirty torn and damp, had sweat stains under the armpits. She couldn't have looked scruffier if she'd been helping Hagrid muck out the Thestrals all night.

'I have been in a battle,' she declared to the grubby urchin in front of her.

'That would explain a lot,' replied the mirror.

Hermione stifled a yelp. For as long as she lived, Hermione doubted she would ever get used to mirrors that talked back...strange ones, at least. She splashed some water on her face and neck, sorted out the tangle of brambles that was her hair, and repaired and cleaned her robe.

'Scrub up nice, though, don't you,' the mirror commented, as Hermione fished a tube of moisturiser out of her bag and applied some. 'It's been a while since I've seen a young lady. Makes a nice change to see a pretty face rather than his nibs' ugly mug glaring at me, let me tell you.'

'Severus is not ugly,' Hermione retorted, rubbing the cream into her skin. 'I know he's not handsome, but he's... arresting.'

'That's rather, er... generous of you.' The mirror chuckled. 'Why, even his mother...'

'Go on,' said Hermione, all ears.

The mirror paused. 'No, I'm not going to gossip about the family, unless... You're not his wife, are you?'

'NO!' Hermione squeaked, turning pink.

'Ah, do I detect a certain... frisson?'

'No,' Hermione repeated, grabbing her bag. 'You don't. And I can't waste any more time standing here talking to you.'

'Pity.' The mirror sighed. 'Still, it will be interesting to hear his view on the matter when I see him next.'

Hermione stopped dead in the doorway. If she had been bursting for a pee, surely Severus must have...? The silly man was probably too proud to ask for help and... 'Oh, my God. How much help will he need?'

She went downstairs, trying to think of a tactful way of asking Severus if he needed any assistance. Entering the kitchen, Hermione found him asleep once again, slumped over the table, head resting on his folded arms.

She felt a wave of protectiveness towards him. He must be knackered. 'Um... Severus?'

He opened his eyes and sat up wearily, blinking at her.

'Are you sure you want to leave straight away?' she asked, feeling guilty for having woken him. 'You're exhausted and...'

'We cannot afford to stay here,' Severus replied, 'tempting though it would be to risk waiting another day until we could use the cover of darkness to our advantage.' He yawned, flexing his back. 'I am only delaying our departure as it is because I cannot imagine anyone bothering to go to the Shrieking Shack before breakfast to... But that does not mean we should be complacent about it.'

Hermione sighed, but she knew he was right. 'Okay. Can I get you anything?'

'If you mean a potion, no,' he replied, pushing his hair off his face with the back of his hand. 'I cannot take anything that may interfere with my recovery.'

'No, of course. I hadn't thought of that.' Hermione drew her wand. 'But perhaps a Cooling Charm might help. May I?'

Severus nodded and closed his eyes while Hermione used charms to cool and soothe his skin. He smiled when she had finished. 'That was most refreshing. Thank you.'

'You're welcome.' Hermione smiled in return. 'Now, about the packing. Shall we start upstairs with your clothes? You must need the loo as well. I'll Apparate us to the landing, shall I?' She hoped her voice sounded brisk and business like and did not betray her discomfort.

Surprisingly, Severus did not argue, but leant his hands on the table and stood up. This time, however, when Hermione wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed herself against him, she was only too aware of the masculinity of the wizard she was holding; the feel of his hard, thin body sent a jolt of desire through her. She pushed the feeling aside and Disapparated.

As they reappeared upstairs, Severus put his arm out to prevent them from falling over, but as Hermione let go, he allowed himself to slide down the wall. She looked at him quizzically.

'The easiest way for me to get around unaided is to crawl,' he explained. 'That,' he pointed to the door directly behind her, 'is the box-room. You will find some carpet bags in the wardrobe. Wait in there until I call you.'

'All right.' Hermione looked at him and blushed. 'Do you need any...?'

'I will manage,' Severus growled. 'Please, do as I ask.'

Hermione turned towards the room Severus had indicated, but then changed her mind and stepped towards the bathroom instead. 'Let me open the door for you.'

'Hermione!'

'Okay, okay.' She turned and fled.

