Breaking the Chains

Christmas

Hermione woke feeling uncomfortable, having slipped down from her seated position in bed to an approximation of the foetal position. Her neck was stiff, her right hand and arm from the elbow down were numb, and the lingering unease of the nightmare that had awoken her was still constricting her breathing. All in all, the pile of brightly wrapped boxes and parcels adorning the bottom of her bed seemed totally out of place.

Hermione opened them eagerly anyway.

Her parents had excelled themselves once again with book tokens in large amounts and a heavily embroidered, sequined, beaded and overall glittery bed throw, with a label that said Arcadia inside. Hermione recognised the name as being a shop in the nearby town where she had visited every day after school had finished gazing at the bejewelled trinkets and walking through the clouds of burning incense and flickering candles, listening to music that never made it to the radio. The shop where she had dreamed she could escape the sobriety and routine of the life that stretched out ahead of her to the uninspiring horizon, until one day in august a barn owl arrived in her kitchen and gave her a chance of escape. And a reason for all the strange things that happened around her.

Needless to say, she was determined to succeed, because in doing so she could finally be free.

Briefly she wondered if her parents knew she had visited Arcadia - she had never dared buy anything - or whether pure luck and chance had conspired to give her the best gift her parents had managed in many years. Most likely the secretary at the dental practice had been tasked with buying something for her.

A brief though was all she spared them before she turned back to the rest of her presents. Mrs Weasley had sent her a knitted jumper as usual (brown this year) along with iced Christmas cake decorated with holly leaves. There was a Christmas card from Ron, and a cheerfully decorated mirror from Ginny (it didn't talk, so it had been transfigured not bought), and nothing from Harry at all.

Note to self - he has already given you quite enough. To worry about?

Yes, but something to smile about as well, now she knew she wasn't alone in her worries.

Albus Dumbledore had sent her a smallish book entitled 'A Companion to Hogwarts a History: The Things we COULD have Mentioned, but didn't.' A scan of the contents page revealed no mention of House-elves (still) but a handwritten inscription instead:

'This is the information we give only to the most trusted students - Albus Dumbledore.' She supposed that meant there was a message for her to find in the text. For now it seemed a fair exchange for the socks she had sent him.

Sifting her way through other token gifts her house and class mates had sent her more out of duty than real affection, until she uncovered a heavy box that was labelled with her name in Severus's looping script. Opening it, she thought he had given her a pile of small pieces of glass. Then a letter fell out, so in a search for clarity, she opened it up.

Dearest Hermione [it read]

No, it is not a pile of glass! (Just in case you thought I'd gone slightly mad.)

It is a mural, inspired by the stained glass windows and screens the art deco movement you seem to favour produced.

It is enchanted, so that even if you place it on a stone wall, it allows light to shine in when it is day, and moonlight at night. The view it shows has to be programmed in by using photographs, but once that is done, the scene it shows is the actual view you would have were you truly overlooking the place in the photograph at that moment. I am told that you can program in any number of vistas.

It is also like a puzzle, which I know you like, as the pieces arrived in a box, and I do not know how they fit together. There are no instructions, or diagrams, so you'll have to rely on intuition.

But this way, wherever you go, you'll always have real sunlight in your life.

Love,

Severus Snape.

Hugging her knees to her chest, Hermione understood the subtle message in his choice of gift - that she didn't have to give up everything she valued to be with him, and she was welcome to bring her ways and preferences into his life. Repacking the casing, Hermione dressed as hastily as she could, whilst still making sure she chose a flattering outfit and tamed her hair as much as she was able. After applying her makeup - natural, but noticeable - she scooped up the mural and bed throw in her arms, the used the invisibility cloak to cover her and the objects she carried, before beginning the slow walk (due to necessity alone) to the dungeons.

On the way, she thought more about the undertone of the note Severus had sent, and kept coming back to the same conclusion. What she felt for him was love, not gratitude or dependence, but she could not be sure if it could or would last outside the situation and environment she now found herself in. It was all very well to live as though the next three months where her last, but if a new day dawned for her on 22^nd March, what then?

She knew that she could live with Severus when they were striving for a common goal, and he with her while she depended on his support, but once that link was removed, would there be anything left?

The crux of the matter, she knew, lay in Severus and whether he decided to live or die. IF he wanted to live, then she was prepared to live with him, and find the answers to her questions. If . . .

