10 Years After

10 Years After
Chapter 20

Discla: I: I own nothing of what you’re about to read, with the possible exception of the plot, although I’m sure it’s been done before. The placesaracaracters, etc. belong to JK Rowling. Thanks.

Hogwarts: July 15, 2008, early morning; Severus’ Quarters.

Severus awoke, feeling Hermione’s body next to his. For 2 weeks since the Leaving Feast, they had been immersing themselves in Hermione’s research project by day and in each other by night. He could not imagine having a more satisfactory relationship. While they at times had minor disagreements, they never really fought, just discussed their issues in calm measured tones until they came to an understanding. Severus carefully sat up and watched Hermione sleep. She was so beautiful. He felt like the luckiest man in the world for having this brilliant and beautiful witch in his life. Hermione shifted in her sleep, the warm down filled duvet slipping off her shoulders, exposing a dark pink nipple that instantly puckered and hardened in the chilly morning air of the dungeons. Severus reached over and lightly circled the stiff peak with his finger. Hermione moaned slightly as he toyed with the exposed nipple, circling it, rubbing his thumb over it, gently pinching it. Without waking Hermione, he leaned over and kissed her nipple, dragging his tongue around its tautness, wetting it thoroughly, then blowing on it, watching it harden even more. Severus slipped the duvet down further, exposing both her nipples to the air, giving the other nipple equal treatment and attention. He was amazed at how hard they were capable of getting and took one impossibly erect peak into his warm mouth and suckled it, gently pulling on it with his teeth. He moved his hand under the covers, stroking between her legs as he felt her open to his ministrations. Hermione moaned again and opened her eyes as Severus gave each of her nipples some exquisite torture with his mouth and slipped a finger inside her. She stretched her body and pressed Severus’ head to her breast.

“What a way to wake up,” she moaned, “and feel free to use your teeth a little more there.”

In response, Severus bit her left nipple lightly and pulled at it with his teeth, causing spasms of pleasure to race through her body.

“In me, now, Severus,” she demanded, opening her legs wider and pulling Severus on top of her, “I need you now.”

Severus complied, slipping his cock inside her in one fluid movement, causing her to gasp with pleasure as he pulled almost all the way out and then buried himself back inside her. They moved together in the rhythm they had developed over the months they had been together, Hermione urging him onhe ihe increased the speed and intensity of his thrusts. With a shared moan, they climaxed together, Severus exploding inside her. Hermione smiled as she held him close to her, feeling him soften inside her.

“Good morning,” she said with a giggle.

“Good morning to you too. I do apologize,” he said, “but your nipples were entirely too enticing to ignore.”

“I’m glad you didn’t ignore them. They would have hated that,” Hermione nuzzled his neck.

“So,” he said, kissing her softly, rolling off of her, and sitting on the edge of the bed, “what’s on the agenda for today? I know it’s not the best of days for you…”

“No,” said Hermione, sadly, “July 15 will always be difficult.”

“Would you like company?”

Hermione sat up and wrapped her arms around Severus, resting her head on his shoulder. This day was always so hard for her. 11 years since her parents’ death. Hermione always went to the graveyard and placed flowers on their graves. She usually went alone, but for some reason, she wanted her parents to meet Severus this year, to know that she was happy and that he wasn’t the git she had made him out to be all those times she complained about him during school.

“I would appreciate it,” she said, “I was planning on going after breakfast.”

“Sounds fine,” he said as he stood up and headed to the bathroom, Hermione watching him as he went.

Within a half hour, they were dressed and ready for breakfast in the Great Hall. Only Albus and Minerva were present. They were greeted warmly as they sat down to the heaping platters of food.

“How is the research going?” asked Albus.

“It’s actually going quite well,” replied Hermione, “Severus has been a godsend. He sees things from a different perspective than I do.”

“So you complement each other,” stated Minerva with a smile.

“Without a doubt,” agreed Hermione, “I have never worked so closely with someone who can anticipate my questions and concerns and amazingly, we never get in one another’s way. I thought we’d be bumping heads at every turn, but it’s been a pleasure.”

“That’s because it’s your research project, Hermione,” interjected Severus, as he helped himself to another scone, “you call the shots, I follow your lead.”

“You didn’t expect Severus to give up control?” asked Albus.

“Truthfully, no. He’s always been so commanding. I wasn’t sure what working with him would be like. We started out with him just helping me out by doing some of the research on his own, but to be honest, he’s since become a full fledged research partner, as far as I’m concerned.”

“Just an assistant, Hermione, basking in your reflected glory,” said Severus with a little grin, causing Hermione to giggle into her bacon and eggs.

Minerva and Albus smiled at Severus’ playfulness. They were both aware of the significance of the day and were aware of what Severus was doing in keeping things light. Minerva looked at Severus fondly. She was more than aware now of how much the Potions Master loved Hermione and how mutual the feeling was. They completed their breakfasts, chatting idly about the upcoming school year, the internship, the research, and the weather. It had been unseasonably hot, but the castle remained cool, and the dungeons remained downright chilly in the mornings and at night. When breakfast was complete, Hermione excused herself to gather flowers from the gardens for her trip to the cemetery.

“Is she going alone?” asked Albus, not needing to elaborate.

“No,” said Severus, “I’m going with her. We discussed it this morning. She never has to go alone again if she does not wish to.”

“Excellent,” replied Albus, “not to change the subject, but I received word on the other intern.”

“And?”

