Back to Life

My thanks to everyone that took the time to read my story. My heart felt thanks also go out to those who took the time out of their busy lives to send out words of encouragement. They bolster my spirit and are a balm on my weary nerves. Thank you all.

PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!

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Chapter Twenty-one


Hermione woke to the feel of warm breath against her neck. She opened her eyes and saw the head of black hair, resting near her own. Reaching up, she stroked his face gently. Severus woke almost instantly, taking up her hand and kissing the palm. He lifted his head, looking into her eyes with concern.


“Hermione?” he whispered.


“Where are we?” she asked.


She could see the relief flooding his features. Next thing she knew he was peppering kisses all over her face. Hermione smiling, she captured his lips with her own. Kissing his mouth lightly, she felt him shuddering.


“I could have lost you,” he breathed against her mouth.


“Never,” she told him. “I dislocated my attacker’s knee.”


He pulled back slightly. “What else?”


“So angry,” she whispered. “I think they lost someone.”


“Why do you say that?” he asked, stroking her hair.


She looked into his eyes, telling him, “He knew about you four that I brought back. The wizard was furious that I didn’t bring back more than just you few.”


Severus kissed her temple. “Will you give me your memory of what happened?”


“Can it wait?” she asked him, moving aside. “Come, lay down with me.”


He lay down next to her, taking her into his arms. Severus rubbed her back as he felt the tension he had been feeling since he had felt the coin vibrating in his pocket. His witch was whole and healthy. His hunting the wizard down that hurt her would have to wait for the time being. Kissing the crown of her head, he allowed himself to feel more at ease for the first time in two days.


***


“We should have never let you go out by yourself!” Ginny said, sounding guilty.


“Please stop,” Hermione told her as she kept on working on setting up the appointments of several different parolees for later that week. She looked over to her friend. “It wasn’t your fault anymore than it was Neville’s or Severus’s. I knew I was in danger just as well as you did.”


“Are you blaming yourself?”


“No, but I should have known better and stayed in the pub itself rather than go walking where I was assaulted,” she told her friend. “That I do blame on myself, but not the attack. That I solely blame on the attacker…”


Severus charged into the room. “Where in the name of Merlin did you learn how to fight like that?”


Blinking at him she asked, “What fight?” But then it occurred to her what he was speaking of. “You’ve been looking at my memory of the attack?”


“Yes,” he said, leaning down so that his face was but inches from hers. “Where did you learn to fight like that?”


“I took sporadic classes in martial arts during my breaks from school since summer break of my second year,” she explained to him. “I thought I needed to know how to focus my mind better, as well as defend myself if I couldn’t get to my wand. Now stop being rude and say hello to Ginny.”


“Hello, Miss Weasley,” he said, without looking over to her. “Aren’t you supposed to be eating lunch with Mr. Longbottom?”


Ginny looked at her watch. Blinking at it in shock, she said, “I had no idea it was lunch time already!”


“That often happens around Hermione,” Severus said dryly. “As it would seem that she has forgotten what food is meant for.” He pulled Hermione to her feet, taking the papers out of her hand and setting them onto the desk again. “Come along with you, witch. For once, you and I will be eating together at the proper time.”


Hermione went to her tiptoes, kissing his cheek with a quiet thank you. Ginny was fighting not to giggle out loud as she followed the two out the door at the sight of the potions master blushing.


Once to the great hall, Hermione sat quietly next to Severus. Her plate of food was no sooner filled and in front of her when Remus rushed up to the head table, pulling her out of her seat and hugging her for all she was worth.


“It’s a curse,” muttered Severus. “Put her down, you oaf!”


“You did it!” He put her to her feet. “I’m officially cured!”


“You were tested?” she asked him.


“Yes! I am now free of the curse!”


There was a crash at the other end of the dining hall, having others there turn to see what it was all about. All that was seen was the fluttering of robes going out the door.


“Amazing,” Hermione said in awe. “I thought Severus was the only one to be able to do that.”


Soon the man himself stood up, telling Lupin, “Keep her here and under guard. I want to see what this is all about.”


Not to be one to be left behind for any reason and dying of curiosity, Hermione was right on Severus’s heels. Remus cursed and was soon following them as well as Ginny Weasley, the Malfoys and Gregory Goyle. The rest of the occupants of the Great Hall debated on following them as well, but thought it prudent to stay put as they knew the headmaster would more than likely have every house starting at negative points if they did so.


When Hermione found Severus, all she could see of him was his back as he was pinning someone to the wall.


“Severus, who is it?” she asked.


He stiffened. “Go back to the hall!” her lover snapped. “I’ll take care of this.”


“Please, Severus, I’m not a child! Just show me who it is!” Hermione exclaimed.


Letting out a long sigh, he pulled away and revealed one of the last people she thought it would be. Harry Potter stood there staring at her. It had felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her sails as she watched him. He stood up straighter, putting his glasses to right glaring at her as he did so.


“Why didn’t you bring my parents back?” he asked her, fury clear in his tones. “Wasn’t saving the entire fucking planet enough to get me that?”


“It wasn’t like I set out to bring back those I did,” she told him quietly. “I performed the spell and that was that.” She walked over closer to him. “Have you been the one that’s been trying to hurt me?”


“What? No!” he exclaimed. “I would never hurt you, but…” He yanked his glasses off, swiping his tear filled eyes. “I keep hearing about all the great things that have come about because of that fucking spell and I got angry! I want my parents back! Didn’t I do enough for even just one of them to be with me?”


Hermione just stood there wondering how much more she could stand when Ginny Weasley, of all people, went over to Harry and slapped him soundly across the face.


“You weren’t the only person to sacrifice in that gods awful war and you didn’t save the world on your own either,” she hissed at him. “And none of the rest of us are getting so much as a by your leave for what we did, never mind that! How dare you?” Ginny began sobbing.


Neville came over to her, taking her into his arms. Glaring at Harry, he didn’t say a word as he walked her away from her one time supposed true love.


“Harry, I love you like a brother,” Hermione said hoarsely. “But I really don’t care for you at the moment.”


***

Ouch! Harry, Harry, Harry! It can't always be about you.

It's time for the Review Sing-A-Long! The answer to the last one was "Unforgettable" first performed by Nat "King" Cole. It was a song, pardon the pun, so unforgettable that it has 28 notable covers to date! WOW! Great song if you get a chance to hear the first and the finest by the man himself, do so. It's gorgeous. Champaign (this song calls for nothing less!) goes out to Mia and Jade! If I missed you, I'm sorry.

Time for the next song! "Sugar's sweet/she goes reviewin' to the beat and I knew that she was hot" There it is. Okay, here is your hint--this song was originally rapped in German by a man that is mostly remembered for singing about a famous composer. There you go! Have a great day everyone.