But before that she had promises to keep; exams to pass; a baby to give birth to; and evil megalomaniac to overthrow; and most importantly a very big if to overcome. Which thoughts had brought her to his rooms, and saw her setting down her burdens and hanging the silvery cloak behind his door. Severus was sitting in his usual fireside chair, a small leather-bound book on his knee. It felt like returning home.

Remaining standing, Hermione gathered her courage, to ask:

"You got it then?"

"As it was the only one I received, I didn't have much trouble locating your present."

Raising an eyebrow Potions Master Style, Hermione reigned in her curiosity and said nothing.

"And it's wonderful, Hermione. A beautiful gift. Tell me again what I did to deserve you."

In response she gave a small chuckle. "I never did tell you, but I think you ought to know if you haven't figured it out."

She took a step closer, "You believed in me when no-one else seemed to care."

Another step, "You respected me when I couldn't respect myself. And you never judged me, or doubted me, or made me feel guilty, or questioned me."

She was standing right by his side now, "You opened up to me enough to give me the guidance, and the benefit of your experience and company, when I needed it most. And you did that because I needed help, even though you are the most intensely private person I know.

"It's all those things made me fall in love with you. And once you let me in, I found I loved the person you were too."

He was looking up at her amazed as she reached for the book - her diary since the rape in which she had recorded her innermost thoughts, mostly about Severus, which had been her gift to him. Amazement turned to shock as she settled herself on his lap. Touching one finger to her lips she smiled,

"I gave you my diary because I wanted you to understand, what I thought, how I rationalised the emotions you sensed in me."

Then gently, slowly, she removed her finger from his lips and kissed him instead. After a short and innocent kiss she drew back to look in his eyes, aware that his hands were still on the armrests.

"Severus," she murmured softly, "I don't know if I want to marry you, but I'd like to try and find out."

Hesitantly he reached a hand into her hair, and sensing no resistance pulled her back towards him to receive another kiss. Responding to his gentle touches of his tongue against her lip, Hermione opened her mouth and deepened the kiss. As he snaked his other hand around her waist, neatly positioned so as to be innocent and unthreatening, he pulled her body closer to him, but broke of the kiss slightly.

Seizing the opportunity he offered, Hermione slid her tongue into his mouth, caressing gently, tasting peppermint and brandy. The warmth of his body was against hers, and along with his nearness, was an exhilarating sensation. Wrapping her arms around his neck and shoulders, she abandoned herself to simply feeling, and melted into his embrace.

It was quite a while later that they came up for air, and Severus began trailing small kisses over her forehead and then on, over her temples and down the side of her neck, his hand caressing the small of her back, causing tingles of pure delight to radiate out over her whole body. Suddenly gripped by a passion of frightening intensity, she raised a hand to his face and guided his lips back to hers; longing for him to possess her but not quite daring to make the first move, knowing that he was waiting for her to.

* * *

Thus engaged, they were both nearly late for Christmas lunch. Dashing up the corridors the refrained from touching, or holding hands, but as they walked they were very much together. Approaching the doors to the Great Hall Hermione slowed her pace slightly, so they could enter separately, instead of as a couple. But Severus gently caught her hand and urged her back to his side.

By means of explanation he muttered, "Our absence will have already been noted, and if we enter trying to look separate it will just reinforce the conclusions already being drawn. For all they know we could have been engrossed in work and forgot the time."

"Working on Christmas day?"

"We're classed as geeks, remember? We do strange things like that, and think they're fun." He barely suppressed the sarcasm in his voice, which told her he was bitter on the topic.

"Go in like we've nothing to hide, then?"

"In essence. Personally I'd go for nothing more than usual to hide - but then I've got a Past, they say."

"Oh, give over!" She cried in semi-exasperation, and moved forward, giving his hand a gentle tug before releasing his fingers. Immediately they fell into step.

Side by side, they entered the hall. They were met by Dumbledore's knowing twinkle, McGonagall's disapproving frown, and comical looks of shock on many of the students' faces.

Brazenly ignoring them all, they walked the length of the hall, Hermione settling herself at the prefect's table, and Severus continuing to the high table. Sitting, he gave her what passed as a smile (for a Snape) and then proceeded to ignore everyone for the duration of the meal.

