Unforgettable

Chapter Sixteen –

Crookshanks swished his tail back and forth angrily as he lounged on the windowsill. He squinted at the moon, his stomach growling. Forgotten! He\'d been forgotten! There was no food in his dish and his water was not fresh.

He thumped his tail back and forth, listening to the cars run up and down the lane. His mistress had abandoned him. His caretaker, Weasel\'s sister, had abandoned him as well, chased away by the Dark Wizard.

Crookshanks\' ears perked up hopefully as, turning toward his mistress\' living quarters, he heard someone jiggling the doorknob.

The door opened and two shadowy figures walked into the flat.

“He’s over there,” a familiar voice said quickly. “I told you I saw him in the windowsill.”

Crookshanks meowed in welcome as Harry stumbled into some furniture.

“And how do you know she’ll come back for the beast?”

The orange familiar hissed and growled, recognizing the dark wizard’s voice. Sniffing the air, Crookshanks could smell his mistress’ scent upon the tall wizard.

“Lumos! Leave the lights off,” Harry instructed. “Didn’t you ever have a familiar?”

“Yes,” Snape replied, whispering the same incantation and lighting his way toward Hermione’s bedroom.

“What happened to it?” Harry asked.

“Once it expired, I dissected it and harvested it for potion ingredients,” Severus replied quickly.

Raising his wand, Harry looked at Snape. “Charming. No wonder Hermione refused your proposal.”

“I don’t seem to recall you making a proposal to Miss Weasely. Imagine how surprised her five brothers are going to be when it’s discovered that someone they’ve held in such high esteem for so long has defiled their younger sister,” Snape retorted.

“It would help if she answered her Floo,” Harry muttered under his breath, walking over to Crookshanks. “All right, Crooks?” he asked, scratching the orange cat behind its ears.

“Meow,” the cat answered nonchalantly, not wanting to bemoan his unfortunate circumstances.

“That blasted cat,” Snape groused, sitting at his lover’s desk.

“With an attitude like that, it’s no wonder Crookshanks doesn’t like you.” Harry continued to pet the cat.

Snape jumped from the chair and toward the front door. “Be quiet, you bloody idiot. Someone is coming.”

--

She’d Apparated as close as she could to the flat, in case the great greasy bat was lying in wait for her. She had to feed Crookshanks. The poor thing must be starving by now.

Opening the door, she called out to her ward. “I’m sorry I’m late, Crooks. I just couldn’t take the chance that the git came back.”

“Thank you for the compliment, Miss Weasley,” Severus said, closing the door behind her. “Most people refer to me as the greasy git. Must be something to do with my hair.”

Ginny withdrew her wand and turned in on Severus. “I won’t go!” she shouted. “You can’t make me!”

Severus closed the door and crossed his arms as if he hadn’t a care in the world. “I’m not here to take you to your brothers and reveal your secret. I have something more important to attend to. However, I do suggest you sit down and discuss your condition with your paramour,” he stated, his eyes looking over her shoulder.

“Expelliarmus!”

Ginny’s wand flew out of her hand and clattered to the floor. Seeing Harry standing near the cooker, Ginny ran toward her wand.

“Accio Ginny’s wand!” Harry shouted.

“Give me my wand back, Harry Potter!” she growled, advancing on her lover with reflexes honed from being the youngest girl in a family full of boys.

“Rictusempra!” Harry muttered the incantation with a cheeky grin.

Scowling, Ginny could feel laughter bubble uncontrollably to the surface. “Leave…(cackle)…me…(snort)…alone…(cough), Harry!”

Harry smiled, his green eyes flashing. “You are going to sit down and listen to what I have to say.”

“This will win her affection,” Snape drawled as he watched Ginny double over with laughter.

“Sod off, Snape!” Harry snapped.

“I want you,” gasped Ginny, “to sod off, Harry.”

Doubled over, her sides aching, she could only see Harry’s shoes.

“I’ll release the spell if you promise to talk to me,” Harry said, kneeling next to her. “But you have to promise.”

Ginny laughed, tears in her eyes. “I promise…(giggle)…to listen right after…(cackle)…I hex your bollocks off.”

“I’d watch out for her Bat-Bogey Hex,” Snape muttered, shifting impatiently by the door. “As much as I’ve enjoyed watching your attempt at romance, Potter, I really must be going.”

“Wait right there, Snape,” Harry commanded. “I shan’t have you going after Hermione without me.”

Ginny frowned, tears from her unrestrained laughter flowing down her face. Snape had been looking for Hermione earlier.

Kneeling next to Ginny, Harry brushed her hair out of her face. “Please, Ginny. We need to talk. Swear you won’t run away again.”

“Ha, ha, ha, ha,” was the only response Harry received.

“Finite Incantatem,” Harry whispered, waving his wand and releasing the tickling spell.

