Rebirth

~*~*~*~

When you feel all alone

And the world has turned its back on you

Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart

I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you

It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold

When darkness is upon your door and you feel like you can't take anymore

She hesitated to knock on the heavy wooden door. Biting her lip, she lifted a hand, and then let it fall to her side. It had been so many years. Would he remember the shy girl with cinnamon eyes and bushy hair? Or would he remember the youthful woman facing down death and danger in the same face? Would he remember the person that was Hermione Granger at all? Take a leap of faith, Hermione, Harry had told her. And she had resolved to take that leap. Three solid, crisp knocks sounded on the door. There was an awkward silence. Then, "Who's there?" It was an age-weary, familiar, much-loved voice.

"Dr. Granger," she replied in a firm voice, not feeling the confidence. Another silence, while she tried to guess what he was thinking.

"Come in," the unexpected answer came, and she was surprised to see the door opening on its own. She hesitated briefly, but she walked inside before her mind could object.

It was a dark, secluded room. He liked dark places. Heavy velvet curtains kept out the light. Two candles on either side of the bed gave off a faint glow. Silver and green décor gave little doubt to the occupant's House preference. And he sat in the armchair. His dark, sharp eyes followed her movement. Chin-length black hair framed his face. A moment later, he rose in black robes and walked to her. The familiar scent of rosemary and basil followed him, years of potions and ingredients. "Glad to see you here." His voice became more refined, elegant, and smooth.

She nodded. "Likewise," she said, and tried to soothe her frantically racing thoughts.

"It's been a while since you visited," he commented. She tried to smile, while her mind wondered when they'd become such strangers to each other. Small talk was useless, she had decided long ago, and now here she was, bantering about futilely. He gestured to a seat before she could speak. Grateful for the small interruption, she sat on the sofa and smoothed out her robes. He sat down as well and took a sip from the steaming cup beside him. Leaning forward slightly, she regarded the man she'd come to see. Tall, as he had always been. Slightly greasy hair, but it seemed he'd washed it recently (a miracle, Ron would've proclaimed). And he still had those sharp, probing eyes that were decades older than the rest of him. She could still detect a hint of sadness, pain, suffering, and something she couldn't identify for a moment.

Let me be the one you call

If you jump I'll break your fall

Lift you up and fly away with you into the night

If you need to fall apart

I can mend a broken heart

If you need to crash then crash and burn

You're not alone

"Professor," she gave a slight nod. "I wanted to speak with you about a private matter," Inwardly, she was still wondering what she was doing, trying to beat about the bush surreptitiously.

His voice broke through her momentary reverie. "Dr. Granger, please, do get to the point." Surprisingly, she thought she heard a trace of laughter in his voice.

"Draco has told me about your accomplishments during this time," she remarked, feeling guilty in a way.

His eyes flashed. "Mr. Malfoy's rumors are very much exaggerated. What has he attempted to contrive this time? A potion with Phoenix eggs? Or perhaps a cure for the Midas touch?" his voice was full of scorn.

"No, sir," she responded quietly. "A cure for werewolves," and the room suddenly felt silent. He was very much aware of the shadows on the wall as the candles flickered. Their heartbeats were the only sounds for a few moments. "It's true, then," she said. "You really did find a way to turn Professor Lupin back."

He didn't raise his eyes. "Mr. Malfoy helped, and so did Madame Pomfrey. They did most of the work." She wanted to slap him then. Did he not understand? He was the greatest potions master in the history of Hogwarts. He had invented a cure for werewolves, a plague since the time of Salazar Slytherin. And yet he brushed off the honor of succeeding where wizards had failed for a thousand years, as easily as he brushed off the offer of refereeing a Quidditch game. She opened her mouth, then saw his eyes. They held a great, unbridled sadness.