~ * ~

It only took a minute for Hermione to find the bags Severus had asked her to dig out of the wardrobe. They were in a reasonable enough condition, although they were rather old and smelt of must and mothballs. 'Why wouldn't he put some sort of preservation charm on them?' Hermione wondered as she performed a freshening charm to get rid of the smell. Clearing away the dust on the lid of an old chest for somewhere to sit, it occurred to her that the room looked like no one had set foot in it in years. Sighing, Hermione sat down and waited for Severus to call her.

A moment later, and she shot to her feet again at the sound of an almighty crash and some inventive cursing coming from the bathroom. Heart pounding, Hermione stood with her hand on the doorknob, debating whether or not to intervene but thought better of it. Severus hadn't called for help, which meant she should stay put. But... It had gone terribly quiet out there... Was he okay? She was about to risk a quick peek when she heard the bathroom door scrape over the linoleum. Hermione sighed with relief.

But Severus didn't call for her. Instead, Hermione heard a shuffling noise outside and the creak of another door opening. 'What on earth is he doing?' she wondered out loud.

'Hermione, you may bring the bags now.'

She stepped onto the landing. 'Where are you?'

'In here.'

Hermione followed the sound of his voice into what turned out to be his bedroom. Severus was sitting on the bed. He smirked when he saw her. 'As you see, I am not a complete invalid.'

Hermione raised an eyebrow. 'Congratulations.' Her eyes scanned the room quickly. Like elsewhere in the house, the furniture was old, dusty and had seen better days.

Severus did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed by the state of the place. 'I have very few personal effects here that I need to take with me,' Severus began. 'Most of my good robes are at Hogwarts. However...' He waved his hand at the wardrobe which flew open at his command. 'I should like to take my Muggle clothing. If you wouldn't mind...'

It didn't take long for Hermione to shrink and pack the contents of Severus' wardrobe since an old robe, some shirts and a couple of pairs of jeans (jeans?) was all it contained. Next, she emptied the chest of drawers and packed the contents, apart from a long, slender wand-box.

She hesitated. 'Would you prefer to carry it?'

'I most certainly would,' Severus replied, holding out his left arm. 'If you would be so kind...'

Hermione carefully placed the wand inside his sleeve. 'There.'

Severus took one last look around. 'There is nothing more to be done here,' he pronounced. 'You may Apparate me to the living room.'

~ * ~

'I cannot take them all, much as I would like to.' Severus was sitting on the couch, scowling.

'And I still don't see why not.' Hermione folded her arms and tapped her foot in frustration. Packing his books was taking much longer than anticipated, and time was getting on. 'I know I wouldn't want to leave any of my books behind, if it were me.'

'Isn't it obvious?' he yelled. 'If the Aurors come looking for me, and they see empty bookshelves, they will become suspicious.' Severus narrowed his eyes and glared at her. 'I have to choose.'

Hermione was unperturbed. 'Tell me... How many Aurors or Order members have visited you here?'

'Only Albus,' Severus replied. 'Why?'

Hermione grinned. 'Then why not Banish the bookcases? No one would be any the wiser.'

Severus inclined his head. 'I must be very tired, or the venom has addled my brain. I should have thought of that myself.'

'That's settled then.' She raised her wand but hesitated. 'Do you think you can hold the bag steady? It would be a lot quicker.'

Hermione tried to be as delicate with her wand work as possible since most of the books were quite ancient and some of the livelier tomes squawked in protest at being lifted off their shelves, shrunk in mid-air and stuffed into a dark bag. One particularly spirited one, trying to struggle against the pull of magic, knocked another, mercifully small, book straight towards Hermione's head. She tried to duck, but the book glanced off her shoulder and landed, open and face down, on the floor.

'Sorry, Severus,' Hermione said, stopping to retrieve the small book. 'Hmm... "Damelza Dalrymple's Fyndinge and Byndinge your Wizzyrd: A Witch's Guide to Love, Courtshyppe and Matrymonie."' She looked at Severus and raised an eyebrow.

'It's not mine,' Severus said hastily. 'It belonged to my mother. Take it if you want it.'

It wasn't really Hermione's sort of thing, but Severus was offering her a book from his collection, which she knew was something of an honour. Turning it down would have been impolite, so she accepted it with a smile and a thank you and put it in her own bag.

