Time as a Healer

Hermione double-checked her bag and took a final look around the room in Grimmauld Place. At least she was leaving it in better condition than when she arrived. She looked at the bed and smiled softly, recalling her night with Severus.



She didn’t know what would happen now, they had made no plans, but he had kissed her softly on the lips before he left her in the hospital and she was content. It was a start.



Harry was waiting in the kitchen, a grouchy Sam over his shoulder. He paced the floor patiently and grinned when she walked into the room.



‘You were only gone for ten minutes and he missed you. You got a Mummy’s Boy!’ He laughed and swapped a baby for Hermione’s bag.



‘For the moment. Just wait until he spends more time with his Dad. Severus is more mysterious and interesting than me, I won’t get a look in!’ She laughed lightly.



‘Will everything be OK, do you think?’ Harry looked at her. He so wanted his friend to be happy.



Hermione shrugged.



‘I don’t know, really. But I want it to be. I need him in my life… it’s that simple.’ She stated.



Harry smiled softly. He felt the same about Ginny. He hoped Hermione could find the same happiness with Severus, one day.



‘Ready to go home then?’ He grinned at her and his eyes twinkled.



Hermione recognised that look. ‘What’s going on?’ She asked him.



‘Nothing much, just a little surprise, but you will love it, don’t worry!’ He laughed softly as they walked out of the house.



Hermione held tightly to Sam and took Harry’s arm. With a small ‘crack’ they apparated to the house Hermione had shared with Severus. It all seemed a lifetime ago and Hermione sighed deeply as she walked to the door. Harry opened the door and she stepped inside with Sam. Crookshanks was sitting on the bottom stair and looked up at her majestically.



‘Crookshanks, I thought you were at The Burrow?’ She grinned at him. The kitchen door opened and Molly stepped out quietly, smiling at her with tears in her eyes.



‘I brought him with me. Oh… he’s precious!’ She whispered softly as she gazed at Sam in Hermione’s arms. ‘Anyway… a cup of tea? Go on through to the lounge…’



Hermione’s eyes narrowed at the look that passed between Harry and his Mother-in-Law. They were definitely up to something. Harry opened the door of the small sitting room and Hermione walked into the room to a quiet round of applause and a few shouts of ‘Surprise!’ as she found herself face to face with the Order of the Phoenix.



‘Oh gods…’ she breathed, smiling as one by one they stepped forward to gush over her and Sam.

After a few moments, Molly started to bring in trays of sandwiches and cakes and Harry tapped Hermione on the shoulder.



‘I have something to show you…leave Sam with Ginny for a while…’ he smiled at her.



‘Can’t I just bring him with me?’ Hermione’s face was one of confusion and concern and Sam had just started to whimper a little.



‘Trust me… you’ll want to leave him here. He’ll be fine.’ He lifted the baby from her arms and passed him to his eager wife, who started to rock him and croon softly. Within moments, he was asleep again. Hermione smiled in relief.



‘Come on…’ Harry took Hermione’s hand and led her up the stairs. They stopped in front of the spare room and she frowned at him.



‘Now what?’ She muttered. She would much rather be in the sitting room with her son.



‘Just go in… I’ll see you after…’ He smiled a secret smile at her and waved his hand in the direction of the room.



Hermione walked inside. It was dimly lit and she searched for the source of the light and smiled. Severus was standing in the corner of the room, leaning casually against the wall as if he had done so all of his life. His wand was lit and he had a small smile on his face.



‘Hello…’ Hermione said softly, a grin on her face she couldn’t shift, she was so pleased to see him.



‘How is our son?’ His eyes lit up slightly.



‘He’s fine. He’s asleep downstairs…’ She stepped a little closer to him, unsure how to proceed. She felt nervous and shivered a little. ‘Why are we in here?’ She looked around the room. It was completely empty.



‘I thought we should decorate the nursery…’ he said softly and walked up to her slowly, snaking his arm around her waist and pulling her flush against him. Hermione gasped as she felt his muscular frame against her and he smiled sexily at her.



‘Severus…’ she said softly as she gazed up into his face.



‘Shhh… ‘ He murmured and put his finger on her lips.‘I can’t stop thinking about you, witch…’ he growled as he bent his head to hers and covered her lips with his mouth.



Hermione smiled and wrapped her arms around him, deepening their kiss and teasing his tongue with hers softly. She pulled away a little, her eyebrows raised a little.



‘I thought we were decorating?’ She whispered.



‘Well, the room has improved already….’ He smiled at her and waved his wand with a swish.



Hermione looked over her shoulder and laughed as a bed appeared. ‘It just got even better…’ she smiled at him.



‘We don’t need anything else…’ he whispered and with a playful shove, Hermione fell laughing onto the mattress. In moments he had joined her on the bed and they tore at each other’s clothes frantically between hot kisses, gasping and panting as they tried to get naked as fast as possible. Suddenly, they stopped and stared at each other as the enormity of their situation hit them. Severus stared into Hermione’s wide eyes, pools of tears threatening to fall as she looked at him. He held his arms wide and she allowed him to wrap her up and hold her close against his chest as he kissed the top of her hair. Wet tears ran down his skin for a few moments, and he felt her shaking a little.



‘Hermione?’ He said quietly, tipping her face up to him. ‘I do love you…just in case you doubted me….’ His face was serious and she knew he meant it.