“I think Hermione will be pleased with the choice of co-interns.”

“As long as it’s not Weasley,” sniffed Severus.

“Well,” hemmed Albus.

“Please tell me it’s not Weasley. He wouldn’t be interning in mediwizardry. He’s too big a fool for that.”

“Albus, please, don’t toy with Severus like that. Yes, Severus, it is Weasley,” stated Minerva.

Severus sat with his mouth open, his dark eyes flitting from Minerva to Albus in disbelief.

“Virginia Weasley,” said Albus, grinning broadly, “I trust she’s more to your liking than her brother Ronald.”

Severus sat back with a glare at Albus and a sigh of relief, “Yes, Virginia Weasley is far more acceptable. She was bright enough as a student and other than that diary episode in her first year really was not that much of a nuisance.”

“Virginia has been working as a mediwizard assistant for many years but could not afford a full course of study all at one time. She’s spent the past several years taking a course here and a course there and is finally ready for her internship,” explained Albus, “I think you’ll be pleased with the manner in which she grew up. She is quite a pleasant woman and will be a nice addition to the staff here, not to mention good company for Hermione.”

“Yes,” agreed Severus, “Hermione could use some female company nearer to her age, no offense intended, Minerva.”

“None taken and I agree with your assessment. Miss Weasley will be formally announced to the staff that remains here tonight at dinner,” remarked Albus, noting Hermione’s reappearance in the Great Hall, “I do believe that Professor Granger is ready.”

Severus nodded to Albus and Minerva and excused himself to join Hermione for her difficult trip to the cemetery.


Essex: July 15, 2008, early afternoon: Roding Lane Cemetery.

Hermione and Severus apparated to a small private area behind a storage shed in the cemetery. Hermione found herself following Severus through the paths leading to her parents’ graves. It was only as they neared the plots that Hermione realized Severus knew exa whe where he was going. Shnderndered this as she approached the plots where her mother and father were put to rest. On each grave lay a deep brownish red rose. Every year it was the same, the same roses laid across the Granger’s graves. The same cinnamon colored roses. Hermione gasped. Cinnamon roses, she thought, as she stared at Severus. Severus saw her take in the roses and felt her eyes boring into him.

“Yes, Hermione,” he began quietly, “I place the roses here each year. I was doing it on July 14 so that I wouldn’t run into you on the anniversary of their passing…”

“Why, Severus?” asked Hermione, her voice barely more than a whisper.

“I was there, Hermione, right after your parents were killed. I arrived too late to save them, though I assure you I would have done anything in my power to have done just that. If I had just apparated a few minutes earlier, if I had not wanted to make the Dark Lord wait, it could have turned out differently. If I could have saved them, it would have been one less victory for Voldemort and one more for the Light. You wouldn’t have been orphaned. You would have been able to do whatever you wanted with your life. You would have had your parents,” explained Severus, staring at the ground as he spoke, “I was afraid for you. I was afraid you would give up and never accomplish your goals. And it would have been my fault for getting there 5 fucking minutes too late.”

Hermione took his hand in hers and pulled him to her, “You weren’t meant to save them, then, Severus. It wasn’t meant to be. You gave me my dreams back when I thought they were gone. You have honored them every year for the past 11 years by placing roses on their graves…”

“Roses that always reminded me of you, even when you were a child, even before I loved you.”

“I love you so much, Severus, and I know my parents would have as well, once they got over the fact that you were the Potions Master I had such issue with as a child,” said Hermione, standing on her toes to lightly brush his lips with hers, “I could never blame you for their deaths. No one could. You didn’t know that Voldemort was planning to kill my parents, did you?”

“No,” he replied softly, “I had no idea.”

“Then you have nothing to blame yourself for. I miss them so much, though, Severus.”

“I can only imagine. They seemed so proud of you. I’m going to give you a few moments to yourself.”

“Thank you,” said Hermione, smiling though her eyes were filled with tears.

Severus walked off, leaving Hermione alone. She sat down in front of their headstone and put her flowers down surrounding Severus’ roses.

“Hello mum, hello dad. I miss you both so much,” she said, “I have so much to tell you. I divorced Harry. It just wasn’t meant to be. It was never really right between us, and I think you probably know that. I met, or rather re-met, a man with whom I am wildly in love. I met him in New York. He was a little piece of home in the middle of a city that scared me. His name is Severus. Severus Snape. You probably remember him by the little pet name for him I had when I was a child. ‘The great dungeon dwelling wombat.’ I was wrong about him. So wrong. He isn’t cold and heartless. He’s the best man I know. As much as Harry was a hero and played the role well, Severus was a hero and slipped into the shadows. He’s brilliant, sarcastic, and passionate. Mum, he’s unlike any I h I have ever met. He makes me smile, laugh, wipes away my tears when I cry, listens when I need an ear. He’s there for me in a way no one else has been in years. Yes, he’s older, but itsn’tsn’t matter to me. I just want him in my life forever. I just wish you could meet him. I wish you could know him like I know him…well, not totally like I know him, but I think you get the picture. Mum, Dad, I’m happy. For the first time in a long time, I’m happy. And I owe that to Severus…”

Severus quietly approached and sat next to her, draping an arm around her. Hermione stopped talking and looked up into the sky, listening to the soft summer breeze. As she looked up, they were showered by a fall of pale pink petals from a tree overhead. They sat there, covered in petals, still falling like a message from the afterworld. A message of hope, a message of acceptance, a message of love.