--

Walking down the hall to her flat, Hermione paused. Was that Ginny laughing so loud? Sheesh! Her neighbors were going to have a fit. She opened the door to the oddest scene. Harry was kneeling in front of Ginny and Ginny was on her hands and knees. “Oh my!”

Shocked green eyes met Hermione’s. “Hi, Hermione,” Harry greeted her, helping Ginny to her feet. “Ginny and I were just –”

“I don’t need details,” Hermione interrupted, holding up her hand and turning her head. From the corner of her eye, she saw a shadow move.

“Incarcerous!” a harsh, familiar voice exclaimed behind her as magical ropes wrapped around her, causing her to sway dangerously on her feet.

Managing to turn toward the voice, Hermione gasped, “Severus!”

His black robes flowed behind him as he rushed to catch her.

Landing in his arms, Hermione could feel the automatic tug of desire lull her into submission. “Let me go, Snape,” she hissed, twisting in his arms like an unmanageable fish. “Harry, please! Please help me!”

Severus pulled her against him with a knowing leer. “Potter can’t help you, Hermione.” He dragged his wand across her cheek, and she felt a strange, nauseating tug throughout her body and heard a snap.

Opening her eyes, Hermione saw the room they had occupied earlier at the Leaky Cauldron. They had Apparated. She struggled against the ropes. “Release me this instant, Professor Snape.” He looked angry.

“Not only have you broken your contract regarding my locket, you swore an oath to be my wife,” Severus murmured against her ear. “I will leave the bindings in place until you agree to see reason or until I can arrange for someone with the authority to bind us.”

Hermione swayed on her feet, exhilaration and dread thrumming through her veins. “You’re a nutter! You’ve been around potion fumes too long! I shall never agree to this lunacy! You are the last wizard I would ever –”

His lips crushed hers, silencing her protests. She kept protesting, her muffled argument lost. His tongue pushed into her mouth, enticing the passion she was powerless to resist.
Hermione groaned in welcome, struggling to release the magical bindings. The words of her vanity mirror taunted her. He’s poisoned you…lust potion.

Severus broke the kiss, leaving both of them breathless. Her mind churning and clasping at that last thought, Hermione stared into his dark eyes. In them, she saw a void, a void that one did not oft see in Severus Snape. He was as powerless as she was.

She needed him, needed him to possess her. Needed him to sate the animalistic urge within her. She knew now only he could do so.

His hand trembled as it brushed her chestnut curls from her face. Hermione nuzzled the palm of his hand with her cheek, saddened that the passion she had shared with him wasn’t real. “What have you done?” she whispered tremulously.

*****

A/N – Thanks to everyone for the reviews. They really do inspire the muses.

Miki – I’m sorry my updates haven’t been every day. I’m afraid that I only have one more chapter written after this one. So I’ll probably post that one in about three days. I’m halfway through chapter eighteen.

GinnyW – LOL! Tonks says \"must have been something in the punch\"....No kidding, darlin\'! LOL! I thought Severus was going to file a complaint against the Weasley brats, LOL! He files against Hermione...now there\'s a way to get a wife, Sevvie! LOL! I\'m waiting for more! ~Gin

He he! Wait until Hermione finds out what he did! It’ll be a blast.

Cocoachristy -- LOL this is getting too good! ha ha Now, who is the father of Tonk\'s little one? That should be interesting. Poor Fred and George, they are gonna have the whole Wizarding world after them for this! Do Harry and Ginny reconcile? What will Hermione do now she knows? Will she ever remeber that Snape oblivated her and what happened before? LOL I am rambling. Can\'t wait for the next update! ;-)

Do you really want to be spoiled about the father of Tonk’s little one? I’ll give you a hint, he’s one of two remaining Marauders, and it isn’t Peter Pettigrew. I’m currently trying to write a companion fic about Tonks and the father of her baby – probably a PWP. Anybody interested?

June W -- Ch 15 - hmm, I wonder what will happen to Hermione if she still loves Severus but stays away from him - will she start to get physically sick? start losing sleep? Does the twins\' potion last forever, or just a few months or years? Thanks for the new chapter and the answers - looking forward to seeing what Harry does next! Oops, so Harry can\'t tell Hermione that Severus Obliviated her ... uh-oh...

It doesn’t work that way. It just makes the affected parties really randy for one another. I guess she could lose a little sleep. More about the potion will be revealed in later chapters which translates into… heck if I know. He he!

Susan -- I cannot believe he told Harry first! Brilliant to make him swear a wizards oath. Does Tonks realize that she is pregnant? What about the others? This is really getting good and I was glad to see in your notes that you have more chapters written. Still going great and as always, I look forward to your updates :-)

I can’t believe he told Harry first too. I totally didn’t see it coming! I do have an outline, but then sometimes, things jump out at me and I have to work them into the story. Yes, Tonks knows she’s pregnant. Ginny and Luna know they are pregnant. I’m glad you are still enjoying the story.

In the next chapter, Hermione will confront Severus.