When you feel all alone

And a loyal friend is hard to find

You're caught in a one-way street

With the monsters in your head

When Hopes n dreams are far away and

You feel like you can't face the day

Ever since Dumbledore's death at the hands of Lord Voldemort, he had never been the same. No amount of good deeds or kind acts could ease his conscience. For he was the one who had told Lord Voldemort about the Yule Ball, held at Hogsmeade instead of the Great Hall. And he had seen those eyes glimmer with a secret, a horrible secret which no one could guess. A horrible secret that took away the lives of four students, and Dumbledore. Nothing could save him from the sea of bitterness he was immersed in, for he believed it was wholly his fault that they had died. An overwhelming feeling rose up in her heart, and impulsively, she grasped his hand. His head snapped up, and she felt, rather than saw the flame that lighted again at this simple, yet symbolic gesture. A moment passed. Their breaths held. He spoke first, in a soft, low voice. "Hermione, all these years, you were gone. You left me with only my work and the sympathetic glances of others. There were news of you and your accomplishments. Then there was the Yule Ball Attacks." His voice faltered at that. "And when I heard you were coming back, I didn't know what to do," He opened his mouth again to speak but she quickly put a finger on his lips.

"Don't speak," she said softly when her tears were blinked back. "I didn't want to go, I thought of you nearly every day, and I wanted to come back as soon as possible. Only Harry and Ron knew how much I missed you, how much I wanted to come back to Hogwarts... and," she took a deep breath, "how much I wanted to marry you."

Let me be the one you call

If you jump I'll break your fall

Lift you up and fly away with you into the night

If you need to fall apart

I can mend a broken heart

If you need to crash then crash and burn

You're not alone

His eyes widened, and she could see tears springing to his eyes. "Shush," she murmured, "Don't speak, don't say a word. I just want you to know this," and with a swift movement, she grasped his robes and met his lips with the most tender of touches. He had never known such warmth. It was like a sweet liquid, afire with tenderness and intoxicating spices, running rampant through his veins and bringing new life with it. He began to respond, running his hands up her neck, savoring the touches of skin and into her hair that smelled of flowers; they weaved into her chestnut tresses that flowed freely down her back once he removed the bun. She did likewise, held tightly in his arms, spreading her arms over his back and pressing his body to hers. Drawing a shuddering breath, she closed her eyes as he began a trail of fiery kisses down to her bosom. Soft moans and sighs escaped. Black robes were left on the floor for a warmer rug near the fireplace. The separate shadows on the wall now were one, writhing and twisting, blending into each other flawlessly. Pausing, she found herself on the ground, beneath him. His black eyes were unreadable. And for a moment, she felt his long fingers tracing the changing contours of her face. His thumb rubbed her cheek and caressed the half-flush that died along her throat. There was a sudden warmth on her chest. Looking down, it glittered from the dancing flames. With sudden understanding, she touched a fingertip to it and licked her finger. The saltiness on her tongue was forgotten as he swept her into another kiss, the moment ending as quickly as it had begun.

Because there has always been heartache and pain

and when it's over you'll breathe again

You'll breathe again

When you feel all alone

And the world has turned its back on you

Give me a moment please

To tame your wild wild heart

She felt safe and secure in his embrace. His head rested on her chest. Her right arm clasped loosely around his neck, and her left lay on his waist. His arms were around her body, his right knee placed over her left thigh. And it was a blessed quiet. He felt as calm as he had ever been. There was an inner light, glowing inside him with happiness. She had been tender, and she had given herself to him. She had done something that no woman save his mother had done before, and had softly spoken his name and embraced him, given him a warmth he'd never thought possible. And the childishly simple smile had spread over his face. Her brown eyes were soft and dreamy. His fingers itched to spread over her creamy white skin. But he knew, as she drifted off, that and more lay in wait for another day. For now, he was content to cling to Hermione, a girl he knew as bossy and intelligent, a woman he knew as passionate and loving. He was happy, lying in her arms. She had taken away his pain and suffering, if only for a night. But he knew she wouldn't be content with that. She'd help him through this, every step of the way, with the patience and love that he had felt from no other human being. And in return, he would love her, as he had not loved anyone else. He would give himself to her, and give everything. Love was a double-edged sword, he knew. But he would take a leap of faith, and trust her again. He would be vulnerable and exposed. If she hurt him, the scars would never heal. But he would trust her, and make the best of the life that lay before them both.

Let me be the one you call

if you jump I'll break you fall

Lift you up and fly away with you into the night

If you need to fall apart

I can mend a broken heart

If you need to crash then crash and burn

You're not alone