‘Just kiss me, Severus…’ she purred at him and he was lost. His crushed her lips against his fiercely and as she opened her mouth in a sharp gasp, he thrust his tongue deeply into her mouth, rolling his lean body on top of her. Releasing her lips, he bent his head and took a dark nipple into his mouth, softly licking and causing her to squirm with pleasure. He felt moisture in his mouth and a sudden sweetness running across his tongue. He pulled his head back and looked at Hermione questioningly.



Hermione laughed softly. ‘That’s for Sam, but he needs to learn to share, so go ahead…’



Severus smiled at her.



‘Thank you…’ he chuckled and took a turn on her other breast. It was comforting and erotic at the same time and he could have stayed there longer if he hadn’t felt a soft hand caress his throbbing cock and squeeze tightly, making him cry out with pleasure as she started to move her hand up and down his shaft.



Severus moved his hand to her crotch and let a smooth finger slide between her labia. She was hot and wet and moaned under his touch. He teased her gently, not quite touching her clit and she groaned as he kept missing it.



‘Do you need a fucking map?’ She spat at him though gritted teeth and he laughed as he nuzzled her neck, putting his fingertip directly onto her engorged nub, circling slowly.



‘Oh gods Severus…. I love you…’ she breathed.



Severus’s breath caught in his throat and he paused to look at her. ‘I want you…’ he croaked, his voice thick with desire.



‘Take me then…’she smiled, her eyes heavy with lust ‘I have always been yours…’



With an undisguised roar of passion, Severus rammed his thick cock into her and she arched her back, hissing as he filled her completely. Gods, he was hard, it felt delicious and she bit her lip as she became accustomed to his size again. Severus closed his eyes as he felt her tightening against his length and he started to thrust. She was so wet he could feel small rivers of her juices running over his cock and his balls. Her breasts were pushed into his chest and he gasped as he looked down at her face. Her eyes were rolled into her head, her mouth open, a look of being transported to another place was on her face and he knew she was close to her orgasm.



‘Come with me, Hermione…’ he hissed and started to ram himself harder into her, her breasts bouncing as he did so. Gods, he loved that. Hermione could feel him brushing against her clit and she screamed his name.



‘Severus!! Now!!’ She cried out and pushed her hips to meet his thrust as her orgasm burst over her and she shuddered beneath him as he went rock hard. He was panting as he thrust himself firmly into her tight sheath and she gasped his name over and over as he came, hot jets of come hitting the walls of her vagina, his legs trembling and sweat tickling down his face.



‘Oh gods….’ He gasped and collapsed onto her, holding her tightly and kissing her neck. ‘I’ve missed you…’ he murmured.



‘What?’ Hermione murmured.



Severus smiled and pushed himself up on his elbow to look at her. ‘I put all of the memories back, Hermione…’ he whispered, tapping the side of his head so she knew exactly what he meant.



Hermione gasped softly.’ All of them?’



‘Every last one. Including the time you threw me out of the house.’ He frowned at her and she laughed a little.



‘You deserved it!’ She stated, poking him in the ribs.



‘Yes I did!’ He grinned at her. ‘Marry me, Hermione…’ he smiled at her.



Hermione laughed. ‘Who’s asking me, Sam or Severus?’



‘Both of us…we’re the same person…’ Severus looked at her softly. ‘Sam is who I would have been if… well, if none of the shit had happened. You showed me I could live a normal life and be happy. Sadness just made me bitter and I actually quite like laughing, I’ve noticed…’ he smiled down at her. ‘So…?’ he left it hanging.



‘Yes…’ she giggled and he grinned.



‘I knew you’d say that. Close your eyes…’ he murmured and reached for his wand. With a quick flick, Hermione felt a ring appear of her finger. She opened her eyes and smiled as she saw a simple heart shaped ruby set in gold. It was perfect



‘Not Slytherin Green?’ She grinned at him.



‘No, you’re a Gryffindor… I thought I would save the green for Sam’s room.’ He glanced at her slyly as she gazed at her ring



‘Don’t think I didn’t hear you, Severus. But I love you so I’ll let you get away with it for now…’ She smiled sweetly at him and he let his head fall into his hands.



‘What have I done?’ he laughed.



‘Let’s go and find Sam.’ Hermione smiled at him.





****



They walked back into the sitting room together, Severus holding tightly onto Hermione’s hand. There was a short pause and everyone stared at them expectantly.



Hermione glanced at Severus and they both started to laugh at the same time, their eyes dancing with happiness.



‘I said yes again… and I got ring this time…’ Hermione said softly and waved her hand to show them all.



A cheer went around the room and in the midst of all the noise, a baby started to cry.



‘Oh!’ Hermione gasped and looked around the room for Sam. She was too late. Severus saw him first, wriggling in the arms of Arthur Weasley who looked very uncomfortable.



‘I’ll take him…’ Severus said in a direct voice and Arthur happily relinquished the now screaming child to him. Severus put Sam gently onto his shoulder and rubbed his back with the palm of his hand. In a few moments, he stopped crying and Severus started to murmur a nursery rhyme in his ear.



It took him several moments to realise the room had gone quiet. He looked around at the sea of faces. Some were smirking, particularly Harry and Seamus. Molly and Hermione had tears in their eyes and the others were just incredulous at the sight of a snarky, miserable and often bad-tempered ex-Potions Master cradling his son.



He glared at them with his best steely gaze.



‘What?’ He muttered.







The End





****



A/N: Apologies for those who felt it was a bit rushed - you were right! I do feel the pressure when people want updates and I perhaps should have taken my time over the last couple of chapters. I might rewrite them someday. Anyway - thanks for all the reviews, good and not so good!