Hermione ate well.

* * *

After the meal Hermione and Severus decided on taking a walk instead of returning to his rooms. The air was clear and crisp, and the lake was frozen over, which was where their journey took them. During the lunch a reflective quiet had settled over Hermione, and Severus had to make several attempts before he could coax the cause out of her.

"Are you regretting what happened?"

"No, it's not that Severus. Please don't think that. I just . . . was wondering why you stay here, I mean, I know Dumbledore has some enchantments on you, but . . ."

"Am I stuck here for life, or did I choose to be here?"

"In a nutshell."

"When I renounced the Death Eaters and Voldemort, I swore that I would do whatever was necessary to destroy Voldemort, or die trying. I wasn't coerced or force into that decision . . . but you know how aurors can get - they rarely actually threaten.

"There was a lot of opposition to my return, and I got so involved in telling people how I wanted to make amends, make things even, I actually believed I could, for a while. Dumbledore argued that the best place for me was teaching at Hogwarts, so that Voldemort would be prepared to overlook any doubts over my loyalty to keep what he thought was an inside source.

"After his first defeat, I stayed at Hogwarts because Dumbledore persuaded me to, and in all honesty I had no desire to make a new life for myself. From your fourth year onwards I have resumed my role as a double agent, and have to see this through.

"If we are successful, then I suppose I will be free. I have no idea what to do with that freedom, though."

"Is that what you're doing this for? For your freedom? For an obligation to Dumbledore? Or for me, because I've set my heart on it?"

"I'm not entirely sure. For you, I suppose. Why the questions?"

"Because I still have a promise to make good on."

For a moment he looked blank, then realisation dawned. Looking intently into her eyes, the pools of darkness dragging her in,

"I would never expect you to fulfil that promise. Not now. It was wrong to ask you in the first instance. And selfish. Surely you know that."

"But do you want to hold me to it?"

He didn't answer for a long time, just turned and looked out across the frozen lake, at the setting sun. His features, like the lake had turned to ice. Hermione did not interrupt, merely watched him contemplate his life. Standing still for so long she began to shiver and pulled her cloak around her. The movement seemed to rouse him.

"We should go inside. I have to get ready to go the Malfoy Christmas Revel. It's not quite a summons from Voldemort, but it's as inescapable."

He held out a hand to her, to draw her back to his side. As she clasped his hand, he whispered, "I don't know."

They walked back to the castle in silence.

* * *

It was one am and Hermione was getting worried. Severus had yet to return.

After he had flooed out of his rooms to the Malfoy mansion, she had remained. Unpacking the mural on the floor, she had tried various combinations of coloured and clear glass until she had an eight foot, arched window. Following the instructions left, she attached each piece to the wall opposite his/her, their, bed with magic. When it was finally complete, she had used both her own and Severus's photo albums to program in the views from every place either of them had been.

Though this had taken a good deal of time, there was no changing the fact that Severus was now an hour later than he said he would be. Her mind was racing with all the things than could have befallen him - each possibility worse than the last. At least he would be able to floo back to the rooms, rather than walk from the gates if he was injured.

And, as if thinking of him had caused him to appear, she heard the roar of flames leaping up in the fireplace, and jumped out of bed. As he stepped from the green flames she hurtled into his arms and grabbed him in a great bear hug. He brought his own arms up to embrace her, but made no attempt to pry her away until she was ready.

Head against his chest she asked, the sound muted by his robes, "Are you hurt?"

"No. It seems at this time of Christmas cheer and goodwill to all men, that only Muggles are tortured in the Malfoy household."

Drawing back, she gazed up at him with infinite sadness in her eyes, and compassion, "Did they all die?"

"Yes."

Rather than answer she just placed her head against his chest once again and held him tighter. When she finally disentangled herself, he excused himself to go and bathe. In scalding water.

Hermione stared at the closed bathroom door, with a mixture of emotions, trying to make her decision. After fifteen minutes, when she was finally sure, and had judged the water would have cooled enough, she removed all of her clothing, used her wand to unlock the door, and entered.

If he was surprised to see the door open, then he was astounded to see her lack of garments. Opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water, he succeeded in making incomprehensible noises only, until she climbed into the water with him.

Startled into a response, he said, "What on Earth do you -", which was as far as he got before she kissed him.