Once the books were packed and the sitting room made to look like no bookcases had ever graced the walls, Severus announced that he wanted to take some of his rarer potions ingredients with him.

'Shall I Apparate us?' It was out of Hermione's mouth before she had time to engage her brain.

Severus smirked at her. 'Much as I'm sure that you're dying to get your hands on me again, do you think Apparating into a room full of glass and toxic substances is a very good idea?'

Hermione turned bright pink. 'No. Sorry. That was a really stupid suggestion. How about a levitation charm instead?'

Severus begrudgingly agreed that this was the most sensible course of action under the circumstances.

~ * ~

Standing together in the close confines of the storeroom, Hermione worked quickly, packing the jars, phials and sundry supplies (including the phoenix feathers) as Severus made his selection. After everything had been carefully stowed away, Hermione rearranged the shelves, spacing out the remaining containers, so that the place wouldn't look like it had been raided.

Severus nodded in satisfaction at her handiwork. 'I believe that is everything.'

Hermione helped him back into the kitchen where the other two bags were waiting on the table. She glanced up. 'What about the cauldrons?' she asked. 'It seems a pity to leave them behind.'

'I should take the silver one, certainly,' Severus agreed. 'And maybe one or two of the pewter ones.'

Hermione took down the silver cauldron and shrank it together with the pewter one she had used earlier. 'Which other one?'

Severus seemed undecided. 'The larger one next to it, and perhaps also... No... No, it doesn't matter.'

'Which? This one?' Hermione asked. 'I thought you said the bottom had almost worn through.'

'Yes, it has...' Severus trailed off. He shook his head. 'No, the other would be more useful.'

Hermione sensed something was amiss and looked more closely at the battered old cauldron. She smiled. 'It's your old school cauldron, isn't it?'

Severus nodded grimly. 'The first one I ever owned... I-Never mind. It is of no consequence.'

'But it obviously means something special to you,' she pressed.

'Yes.' He sighed. 'It does. But...no, really, it's not that important.'

'Now, why do I get the feeling that you don't really mean that?' Hermione smiled encouragingly.

'Oh, have it your own way.' He smirked back. 'If you must know... when my Hogwarts' letter came, and my mother and I went to Diagon Alley for supplies, my friend... Lily...' Severus' smile faded. 'Lily asked if she and her mother could come with us...' He paused again, staring off into space. 'So... we went and... Mum had saved up for ages to buy my wand, you see, but there wasn't much money left over for anything else. Mrs Evans, kind soul that she was, offered to buy me a new cauldron as a thank you present for taking them with us. I have treasured it ever since, even though it has long outlived its usefulness.'

For once, Hermione was at a loss for words. 'I don't think...of course it's important,' she stammered finally. 'You have to take it with you.'

'This is no time for sentimentality,' Severus retorted, frowning at her. 'It no longer has any practical purpose.'

'Perhaps not.' Hermione took the cauldron off its hook. 'But I still think you should take it.' She waved her wand and shrank it until it was the size of a walnut. In a flash of inspiration, Hermione Transfigured a teaspoon into a chain and threaded it through the handle of the miniature cauldron. She held it up so that Severus could see what she had done. 'I don't have anything to give you in exchange for the book, I'm afraid. This is the best I can do. May it protect you always and bring you good luck wherever you go.'

Severus' eyebrows shot up almost to his hairline. 'A talisman?' But he bowed his head anyway and allowed Hermione to fasten it around his neck.

'Yes.' She stepped back. 'Now, if that really is everything, we should be going.'

Severus put his hand on the little cauldron. 'Hermione, I...' He coughed. 'Have you ever Apparated to Ireland?'

'No,' she admitted. 'I haven't. It's over water and... no.'

'I see.'

'But we could catch the ferry from Holyhead,' she offered. 'I went there with the boys once to watch the Harpies. I know I can Apparate us there.'

Severus shook his head. 'No. Muggle transport would not be wise. The Ministry will be watching the ports, for one thing.'

'How then?'

'I have an idea, but it would be better to wait until nightfall.'

'Oh... Well, I suppose we could go to my parents' house,' Hermione suggested. 'I don't think anyone will come looking for me straight away. We'd be safe there for a bit, and we can get some sleep in the meantime.'

