A Long Way Back ~ Editing

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 24 ~ Hellos and Goodbyes

Hermione spent the following days alternating between mourning and amazement. Severus watched for signs to see if she were slipping back into self-punishment mode, but after about a week, the witch seemed fine.

They went to visit little Harry.

Susan's eyes went wide with surprise when she opened the door and saw Severus with Hermione, but she welcomed them in graciously. Ron was at work, but little Harry was there. His green eyes twinkled with pleasure as he saw Hermione.

"Hermione!" he cried, running through the living room and leaping into her arms. "How did you know I wanted to see you?"

Hermione hugged little Harry tightly.

"Oh I don't know. I just felt like stopping by," she said, "You remember Professor Snape don't you?"

The little boy's eyes darkened as he looked at the somber wizard. Severus' mouth quirked at the child's dislike. Seemed as if some things stuck with a soul.

"He looks like a bat," Harry said, frowning at the wizard.

"Harry!" Susan exclaimed in horror at her son's outburst. "That's a terrible thing to say to someone. Now you tell Professor Snape you're sorry, right now."

Harry scowled stubbornly as Hermione fought to keep from laughing.

"That's quite all right, Mrs. Weasley," Severus said, glowering lightly at the boy, "It's an old designation from Hogwarts due to my lurking in the dungeons for so many years. It's been used countless times to describe me. I no longer take offense at it. Beside, I have a feeling the boy got it honestly."

"But still," Susan said, "He has to learn to hold his tongue."

Severus looked at Harry who scowled up at him.

"I would think, Mrs. Weasley, your focus would be best spent keeping him out of trouble. He may have a predisposition towards finding himself in sticky situations," the Potions Master said, smirking slightly.

"Actually, he is a bit naughty. He already tries to sneak Ron's Firebolt out of the broom closet. And at his age too," she said, frowning at her son.

"He likes to fly," Hermione said, hugging the boy again, who grinned at her. She set him down.

"I sure do like to fly. I am going to be a see…see..." he stuttered.

"A seeker," Hermione said smiling down at the boy.

"Yep. Just like big Harry was," the boy said. "I saw pictures. He was fast. I'm going to be fast too."

Hermione ruffled his already messy hair.

"I believe you are," she said, her eyes starting to glisten.

They had a nice visit, with little Harry glowering at Severus most of the time, then returned to the manor. Severus walked Hermione to the door.

"Little Harry is amazing," she said to Severus as they stopped outside.

"He's something…I'm not sure amazing covers it," the wizard replied, scowling a little.

Hermione chuckled.

"He still doesn't like you," she said to the Potions Master.

"Yes, and I find that reassuring. I'm just glad I won't have to teach him," Severus replied, then he looked at Hermione, his face darkening a bit. "Hermione, I'm leaving tomorrow morning. We've completed our project and it's time for me to return to my adventures and seek out new discoveries. My ship leaves tomorrow morning at ten. I have to make some arrangements before then so will be gone most of the afternoon. I just wanted to see you back before I left. I will be back this evening to pack."

Hermione looked at him and nodded, feeling everything inside her just drop to her feet.

"It was good having you here, Severus," she said quietly.

"It was good staying here, Hermione," he said, looking down at the witch.

Hermione stared up at him a moment then started.

"Well, I'd better not hold you up then," she said opening the door and letting herself in. "I'll see you tonight."

The Potions Master nodded and the witch closed the door. He stared at it for a moment, then walked out into the yard a bit, and disapparated.

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It was past eight o'clock when Severus finally returned to the manor. He had to arrange his itinerary and go to Gringotts to set up his moneybag, which provided the proper coinage of any country he visited, magical or muggle.

He found Hermione sitting in the study. The witch looked rather drawn.

"Good evening," he said to her silkily. She was dressed in her nightgown and housecoat. She was barefoot and had a glass of wine sitting next to her and staring into the flames. Her amber eyes looked up at him.

"Hello Severus," she said softly. The wizard could hear the sadness in her voice, and sat down in the armchair next to her. "Did you take care of everything?"

He nodded.

"Yes. I only have to pack, and I don't have much," he replied looking at her intently. "Hermione, what are you going to do now?"

The witch shrugged.

"Probably start my research again, though it isn't as appealing to me as it used to be. Maybe take a few university brush up courses. I'll stay busy," she said, taking a sip of wine.

"Good. Because I don't want to come back here to visit you in another five years and find you in the state I found you in this time," the wizard said. "You have a lot of life ahead of you. A lot of living to do."

Hermione sighed.

"Yes, I do," she agreed, but it didn't sound like her heart was in it.

Severus' eyes washed over her. This was going to be the last time he saw her most likely. He felt he should say something, but he didn't know what to say to the witch. So he stood up.

"I'm going to retire and pack now," he said, looking down at the witch. "I'll most likely be leaving quite early in the morning and won't see you, so I think it best to say good-bye now, witch."

Hermione looked up at him.

"Goodbye Severus," she said softly, feeling her heart breaking.

"Goodbye, Hermione," he said. Then he bent and kissed her hand, reveling in the softness of her skin as he did so. Then he turned and walked from the room.

Hermione sat there for a moment in silence.

Then the tears came.

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Severus lay in his bed tossing and turning. He had everything packed, and was ready to go. But he couldn't sleep. He was leaving Hermione…again. Yes, he had the memory of their last time together, but it was growing old. He saw her sadness and there was a small part of him that ached a bit too. Maybe he should have asked her if he could have her once more before he left England. But he didn't want to be rejected.

