Inky Fingers

The usual disclaimers apply. J.K. Rowling created the Harry Potter universe and everything you recognise is hers. Except the perversions, of course. Those you can blame me for.
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"Severus, love, I'm way too hot. Give me a hand up and I'll go for another swim." This far into her pregnancy, Hermione found it difficult to get to her feet, especially when she was lying on the warm sands of a tropical island. "I'm just glad you chose a 'deserted' island for our last fling before becoming parents. Otherwise, Greenpeace activists would be hosing me down and trying to figure out how to get me back into the water!"

Severus raised an eyebrow at his lady-love's lapse into Muggle references, but dutifully helped Hermione to stand. "I'll be glad when this is over. It's been a LLLOOONNNNGGGG nine months from where I'm standing - and even worse for you. Not long now, though."

Hermione waddled down the sand to the edge of the lagoon and gratefully lowered herself into the supportive embrace of the water. It felt SO good to get the weight off her feet, not to mention her lower back! She lay back, floating gently in the quiet waves.

An odd nagging started up in the back of her skull. It felt ... familiar, perhaps. If it had been lower down, she would have assumed more of those annoying Braxton-Hicks contractions, but nothing she had read suggested that labour would include the back of her head so that probably wasn't it. She pondered a few minutes more, then realised it was the feeling she got when Squirmy was trying to get her attention.

"Severus, can you come here a minute?" Hermione called. "I want you to confirm something for me."

He dived into the water and swam to her. "Is there a problem, love?" He twitched slightly. "What *is* that feeling - it's just like when Squirmy wants us."

"That's what I thought" she said. "I'm sure he can't have followed us here so that leaves the question 'Who is it who wants to talk to us?'.

"I can think of a way to find out. Accio wand" Severus' wand flew gracefully to his hand from the tangle of belongings on the shore. "Piscine Communicatus" he cried, casting the spell he normally used for translation when speaking to Squirmy and other aquatic people.

"Hello?" he called. "Did you want to speak to us? My name is Severus and this is Hermione"

"He-hello" called a shy voice from the seaward side of the lagoon. "My name is Eulathera. You both seem so nice - so different from most of the humans I meet that I wanted to talk to you. Usually humans don't seem to understand perfectly straightforward Squidese but you seem to have no trouble. Has it got something to do with that 'glow' that sparkles around both of you?"

"Something like that" agreed Hermione. "It's also got a lot to do with the glow that sparkles around you." She had finally caught sight of the squid, hiding most of it's body behind a rock. "What are you doing here? You look as if you're a member of the species Architeuthis dux, yet they aren't often found in tropical lagoons. Open sea, yes, but lagoons?"

"You're right. Usually we do live in the open water. But...have you ever met another squid? Socially, I mean. Most of them have only 2 plans for anyone else they meet - bonk it if you can, eat it if you can't. A few will even do both if who they meet is small enough. Bonk it first, eat it second. No imagination. No wish to experiment in what might bring pleasure. Bonk or eat, end of story. Personally, I'd rather live alone than put up with that kind of nonsense.

"So, I live here. In the lagoon. It gets lonely, but it's better than the alternative. Even though sometimes humans come to visit they don't stay long and no-one has found a way to talk with me except for you."

Hermione blinked back a tear. "What a sad story. It's so hard, I know, when you don't fit in with the people around you. Severus knows, too, don't you beloved" She dropped a quick kiss on his cheek. An idea struck her. "You wouldn't, by any chance, happen to be a GIRL squid, would you?"

"Well, yes. Yes, I am." said Eulathera. "Why do you ask?'

"How would you like to meet a nice, handsome and very talented boy squid? One who also glows brightly to the inner sight?"

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A/N And so ends the penultimate chapter of Inky Fingers. Only one more instalment to go! I promise that one won't take so long to arrive - I had some major attacks of Life these past few weeks which held these final chapters up. However, the next one is already drafted, just needing polishing. Hopefully I'll get it posted in the next few days.

To those who have read along thus far, thank you. For those who have felt sufficiently strongly to review, my heartfelt thanks. I have appreciated your comments and encouragement.

Manth