'That is an acceptable proposal.'

'Home it is then.' With a flick of her wand, Hermione shrank the bags and then put them in her pocket. Severus lifted his arms out to his side as Hermione, blushing profusely, stepped towards him.

~ * ~

'Sorry the bed isn't made up,' Hermione said, dragging a duvet out of cupboard. 'But, I thought you might be more comfortable in here, and there's an en suite bathroom...through there.' She helped Severus over to her parents' bed where he sat down looking thoroughly exhausted.

Severus waved his hand dismissively. 'It is fine. Luxurious, in fact. But would you mind... my boots?'

'Oh, no. Of course not.'

Hermione tugged off his boots, and Severus lay down with a contented sigh. She threw the duvet over him, making sure he was all tucked up, and drew the curtains. 'My room is across the landing. If I'm not here when you wake up, don't panic. I'll have gone to get us some food.'

But Severus' eyes were already closed. Hermione tip-toed out of the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

~ * ~

Hermione slept fitfully and woke up hungry. She took a long shower, scrubbing away all the grime and sweat of the previous day, although the smell of blood still lingered in her nostrils afterwards, and the hot water did nothing to quieten the screams that were ringing in her ears, courtesy of her troubled dreams. Once dressed, Hermione left her room and stopped on the landing, listening for any sounds from her parents' bedroom. If the snoring was anything to go by, Severus was sleeping soundly, just as she had hoped. Satisfied that it was safe to leave him alone for a little while, Hermione crept downstairs and out of the house.

In just over an hour, Hermione returned home from the supermarket laden with carrier bags full of groceries. Most of it was for their trip, but Hermione didn't intend going anywhere before they had both had a decent meal. Not knowing Severus' particular tastes, she had bought a bit of everything.

The sound of water hissing through the pipes alerted her to movement upstairs, and she went to investigate.

'Severus?' Hermione knocked on the door. 'Are you awake?'

'Yes. Wait a moment.' There was a loud "thump" and a rustle of bedclothes. 'You may enter.'

Hermione went in and wrinkled her nose up. There was a definite smell of unwashed male in the room. She pulled the curtains back and opened the window before turning towards him.

'How are you feeling?' she asked, regarding the pale wizard sitting up in the bed. He looked tousled from sleep, unkempt, and with at least a day's worth of stubble, rather roguish in a peculiar sort of way.

'Better, on the whole,' Severus replied. 'Although, I could do with a bath, a shave and something to eat.'

'Well,' said Hermione. 'If you can think of a way of achieving the first two while retaining your dignity and sparing me any trauma, I'd be happy to help. And, now you're awake, I'll go and attend to the third.'

Severus stared at her a moment, then threw his head back and laughed. 'Cleaning charms it is, then. I don't suppose you know the Shaving Charm as well, do you?'

''Fraid not,' Hermione replied, giggling. 'You'll have to wait until you can do it yourself.'

'Have you any idea what it's like having an itch you can't scratch?' he grumbled, pushing the duvet off him.

Oh, yes. 'Must be awful,' Hermione replied, performing the necessary charms. 'Now, I need to know if there's anything you don't like to eat.'

'Liver,' Severus replied without hesitation. 'And I'm not terribly fond of cabbage, either.'

'That's good because I haven't bought either of those things. Sit forward a minute.' Severus obeyed, and Hermione plumped up his pillows. 'I thought some scrambled on egg on toast, perhaps with a little bit of chicken. Does that sound all right?'

'White bread?'

'Yes.' She replied, putting the duvet back over him. 'It's fresh and soft. Would you like a cup of tea in the meantime?'

'Please. Milk, no sugar.'

'Okay. I'll go and put the kettle on.' Hermione walked towards the door.

'Hermione?'

'Yes?

'Um... is there any chance of a chocolate biscuit... or two?'

Hermione glowered at him. 'Don't push it.' But she brought him some anyway.

~ * ~

'That-that man!' Seething with rage, Hermione dropped the tray on the draining board with enough force to make the cutlery bounce. Of all the ungrateful... She took a deep breath and let it out slowly before attending to the dishes.