Sliding closer she whispered in his ear, "I hope there hasn't been anyone else tonight?"

"No." He croaked out hoarsely.

"Good. I think I'm the jealous type." Was all she said before she silenced him with another kiss, and straddled him. Moaning slightly, she broke away and continued, "And I don't believe that you really want to protest."

Finally giving in to the inevitable, he picked her up and rose fairly gracefully (considering) from the bath, and carried her to the bedroom. Wet skin pressed against wet skin and he began to caress her body, her breasts, with reverence.

Beneath him, Hermione closed her eyes and allowed herself to be carried on waves of pure delight, but before she succumbed to desire entirely, there was one more thing she had to do.

"Severus, stop."

Immediately he removed his hand, and after a moments pause rolled away from her. As he made to get out of the bed she caught his arm.

"Don't go. I want this, but I had to know."

"I see. Did I pass?"

"Of course you did." She gave a gentle tug on his arm. "Where's the favourite place you visited?"

He looked at her for a moment, then followed her gaze to the mural. "Videori Bay of Naples" he directed at it.

Returning to her, they made love under the soft moonlight of a night in Sorrento.

* * *

Severus Snape woke before dawn, as was his habit, and took a moment to register he was lying in a bed instead of sitting in his normal chair, and a second more than that to remember why he was there.

It was the warm body of a young woman curled up on his chest that gave it away, really.

Hermione, his angel, had finally fallen into his arms. Instinctively he tightened his grip around her shoulders, in case this was a dream, and on full awakening she would slip away with the last vestiges of sleep. But it wasn't a dream, and there was still a sleeping form, stirring slightly in response to his movements, when he looked down again.

Although as an early riser, Severus would normally have spent this time reading the paper and drinking coffee, often laced with something to take away his hangover, he decided to stay still. His head was pounding as a result of copious amounts of alcohol consumed the night before.

Mentally, he chided himself for drinking at all. After nearly twenty years of dedicated drinking, the threshold which he had to overcome to actually get drunk was rather high. Even though the night before he had been mostly in control of his actions, he had still drunk enough brandy to have a serious headache this morning. He forced himself to stay motionless, telling himself sternly that it was self induced, and that Hermione's emotional welfare was far more important than his comfort.

He wasn't going to risk letting her awake alone.

* * *

The sun was fully up by the time that Hermione began to stir. She could feel it shining on her as she came to, radiating from the mural. It was much more pleasant than the usual flickering candle light she had grown accustomed to. She felt unaccountably warm, and it was only as she felt her body moving slightly with the rhythmic breathing of the chest she was resting on, that she remembered that she was not alone.

Severus had his arms snugly round her shoulders, supporting her as she slept. With one hand he was idly playing with the tips of her hair, running it along his fingers. Thus held, she felt simply safe and warm.

Raising her head she looked up to find him gazing at her, wearing a soft smile. She smiled in response, and he kissed her forehead. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she brought his face down for a proper kiss.

When she settled herself back against his shoulder, he pulled up the bedcovers around them both, to guard against the early-morning chill in the air. Neither seemed willing to talk, to break out of the protective cocoon they found themselves in, in case they were unable to go back.

Eventually he said "Good morning?" making it sound like the question it was meant to be.

Stroking his chest, she replied, "Definitely. What are you thinking?"

He paused, trying to edit his thoughts, before deciding in this case honesty was the way forward.

"That I just made love to a student, and if Dumbledore doesn't fire me, then Minerva will wring my neck. And I'm desperately hoping that you aren't regretting what happened; or deciding that last night is all you wanted, and getting ready to let me down gently. That's about all the worries I have room for right now, so . . ."

He let his voice trail away, trying to interpret what her silence meant.

"You think I'm going to leave you? End this?"

"No, I'm terrified that's what you're going to do, or someone else is going to make happen."

She looked up at him thoughtfully, trying to find the words to reassure him. And to reassure herself, that she hadn't just jumped into a huge emotional black hole.

What doesn't destroy you makes you stronger

Strange that a Nietzsche quote should come into her mind at that very moment. Severus had a habit of quoting the one about the abyss and the monster to her. Holding him tighter she whispered,

"Three months ago I could never imagine wanting anyone else to ever touch me again --- ever trusting anyone enough. But you changed that for me; in fact you can consider yourself responsible for restoring my faith in the male of the species. Last night was about that, for me. But I love you now more than I did before, because I don't just know I can trust you, I truly believe it.