Severus tossed and turned some more before he finally sat up on the edge of his bed, rubbing his pale hand over his face and sighing deeply. He wanted the witch one more time, and wanted her badly. He stood up, took a deep breath and pulled on his housecoat and slippers. Quietly he exited his room and walked down the corridor, heading for Hermione's room.

He ran right into the witch, who had on her housecoat and was walking up the hall.

"Hermione?" he said, looking down at the witch in surprise.

Hermione blushed furiously.

"Hello Severus," she said softly.

"Where were you going?" they both asked the other at the same time.

Severus smirked at the witch.

"You were coming to my room, weren't you Hermione?" he asked her, his eyes going hot.

Hermione gave him a little scowl.

"You were heading for my room," she said accusingly.

"Yes, I was. And since it is the closest room…" he said, grabbing Hermione by her arm and pulling her back towards her bedroom, "I think I will continue on my way."

He arrived at her door, pushed the witch in and followed, closing the door behind him and stripping off his housecoat immediately. He was naked and aroused. He looked down at his cock and then at the witch who was staring at him rather hungrily, though her entire head was pink.

"You don't have to ask me why I'm here…nor do I have to ask you why you were on your way to my bedroom. It is the same answer, isn't it Hermione?" he said silkily, slowly walking toward the witch.

"Yes," Hermione said, unable to raise her voice above a whisper as the wizard took her into his arms and kissed her deeply, his hands untying the sash, then pulling her housecoat from her shoulders. He was surprised to find her naked underneath them as well. He arched an eyebrow at her.

"I see you were going for easy access, witch," he purred, scooping her up into his arms and carrying her over to the bed, laying her down in it. He climbed in after her and wasted no time rolling on top of her soft body.

"I couldn't leave here without having you one more time, Hermione," he said to her, his black eyes studying her face as he gently pushed her hair aside.

The witch looked up at him as if trying to memorize everything about the wizard.

"I couldn't let you leave without…without…" she began…faltering.

"Without having you," he said, kissing her again.

Hermione wrapped her arms around his strong lean body and melted into the kiss, savoring the taste and feel of his tongue exploring and claiming her mouth. Severus was so sexy, so demanding. Gods, why had she ever let him go?

When the wizard pulled away from her mouth, Hermione said, "I'm going to miss you, Severus."

The wizard looked down at her.

"I know, Hermione," he said softly, adjusting his cock and entering her smoothly, the witch sighing with pleasure. "I know."

He began to fuck her gently, hissing with pleasure as he slowly buried himself in her softness, staring down at her and watching as she gave in to the pleasure of his penetration. He went deep, pressing against her cervix with a bit of strength, but not pummeling her. He wanted to milk her orgasm from her this time, not beat it out of her.

"So good," the witch sighed, leaning her head forward and kissing him before letting it fall back. Her hips rose and fell to meet his stroke, the lovers in perfect sync as they took their final pleasure of each other.

"You're going to be in my dreams, witch," the wizard whispered, "my only solace in the lonely bush."

Hermione buckled a bit at his sweet words and thrust a little harder, her body wanting more now. The wizard obliged her, making his strokes stronger, deeper, flexing against the witch strongly so she emitted little cries, but not tearing into her. Not this last time.

"I wish you weren't leaving," Hermione whispered.

Severus knew that the witch was caught up in her passion again, and spouting the truth now.

"I know," he groaned as her tightness slid over him, his pleasure building. He kissed her again, hungrily, trying to imprint her kiss on his very soul. He released her mouth. "But I must go, Hermione."

"Then make me feel like you'll be here forever," the witch said to him softly, her eyes full of tears. "Let me have that last fantasy, Severus"

The wizard paused, looking down at her, his chest tight. Then he readjusted himself, lifting her legs, locking them behind his arms and raising himself on his hands. He looked down at her body, completely open to him then into her amber eyes.

"As you wish," he breathed, driving into the witch powerfully and closing his eyes in pleasure as she cried out his name.

Severus gave Hermione what she needed and then some, his body in overdrive, his body slapping loudly against hers, perspiration pouring down his back as the witch gave up all her secrets, telling him what was in her heart as he took her mind away, leaving only her passion, only her deep emotion for him. Only her love.

The wizard dropped on her, driving into her.

"Come with me, Hermione. Travel the world with me," Severus panted, willing the witch to agree as he fucked her, doing his best to make her say yes.

"I…I…can't. My home. The elves," she cried.

"Come with me," he groaned. "Hermione, I want you with me."

The witch orgasmed powerfully, triggering the Potions Master's own sudden climax, and they shuddered against each other, mutual bliss turning them almost inside out as they clung together, both lost to the pleasure of the flesh as well as the meeting of the heart. Spent, they drifted back to earth, wrapped around each other, panting heavily.

"You will come, Hermione?" the wizard gasped against her ear.

There was silence.

"No, Severus…I can't. I'm sorry," the witch said.

The Potions Master held her tightly, his heart feeling a bit heavier than normal. It was her decision. If she did still love him, she didn't love him enough. He kissed her and rolled off of her body, pulling her against him, feeling her heart beating quickly.

He kissed her forehead.

"I'm going to miss you witch," he said softly, then let sleep take him.

Hermione lay in the wizard's arms, listening to him breathe rhythmically.

"I'm going to miss you too, Severus," she said softly, then also drifting off, her last awareness being wrapped in the wizard's strong arms.

When she awoke, the first gray light of dawn was streaming through the window.

And Severus was gone.

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A/N: Just…just *sniff. Please review.