The tea had been bad enough: 'Tea bags? Haven't you got any proper tea?' There was too much milk in it; it wasn't hot enough, and 'Did he have to drink out of a mug? Why couldn't she put it in a cup like a civilised person?'

She paused a moment, dishcloth in hand. There had been that one moment, though... when she'd fed him a piece of chocolate biscuit... and her fingers had touched his lips... and for a split second, she thought he was going to lick the crumbs off...

'Huh.' Hermione turned the tap on full force, splashing water everywhere. 'I prefer dark chocolate, Hermione,' she mocked in a whiny voice. 'This is a bit sickly, Hermione. Three-bags-full, Hermione.' Needless to say, she hadn't offered to feed him a second one.

'Bastard!'

Hermione dipped the frying pan into the hot water, squirted some washing-up liquid into it and angrily attacked the dried-on egg with the scouring pad. She had tried her best to think up a meal for him that would be satisfying but gentle on his stomach, something easy to digest. Had he been grateful for her efforts? Had he buggery.

'Adequate!' she snarled. 'I'll give him adequate.'

Getting Severus even to agree to being fed had been a battle in itself until Hermione had finally lost it and told him he could stick his snout in it and eat like a pig in a trough for all she cared. He'd hardly said a word after that and had meekly allowed Hermione to feed him forkfuls of egg and chicken while she sat and glared at him.

'Another two days of this, and I'll go stark-staring mad!' Hermione flicked her wand, sending the pieces of crockery flying to their appointed places in the cupboard. Huffing, she wiped her hands on the tea-towel.

Hermione was only too aware, that even with the best will in the world, she was not always the most tolerant of people, but Severus Snape, she decided, would try the patience of a saint. If someone had told her yesterday that she would be spending her first Voldemort-free day playing house-elf to her former Potions professor, she'd have escorted them personally to the Janus Thickey ward at St Mungo's and introduced them to Gilderoy Lockhart.

Hermione looked at the clock, poured herself a generous glass of wine and took it into the living-room. Time for the news. She had left her house guest resting upstairs with the promise to wake him as soon as it was dark, which meant she had a couple of hours to herself. Hermione put the telly on and flicked channels. There seemed to be an awful lot of reports of UFO activity, including a rather grainy picture of what looked like a witch on a broomstick, strange goings-on generally and concerns about very loud explosions occurring all over the country for which the military was denying all knowledge and responsibility.

She sighed and put her feet up. Wizarding Britain was partying like it was 1999, and she was stuck here. With Mister Personality. Hermione raised her glass and drank to Harry's continuing good health before downing a hefty glug of wine. She was so looking forward to Ireland.

~ * ~

By half-past ten, they were ready to leave. Severus asked Hermione for his winter cloak and advised her to also wrap up warmly.

'Why?' she demanded crossly. 'It's not that cold.'

'You will see,' Severus replied, smirking slightly. 'I will show you the memory of our final destination. Do you feel up to Apparating directly to Scotland, or would you prefer to do it in stages?'

Bastard! But Hermione knew short hops would be safer, as much as her pride wanted her to say, 'Of course I can Apparate to Scotland.' She didn't have a chance to say anything, however, as Severus was already looking into her eyes, showing her a picture of a rocky outcrop somewhere on the coast. Hermione memorised it: the salty air, the cry of the gulls, the sound of waves crashing on the rocks, and then, for the briefest of moments, she sensed a feeling of sadness, of remorse and knew that he was unhappy because she was still annoyed with him.

'I'd be happier to do it in stages, if that's all right,' she said, her anger melting. 'It was hard enough Apparating to your house from the Shrieking Shack. We're further south again, here.'

Severus inclined his head. 'A wise decision, Hermione,' he said, holding his arms out towards her. 'Shall we?'

~ * ~

Hermione was feeling distinctly nervous. Severus still hadn't told her his plan, but she was beginning to get a very bad feeling about it. They were standing on the cliff he had shown her...how close to the edge they were, she couldn't say, but by the sound of the waves crashing below, it wasn't very far. A nearby lighthouse flashed out over the sea, briefly illuminating the channel. Across the water, a row of twinkling streetlights was just about visible.

