Matched

SYGNUS- I am sleeping now, getting at least 6 hours a night thanks to Ambien LOL...my mom has been taking the kids at least one night a week to give me a bit of a break so its been nice. Glad your not spinning in the car LOL could get dangerous.





LABIB- Way to read between the lines! Of course he overstepped the rules of "spanking games"...his little bride is pushing his beloved control and hes not going to take well to losing it. Let the climax of the story begin.....





CHAPTER 25: Scared Death Eater Syndrome





Hermione woke slowly, groggy and not feeling at all rested. She made her way through her toilet slowly, not feeling quite like herself as she dressed and readied for the day. She went to the dining room, expecting to find Lucius already at breakfast, instead she found Severus, alone reading the paper.



“Good morning Severus.” She said softly as she gingerly lowered herself into her chair, her bottom still smarted. Severus saw her wince slightly as she sat and became suspicious about what happened after the hot tub.



“Are you alright?” He asked, setting his paper aside. Hermione looked up, blushing slightly.



“I’ll be fine.” She said, opening her napkin and laying it across her lap. “Where is Lucius?”



“You didn’t see him this morning?” Severus asked.



“No, I didn’t, he was already up and gone before I woke.” She looked at his place setting and noticed that it had not been used. “He hasn’t been to breakfast?”



“No, I haven’t seen him.” He watched her shift uncomfortably again and snapped his fingers. A small jar of cream appeared in his hand and he slid it across the table to her. “Use this, you’ll be less sore instantly.” Hermione was blushing furiously as she took the jar and nodded. “He was angry wasn’t he?”



“A little, I think.” She ducked her head and shoved her eggs around on her plate, she wasn’t really hungry. She was embarrassed talking to Severus about her….ailment.



“He knows better…” Severus muttered, tossing his own napkin onto his plate. He stood, intending to go and find Lucius and discuss the finer points of trust when you play spanking games, but was stopped by a house-elf.



“Excuse me Master Snape…Mistress, but I was told to gives you the notes.” He handed a folded parchment to Severus and one to Hermione and left the room. Severus took a seat and read.





* * * * * * * Severus-

Had to get away, I'm sorry I left so abruptly, but I cant think straight with her there. