Ensnaring The Senses

They all arrived back at Grimmauld Place after Umbridge's fall from grace, satisfied for now that she was paying for the past. Harry still had the smirk on his face from watching her being dragged, kicking and screaming through Azkaban's gates.

“So my dear, my armor still tarnished?” Severus asked Hermione while they sipped on some festive wines Harry and Ginny provided to toast with.

“Some right here,” Hermione brushed at an imaginary blot on his arm gently. “That was a very impressive presentation. The memory will move even the hardest heart. The laws will be repealed, I'm sure of it.”

“Umbridge still needs to stand trial, and Harry is bringing his memories of Fifth year from his detentions.” Ginny said.

“I'm just glad the Wizengamot listened.” Arthur said, “I still face a review board myself on the matter. I spent too much time out on the field looking for evil, but missed it as it grew under my very nose. Percy faces a few charges himself.” Arthur shook his head sadly. “What a mess.” He mumbled, walking off to Molly.

“So,” Ginny pulled Hermione off to one corner of the room. “What have you decided on for the Wedding so far?”

“Well, I want it at Christmas. It's not that far off, but it will give us time to prepare. We still need to see Mum and Dad, and I haven't even told them Severus has returned.” Hermione said, looking at the her wizard.

“They'll be happy, Hermione. Your dad may have a few words about it, but he'll come around.” Ginny placed a reassuring hand on Hermione's arm.

“I'm not sure if I'll have a Muggle ceremony or not. Mum will cry if I don't do the whole church thing, but I really can't see Severus standing for it.” Hermione said.

“He loves you. After what you both have been through, he'd jump through hoops for you.” Ginny giggled at the thought.

“Um, no. I can not see that!” Hermione chuckled, a jumping Severus flashing through her mind. “I can't see him in the traditional white wizard robes either.”

“Traditions are meant to be broken.” Ginny looked thoughtful. “The Ministry will recognize the Muggle ceremony if you register it.” Ginny suggested.

“I want the whole thing, bonds, elements-- final blood bonding. Once I have him, I'm never letting go.” Hermione whispered. “I've waited too long.”

“I'll stop by at Hogwarts next week, we can start planning.” Hermione nodded as Severus and Harry came to stand by them.

“Okay ladies, what are you both plotting?” Harry asked, handing baby Lily to his wife. “You've been looking our way and laughing way too much.”

“Just wedding talk, love. So much too think of in just a little less then three months.” Ginny replied.

“Three months is too long for my liking,” Severus said, a gleam coming to his eye as he looked at his fiancee.

“There is so much we need to discuss also, Sev. Living arrangements for one.” Hermione said. Harry and Ginny went over to talk to the Lupins, leaving them to their discussion.

“Why you'll join me in my quarters. It's more then big enough, and Hogwarts walls stretch if needs arise. I'm Head of Slytherin for the rest of the year, I need to be close to the dorms.”

“Well, if we do as planned, my taking a Potions internship, and take over Potions-- okay, I'll be closer to the class room. But as Headmaster won't you take Minerva's rooms?”

“I prefer the Dungeon, so I won't be changing rooms. Plus, will you want to work after we are married? I mean in a full time capacity. If you are pregnant, or you get pregnant--” Severus started to say.

“I'm not now, no.” She confirmed for him. “I don't really think this is a time to talk about this.” She looked at the room full of friends. “We both want another.” Her eyes gazed into his. “Soon.” He bent his head and kissed her, oblivious to the stares it created.

The twins looked at each other in mock disgust. Their sister's best mate and their former Potions teacher snogging in front of them had to be stopped, for obviously they had forgotten their audience.

“So Hermione have you told Charlie,” said one of the twins.

“That Snape is back?” The other finished.

Severus Snape pulled out of the kiss to look at Fred and George then back Hermione.

“You dated another Weasley? Wasn't that prat Ron enough?” He glowered down at her.

“We didn't date, exactly. Just a few friendly outings over the years.”

“That defines date and relationship to me.” Severus let his jealousy get a hold of him.

“That defines friendship! It wasn't as if you have any reason to care, Severus Tobias Snape!” Hermione spat out.

“You're the mother of my daughter! That gives me the right-” Severus started to say, but her next words cut him off.

“That gives you the right to nothing!” Hermione said heatedly. “You left me for twelve bloody years, Severus. You never even said goodbye!”

“I told you I was wrong about that!” His hand reached back unconsciously to rub the back of his neck.

“Wrong? Wrong? That was cowardly!” Hermione finally let loose her twelve years of misery. “You don't even have a clue what I went through for those years. The looks, the questions, the bloody wizards who looked at me like I was easy cause of my indiscretion of not marrying or informing the whole lot of them who the father was. The Wizardry world is so Victorian in their views.”

“Hermio-”

“Don't Hermione me! If I hadn't had friends like these,” Her hands gestured around the room, “I'd probably have left for the Muggle world. What's so funny about it, is you would have just gotten a pat on the back and a 'Good job there, Snape.'” Hermione's eyes shined from the tears she held back. “So while you thought I waited all virginal and untouched for you-- what the bloody hell did you do? I'm sure we have a few conquest stories to hear!”

Severus winced, confirming her words.

“How hypocritical of you. I choose to ignore what happened those twelve years. What a fool I am.” She whispered, her hand twisting the ring on her finger. His breathing stopped as she slide it down her finger, dropping it into the palm of her hand.

“Don't-” Severus whispered, as she held it loosely, jiggling it around. The room watched in amazement as the ring fell to the floor with a soft ping as she disappeared.

“It was, only a joke,” One of the twins said.

“To stop the ickle kissing,” Finished the other, both sighing. Ginny handed Bill the baby as she whipped her wand out and pointed it at brothers.

“That was the stupidest thing you have ever done!” Her wand flicked out lights as Ginny mumbled out a spell faster then they could dodge, and bats flew about both their faces.

“And you!” She turned to Severus, her wand hand shaking in anger. “You pompous jerk. To think I actually approved of you.”

“Ginny,” Harry said, touching her shoulder softly. “Don't do it.” Too late, the bats flew gloriously around Severus's pale face as grimaced.

“There! You truly are the King of the Dungeon bats now.” Ginny shook off Harry's hand, took back baby Lily and fled to her room.

“You might want to give Hermione a little time before you talk to her,” Harry said, picking up the ring from the floor. “Just not twelve years.” Severus winced, ignoring the pain from the hex at the reminder. With a wave of his wand, Harry removed the hexes.

“If you love her, don't judge her.” Harry said, taking Severus's hand and dropping the ring into it. “The treatment she received made her hide out in Hogwarts, safe from all the snide comments. She never finished her Potions internship because the jerk who offered it wanted some 'special' treatment for glowing grades.”

Severus groaned at his words. “Who?” He asked, the gems in the ring biting deep into the flesh of his palm.

“It doesn't matter, we took care of him. He's now looking for strange plants in outer Mongolia that don't even grow there. Weird what a rich wizard or two can do to a career.” Draco said finally. “Go pick up the pieces yourself this time, Dad.” He disapparated back to Malfoy manor.


~*~


Hermione arrived back at Hogwarts gates, tears rolling down her cheeks. “How could he dare judge me?” She mumbled to herself. “What to do?” She looked through the gates to the safe haven she had had for the past few years, not ready to enter. She wasn't ready to face Minerva or let her daughter see her in the state she was in. She thought for a moment and disapparated again, landing at the doors of Malfoy manor.

Hermione sat down on the white stairs and let her tears flow. She jumped as a arms went around her shoulders to comfort her. “Sh, girl.” Draco said, holding her close while the tears soaked his shirt. “He's a prat, but he does love you.”

“Not really what I want to hear right now,” She whispered out.

“I know. Ginny hexed them beautifully before stalking away. You'd have laughed.” He told her as they stood up and went into the manor.

“I'm angry enough to hex them myself. What possessed them to imply Charlie?”

“The sight of you both kissing, remember that only a few of us were around you and Severus during the end of the War. Even though you both didn't act lover-like, we all felt it. Too bad both of you didn't have eyes to see what you both wanted.”

“I want him still.” She admitted as Draco held her.

“I know.”

“Why didn't it work between us, ever?” She asked as she looked into Draco pale gray eyes, so different then the black eyes of the wizard she loved.

“Because I'm not Severus, and you're not Ginger. The Gods gift us with a soul mate, and we are lucky indeed if we find them. It's the keeping that is sometimes hard.” He laughed softly.

“I just don't know what to do now. I mean I almost threw his ring at him. Hardly the actions of a woman in love.” She sighed.

“Come to the breakfast room, I'll have Twinky get us some coffee and sandwiches. It's been a long day for me. We can talk there.” Draco hooked an arm through hers, ignoring her protests. “Twinky,” He called out as the elf appeared.

“What's master be needing from Twinky tonight sir?”

“Sandwiches, coffee and what ever Miss Hermione desires.” Draco answered.

“Just some pumpkin juice, unless Draco still has some of that diet cola I like.” The elf sniffed at the mention of the Muggle drink but was back with all they requested.

“Thank you, Twinky.” They both said and the elf disappeared again.

“Where's Ginger?” Hermione ask, sipping the cold soda.

“Cannon's had a match in Wales against the Harpies, but I stayed here for the Order meeting. She should be home soon I imagine. Sure you wouldn't like a ham or chicken sandwich?” He pointed to the plate full.

“Draco, I'd throw it up all up at the moment. I let twelve years of wanting blind me to how much of a git Severus could be. We didn't really talk about anything, we just jumped into bed and he probably felt he was doing the 'right' thing.”

“He loves you, Hermione. Do you honestly think both of you were emotionally ready back then? He had just gotten over my mum's death, killing Dumbledore killed him inside and Voldemort was slowly eating whatever soul he had left after all that. He was ready to die until he found you. You gave him hope in the future, and your youth and love scared him. He was seventeen when Voldemort sucked him into his madness, and about twenty-one by the time he got sick enough of it to turn to Dumbledore.” Draco sipped his coffee, letting his words sink in.

“I've been a prat myself, eh?” Hermione finally said.

“No, you finally let out what you should have days ago. I also told him about Professor Whetherbee, just left out his name. That's up to you to reveal.” Draco smirked.

“No thank you. I can actually see Severus hunting like days of old. He can get very ruthless.” Hermione giggled, a vision of the former professor hanging like an animal off a tree; a proud Severus standing for a trophy picture of his prize.

“He was an assasin, and very good at it. If he could track down Aunt Bella and father, he could track down anyone.” Draco reminded her.

“Means he should be--” The doorbell rang suddenly, interrupting Hermione.

“Yes, probably him now. I can have Twinky not answer if you want more time.” Draco asked her.

“No, let him in. I've cooled down, and I don't want him running off to Bulgaria again.” Hermione said, her nerves on edge.

“I'll let you in on a secret Hermione, Ginger and I fight a lot.” He winked at her as the heard Twinky let Severus in. “The best part is the making up.” He squeeze her shoulder lightly.

Severus entered the nook and stood there, his black eyes piercing them both.

To be continued...