WLTM

Hermione awoke to find herself being cradled on Severus’s lap, his arms wrapped around her gently as he stroked her hair from her face. Minerva was looking at her with concern and Severus was pale as he gazed at her.



‘Are you alright?’ she murmured.



‘I am now,’ he smiled softly at her.



‘Severus was almost as weak as you, Hermione. I found him half-collapsed near the dungeons,’ Minerva spoke softly, shaking her head.



She walked around to the business side of her desk and sat down, staring at them over the top of her glasses.



‘You know, you really will have to strengthen your bonds if you don’t want this happening all of the time…’ she tapped her quill against the desk softly, ‘Valentine should have explained it to you…’ she muttered almost to herself.



‘Explained what?’ Severus looked at her blankly. He was starting to feel stronger and tightened his hold around Hermione’s waist as she leant her head against his shoulder softly.



‘Minerva was telling me there is a way to strengthen the bond so we don’t feel weak when we’re apart for any length of time… she’s a Seer, Severus, did you know?’



Hermione smiled at the Headmistress.



‘No, I didn’t know that!’ Severus looked at her in surprise.



‘I don’t use it often… I prefer more tangible magic…’ Minerva shrugged slightly.



‘How do we strengthen the bond, Minerva?’ Hermione slid herself from Severus’s knee and sat beside him, holding onto his hand.



Minerva pursed her lips and took a deep breath.



‘You know how babies are made I assume?’ Her eyebrow arched a little.



Hermione’s mouth dropped open and Severus shifted uncomfortably in his seat. This wasn’t the type of conversation he wanted to have with his old colleague.



‘Well?’ Minerva interrupted their discomfort abruptly.



‘Of course we do!’ Hermione snapped a little.



‘We haven’t got that far, Minerva… we’re still on our first date, for gods sake!’ Severus stared at her incredulously.



‘Severus Snape, when have you ever been reluctant? Didn’t you know that Lulu is my niece?’ Minerva’s mouth twitched in a smirk as Severus’s face fell and he closed his eyes.



‘Gods..’ he murmured.



‘Who is Lulu?’ Hermione demanded, jealousy flaring inside her.



‘A whore…’ Severus whispered, not looking at her.



‘A good one, too… she has more money than I did at her age that’s a fact.…’ Minerva smiled a little ruefully.



Hermione stared at them, her eyes narrowing slightly. She did not like this conversation one bit.



‘Can we please change the subject?’ Hermione’s voice was steely and Severus looked ashamed.



‘I apologise, Hermione… it was in a past life…’ he muttered and glared at Minerva.



‘You’re saying to strengthen the bonds and avoid being ill, we need to have sex?’ Hermione’s voice was that of the student, serious, needing information.



‘Regularly. It only lasts for a short time before the bonds weaken again.’ Minerva nodded.



‘I wanted to wait until someone loved me…’ Hermione whispered, mainly to herself as she recognised she had been backed into a corner.



‘How do you feel about Severus, Hermione?’ Minerva asked her softly, her heart going out to her.



‘I really care about him. And I find him very attractive, especially since yesterday’ she smiled at Severus a little and his eyes brightened.



‘And you haven’t had sex yet? Minerva prompted.



‘What does that have to do with anything?’ Hermione frowned at her.



‘Remember what I said before. Sometimes people don’t know how they feel. Sometimes, it just has to be demonstrated and the love comes afterwards. Its nothing to be ashamed of.’



Minerva looked at Hermione meaningfully. Hermione stared back at Minerva and then at Severus, who had cast his eyes down and was shuffling his feet a little.



Hermione smiled broadly at Minerva.



‘I understand. Thank you, Minerva. I think we should be going, Severus…’ Hermione pulled on his hand a little and encouraged him to stand up.



Severus couldn’t look at her and risk exposing himself. He was feeling quite vulnerable and the inference in Minerva’s words had not been lost on him.



Minerva walked them to the front door and hugged them both tightly.



‘Don’t leave it so long to visit next time,’ she murmured, ‘and remember what I said…’



Hermione nodded and Severus looked at Minerva, his eyes full of gratitude.



‘Thank you, Minerva… I..’ his voice broke.



‘I know, Severus… Lily would be very happy for you…’ she patted his arm and wiped away a small tear from his cheek.



As they walked down the long path to the apparition point, Severus let his arm drape over Hermione’s shoulder and she snaked her arm around his waist, both of them deep in thought.



Minerva watched them for a moment and smiled.





****



They were lying on the bed in Severus’s room, kissing softly and stroking each other’s faces softly.



‘If we can’t spend much time apart yet, what do you think we should do, Hermione?’ Severus gazed at her, taking in the tilt of her chin and the small, almost invisible freckles on her nose.



‘Well from what Minerva said, it sounds like we have no choice but to make love but I hate the thought that we HAVE to… I would rather do it because we WANT to, when we want to.’ Hermione pouted slightly and Severus covered her mouth with his, sucking in her bottom lip a little.



‘I would hate for you to feel under pressure, but you need to know I find you very desirable, Hermione. I will be ready when you are ready and I am happy to wait. I have more than one bedroom and you are welcome to stay in my house tonight if you wish. I don’t think we would be able to go home separately yet.… in fact, it’s almost time for us to leave.’



‘Are you sure you want to share your living space with me, Severus? It could get awkward.’ Hermione whispered softly. She didn’t want to be an inconvenience.



‘Of course I want you there. That’s why I joined the dating agency in the first place, Hermione. You gathered from Minerva that I used to employ the services of prostitutes. I gave that up when I joined the agency. Sex just wasn’t fulfilling me any more. I need someone in my life and not just for sex. Having you share my home for a while would be just perfect …’ he smiled down at her, ‘especially if you can cook!’



Hermione laughed at him and he gasped as she started to tickle him under his arms.



‘No…not fair…stoppit!’ He laughed and pinned her arms above her head, kissing her passionately until they were both panting and flushed.



‘Let’s go home and try your real bed out…’ Hermione smiled at him.



‘Good idea…’ he grinned, ‘ let’s go.’





*****



R and R if you can, thanks