"And as far as anyone else ending this relationship is concerned, Dumbledore pretty much gave us carte blanche to do as we please. I'm not going to be the one that ends the relationship, and you know it."

He was looking at her intently now as if trying to drag out her meaning from her emotions. The last few phrases had come out bossier than she intended, but that made them no less true. And anyway, that was just a sign of her old character reasserting itself, a feeling that she at least had some control over her life again.

Probably cursing the fact that he was empathic not telepathic, he had to ask,

"What do you mean?"

She took a deep breath and decided it was time for laying bear of souls, as their naked bodies were currently wrapped around eachother.

"I have every reason to want to move on and away from Hogwarts. You don't. If you stay here you can carry on as before; and if you say the word I'll keep my promise to you. It's much more difficult for you to choose to be with me than it is for me to choose to be with you. You offer me love, security, support, experience, companionship; all I have to offer you is a total disruption to the routine of your life -"

Which was as far as he let her get before he cut her off mid-flow.

"You think that your loving me isn't the most important thing that's ever happened to me? You think that your trusting me hasn't made me feel alive for the first time in many years? You think that I wouldn't die for you if you needed me to?"

"I know that you love me, I just don't know if it's enough."

"What? Do you want me to prove myself."

There was a hard edge creeping back into his voice as he spoke. Yes she thought yes, you will have to prove yourself to me, but not in anyway you expect. Which was not what she said.

"No Severus, you don't have to prove yourself to me. Just don't push me away, please; I don't think I could stand that."

In response he just stroked the soft skin on her back in small circles working his way down until he found the sensitive spot, which elicited a small gasp from her.

"When I woke up this morning I was actually happy for the first time I can remember, holding a beautiful woman in my arms. We're a pair aren't we; just look how quick we've got rid of all the positive emotions."

She moaned again, then said in a voice that was definitely husky, "What were you proposing to do about that?"

"I had a few thoughts, if you're willing." He looked down into her brown eyes already clouded with desire, and knew what her answer would be.

"Yes, Severus, make love to me. Properly this time." She added a touch mischievously.

"Oh, I see I have a dissatisfied customer. Maybe you'd like an exchange." It seemed the Snape sarcasm had now woken up as well.

"Can I have something less touchy please? This one seems to get his feathers ruffled at the slightest thing and constantly needs his ego bolstering."

"Touché"

"I mean, last night you let me use you to satisfy my curiosity. And while it was what I wanted then, it'd be okay for you to take control a bit."

He rolled her fully onto her back and propped himself up beside her, before saying, "Just tell me if you want me to stop."

She merely grinned as if to say of course and stretched herself out full length for him.

He turned her face to one side, pulling her into a kiss that was more passionate than any they had yet shared, but instead of backing away from the intensity, she responded by pulling him closer, turning on her side to do so.

Faces level she rubbed her body against his in slow, languid strokes as if they had all the time in the world. Which in truth, they did have. Their presence would not be required until lunch to finish the remains of the turkey, still five or so hours away.

For most of the time, Severus held onto his control better than Hermione managed, but in the end they both formed a disorderly jumble of limbs, sweating and panting.

Remaining close, they drifted to sleep.

* * *

Severus was gone and Hermione was lying alone in the double bed. She could still smell the scent of him in the air and on the bedding, and she had made little effort to straighten the tangled sheets.

She was more concerned with untangling her emotions - every time she closed her eyes she could feel the ghost of his touches on her body, and remember the sensations of him moving inside of her. But then, just as she started to let herself be washed away by the images, there would be a stab of pain, dredged up from that other time.

She was fighting to stop her mind tangling Severus in with Potter, to keep the memories separated, and barely succeeding. It had taken ever ounce of her vaunted Gryffindor courage to let him touch her, although she knew that was not the problem. It was not the foreplay that forced her to recall the past.

It went against her nature to be so inherently selfish - she knew he was still mainly concerned with her pleasure, and it troubled her to think that some of that came from his belief that he didn't deserve to be happy, ever.

Needless to say, Hermione didn't agree.

She had no way of changing the past, even if she wanted to, so there was nothing left to do but move forward.