Hermione gripped Severus' robes, afraid to step away. 'Where are we?' she asked, looking up at him.

'Maol Ceanntire,' Severus replied, making no effort to remove her arms. 'The Mull of Kintyre...and over there...' He gestured toward the lights. '...about twelve miles away, is the coast of Ireland.'

Hermione swallowed. 'A-and how are we going to get from here to there,' she asked, although she was afraid she already knew the answer.

He lowered his mouth to her ear. 'We fly, Hermione.'

'I was afraid you were going to say that.'

He chuckled. 'Scared?'

'Terrified. I hate flying...' She trailed off, considering the implications. 'Severus, when they said you'd flown out of the window, I thought they were just making it up, but unless you're hiding a broom somewhere... '

'I do not need a broom,' Severus interrupted. 'And I am not a vampire either, in case you were wondering.'

Hermione was awestruck. So it was true. He really could fly. 'But can you, um, carry a passenger?'

'I can,' he replied, 'providing you make yourself weightless.'

'All-all right.' She drew her wand shakily. Best get this over and done with before she had time to dwell on it.

Severus stopped her. 'But, before you do that, get under my cloak properly and attach yourself to my side with a sticking charm.' He pushed the heavy material aside while Hermione cautiously stepped around him. She anchored herself by putting her left arm around his waist before casting the charms and then quickly wrapping the right one around his middle as her feet lifted off the ground.

'How do you take off?' she asked. 'Do you need to run, or anything?'

'Not in this instance, no,' Severus answered. 'I just have to do this...'

Then she was screaming as Severus stepped off the cliff, and the sea rushed up to meet them.

'You bastard,' Hermione gasped as they levelled off.

'Language, Miss Granger.'

When Hermione finally had the nerve to open her eyes again, they were out at sea. She had been clinging to Severus like grim death with her face buried against his chest for what seemed like hours, and she was freezing. Why on earth hadn't she thought to cast a Warming Charm? Hermione looked down but couldn't really see anything. The sky was cloudy; the only sources of light were the yellow necklace of Muggle streetlights that were growing ever nearer. It felt more like floating than flying she decided, being buffeted like so much chaff in the wind, bouncing all over the place...rather like one of the more unpleasant rides in that theme park her father had insisted on taking her when she was little.

Severus looked down and grinned. 'Not much further,' he shouted over the wind.

'Good,' Hermione replied, teeth chattering. 'I feel sick.'

Severus held her more tightly. 'It's just motion sickness. You'll be fine once we land.'

'Can you go any faster?' Hermione asked.

'Yes,' he replied, extending his free arm out in front of him. 'But the prevailing wind is strong.' They started to pick up speed.

Hermione giggled. 'You'll be wearing tights next...with your pants on the outside. You didn't have to do that, really, did you?'

She was rewarded with a low rumbling chuckle. 'I'm hardly superhero material.'

Hermione thought differently. Severus might look thin and a bit weedy, but appearances were deceptive. She thought he was an extraordinary person; a brave, powerful wizard whose courage had been instrumental in securing a world safe for Muggle-borns like herself. Was it only last night she had found him at death's door? Now, here he was, flying...flying without a broom or any other sort of magical device. It went against every magical theory she had ever heard of...the only other wizard known to have mastered this feat being Voldemort himself. What more did he want? Of course he was a superhero...to her at any rate. No longer afraid, Hermione put her head on his chest again, relishing the contact while she still could.

Soon they were flying over the Muggle town, and Severus was looking around for a suitable place to set down.

'As I can't trust my feet to land properly, Hermione, we are going to have to roll. So, be prepared.'

'Now you tell me.'

'I will reduce speed as much as possible. Ready?'

Hermione opened her mouth to ask for more detailed instructions just as Severus touched down, fell to his knees and rolled to the left, dragging Hermione over him. They tumbled over each other once more, carried by the momentum, coming to rest with Severus sprawled on top.

'Are you... all right?'

Panting heavily, her nose almost touching his, Hermione gazed into Severus' eyes. He swallowed and moved imperceptibly closer, tilting his head...

'Finite Incantatem! Off. Quick!' In the nick of time, Hermione pushed Severus out of the way, turned on her side and was violently sick.