About suffering they were never wrong,

The Old Masters: how well they understood

Its human position; how it takes place (W H Auden)

Well, she would have the miraculous birth, but she hoped that Severus wouldn't be the child skating on thin ice. In the end, it was all about balance.

And moving on.

But sometimes to fight the future you had to face the past.

* * *

Several floors up, Severus Snape was standing in the circular living room above Dumbledore's office, the walls magically expanded so as to allow all the teachers remaining in school over the holidays to attend his post-Christmas party. Right now Snape was concentrating on being a Professor, and an aloof and intimidating one at that. It was necessary to avoid his thoughts drifting back towards Hermione, and the inevitable reaction that caused. Professor Sprout was talking to him, something about the new crops that he wasn't to dig up until she had taken cuttings to start the next years, and Professor McGonagall was glaring at him across the room, when Dumbledore caught him by the elbow and steered him away.

"Was she awake when you left?" Dumbledore asked in an undertone when they were out of hearing distance.

"Of course, I'm not that cruel yet." Then realising exactly what he had snapped, he winced, slightly.

"Oh, don't fret, Severus, I'm not going to do anything, so long as this information remains between the three of us."

"And I was planning to tell Minerva, just to prove that she could hate me more."

"Now, Severus, that was uncalled for. All she sees is that when her students get themselves into trouble you always seem to be there."

"Persecuting Gryffindors is my life's work, didn't you know."

"Severus."

"Headmaster."

"So long as you don't persecute one particular Gryffindor."

"I trust we're not referring to Potter."

"Even I don't order miracles and expect them to work. No, I mean Miss Granger."

"I don't intend to."

"Good. Now I doubt anyone will notice should you want to slip away. Have a nice day."

Which received a nod, and a minute or two later, Snape slipped unnoticed out of the door. It was one habit spying had taught him that he was thankful for.

* * *

Entering his room, he looked around for Hermione, and not seeing her, wandered into the bedroom. She was still in bed, her fingers worrying at the hem of the sheet, and looking towards the mural, which now showed another scene, one he had never seen before.

She wasn't looking at the door, and seemed to have not notice him enter. He cleared his throat, trying not to startle her.

She looked up, and smiled as he sat on the bed, and leant forward as he moved to kiss the sensitive spot between her eyes.

Stroking her hair, he drew away, and chided,

"Are you going to stay in bed all day?"

"Don't know."

"No, was the answer you were looking for."

"Hmmpf."

"Do you know how to double apparate?"

"Yes, why?"

"Tell you later. Go and get dressed. I'll be back soon."

She wriggled out of bed and he watched her naked form all the way to the bathroom, before rising and heading down to the kitchens.

* * *

Hermione was showered and dressed by the time Severus returned to his rooms, with a package tucked under his arm.

"Don't forget your cloak, and gloves might be useful." He said as he gathered up the invisibility cloak of the back of his door and folded it.

"Yes mother." He looked up as he placed the cloak and package into a bag and retrieved his own thick woollen cloak.

"Now, now, Hermione, you know I'm not female."

"True. But calling you father seems a little perverse."

"Indeed."

"I hate it when you say that. I can never tell if you're amused or angry."

"Neither. Now stop complaining and come along."

"Yes, Professor."

"Do I have to tell you again?"

"Maybe, where are we going?"

"To the Hogwarts gates."

"And then?"

"Somewhere else."

"Tell me!"

"No."

"Please."

"You'll see soon enough."

Holding out his hand, he urged her through the door into his rooms, out into his office, then his classroom, locking and warding behind him as he went. He then led her into a secret passageway she never even guessed was there, and on through the darkness until they emerged out into the morning sun, at the castle walls, surrounded by deep undergrowth.

The expression on Hermione's face said it all, when he headed out through the vegetation in what she assumed was the direction of the main drive.

"What is this? You drag me out of bed and off on some mystery trip, through a secret passage and out into a pile of brambles? Is there a reason we can't go out of the front door?"

"Yes. Stop moaning." He said with a rare grin, turning back to her, and promptly sweeping her off her feet and up into his arms. He grinned a bit more at her startled cry, then asked, "Better?"

"Um." Was all she could manage for a while, temporarily dumfounded by the novelty of the situation, before she carefully composed a sentence.

"I suppose you carrying me out of the shrubbery is infinitely less suspicious than us walking out of the main entrance. Or am I missing something?"

"This is more fun."

Huh? Said her brain. Severus Snape is talking about fun. When did I blink and enter an alternate universe.

However, her mouth opened and out came, "Good point, well put."

When they arrived at the drive, they were out of sight of the main doors, and only someone overlooking the lake would stand a chance of seeing them. Setting her down, he led her by the hand onto the gravel and set of down towards the gate.

Sensing her hesitation, he explained, "Everyone'll be in lunch now, it's one."

"Oh. Where are we going?"

"Patience is a virtue."

They finally arrived at the gate, an outside the apparition wards. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out his invisibility cloak, and hugging her against him, wrapped it round them both. The material stretched magically, to cover them both completely.

"Remember to concentrate on me."

"Okay."

"Have you ever done this before?"

"Er...no. Is it like single apparition?"

"Mainly, but you don't have the control of destination. Just concentrate on me like you would concentrate on your destination if you were on your own."

"Let's go."

They went.

When they landed, it was dark. In fact it was five a.m.

"Where are we?"

Looking out ahead of her she could only see the sea, and various rocky coastlines stretching away to both sides of her. Turning, behind her was an old and withered tree with a circular wall built around its base. There was a pathway leading back towards the main coast, with a wire fence separating it from the road.

"It's called The Lone Cypress."

"The tree? You brought me to see a tree?! Anyway, that's not what I asked."

"California, Pebble Beach, to be precise."

"Is it a nature reserve?"

"No, it's a golf course."

"I'm confused. Anyhow, I thought you'd never been to America?"

"I visited San Francisco once, as well as some other US cities. I didn't take any photos, though. I was on my own."

"Did you go to L.A.?"

"I don't like crowds, so no. I only went to San Francisco to see Alcatraz. I decided it wouldn't have been much good as a wizard prison. Then I got out of the sunshine state as quick as I could."

[A shrug of his shoulders]

"Did you go to any of the beaches then?"

"I considered it, but it was the necessity of wearing shorts that put me off."

"Now you're having me on!"

"Indeed."

"Stop it." She playfully slapped his shoulder.

"Stop what?" He asked in a wounded tone.

"That! Being purposefully unreadable."

"And I thought women appreciated a man of mystery." His expression was one of pure perplexity now

"Oh, I can't win." She leaned back against the tree, with an exasperated gesture.

"You're finally learning." Now he looked smug.

"Bastard."

"It's been said before. Normally by Gryffindors." Still smug, and she wasn't going to let him get away with it.

"That should tell you something then."

"That Gryffindors only know one insult?" Her eyebrows shot up, before she conceded the truth of it to herself.

"No, not that. (A sigh) So why did you bring me to commune with nature in the freezing cold?"

"Ah well, this tree is about two hundred and fifty years old, and a symbol of something or other. (Hermione immediately straightened up.) Anyway we're here because the Muggles keep it fenced off, and that's like a red rag to a bull as far as I'm concerned. As we're here so early, I had planned to watch the sunrise."

"I take it back, you're an incurable romantic. Quite shocking."

"Then I probably shouldn't mention that I brought a picnic then. Turkey sandwiches."

"How glamorous. I believe there might be a real heart under there after all."

"Just don't tell anyone. And I don't do Valentine's Day. Ever."

"Of course not, but you are required to remember my birthday. But don't worry, I won't tell anyone your secret. How would I be able to blackmail you then?"

"We'll make a Slytherin of you yet."

"Consider it your life's work."

"You always have to have the last word."

"Bad habit I picked up from a man I know."

"Indeed."

To shut him up as much as anything else, she kissed him, and when the both of them got carried away, they ended up missing the sunrise after all.

* * *

This new accord managed to get them through the rest of the holidays and into the new term without too many harsh words, or arguments. When the Hogwarts express brought the remainder of the students back, Hermione was forced to spend more time in her own rooms, ostentatiously at least.

Snape had arranged for her fireplace to be connected on the floo network that joined the teacher's fireplaces, a request which Dumbledore had accepted with his usual knowing smile and lack of comment. This meant that Hermione was still able to spend her nights with her Potions Master after she had completed her homework and retired to her own room to 'sleep'.

Some of this time was spent preparing and practising for the upcoming fight. Their skills were improving, but they had not practised on anyone other than themselves, so they had never been able to try their powers in synchrony, or get the timing right.

This did not become a problem before late January, as neither of them had mastered their powers sufficiently to want any further challenges. But now, in early February, they felt like they were loosing time and opportunities to make sure they were going to get it right.

There was only one solution. Dumbledore.

He was going to be involved on the day itself, if only as the intended victim, so he would have to be briefed as to events and progress before the month was out. They decided to ask if he would be a guinea pig for them as well. They were, after all, trying to save his life.

Despite thoughts of how this was all for the common good, however, were insufficient to make Hermione feel any better about what she was going to ask, or more precisely, they were going to ask. A sideways glance at Severus confirmed he was feeling similarly daunted, though hiding it better.

Standing outside the stone gargoyle, he raised an eyebrow at her, and together they gave the password,

"Treacle Toffee."

* * *

Albus Dumbledore stood to open his office door, and watched Severus and Hermione come up the escalator with appropriate looks of surprise at how he had known they were coming.

They were here for something, he could tell, and he hoped it wasn't to ask his permission to let them marry. This close to Hermione's graduation he could not see the point in rushing things. Whatever it was, both of them seemed distinctly uncomfortable.

He decided to make things a little easier on them.

"Ah, Severus, Miss Granger, how nice to see you. Come in."

They gave no visible reaction, just looked at one another, and Severus held open the office door while Hermione entered. Dumbledore studied Hermione as she moved and noted with satisfaction that she had hidden the signs of her pregnancy under her robes well. He suspected she had used several glamours as well. He still could not tell what was going on from either of their faces, which was not surprising in Severus, but marked a change in Hermione. She was certainly changing.

Time to kick start the interview.

"So, you have something to tell me?"

They both nodded. Severus began, explaining the full details of their research and what the hints Severus had picked up from Voldemort and Potter. It took him a while to finish, and when he had, Dumbledore was still lost.

It was not that he had not understood any of what they had said - he was very well versed in all the subjects they had covered - but he could not understand why this made them both so uncomfortable.

He settled for a suitable knowledgeable and mysterious twinkle, and searched for the appropriate question to drag out the information he was searching for.

"I see. Now, what is it exactly you are here to ask but don't want to."

He could see from their faces he'd just notched his reputation for omniscience up several.

"Well -" began Severus

" - we were wondering - " Hermione continued

" - if you could help us - " Severus had obviously swallowed his pride

" - with finishing the research. We've encountered a problem - " Hermione with a rueful grin this time.

" - with numbers, not the magic - " Severus was quick to point out.

" - and if - " it seemed Hermione was about to get to the point.

" - if we are actually going to know if this works - " Severus then, had the point.

" - we need - " Hermione again

" - to practise - " Severus was working himself up to it

" - on someone other than us - " Hermione cringed as the words came out

" - like you - " Severus clarified

" - because we need someone powerful - " Was Hermione trying flattery?

" - who we know won't report to Voldemort - " trust Severus to be practical.

Dumbledore paused, slightly dizzy from trying to piece the conversation back together. He was forced to ask the question that was bouncing round his head.

"Did you practise that?"

They glanced at eachother and raised an eyebrow identically. "no" they replied, perfectly in time.

Then you've been spending too much time together, he didn't say.

"I see. What did you have in mind? For making me believe?" it was an important question he considered, as they were going to make Voldemort think he was dead.

"Um, something like having a broken bone - " Hermione began.

" - not pleasant, so your mind won't want to cooperate - "

" - but easily repairable."

They both looked hopeful.

Think of the greater good, Dumbledore reminded himself, and they had a point, after all, they did need to practise.

The things he did for science.

"Are you ready to begin then?"

"Now?" blurted out Hermione, before Severus said "If you wish."

"We'd better do it before I change my mind."

So they began, and after several attempts managed to succeed.

Dumbledore found it highly inconsiderate the way they hugged one another before attending to his broken arm. It really hurt a great deal.

For science, and the greater good he reminded himself.

And you can't predict the responses of the young in love he told himself, before clearing his throat loudly.

Hermione got the point immediately, as he suspected did Severus, but it was Hermione that jumped immediately and repaired the bone. Severus was much slower. Perhaps he was getting his own back.

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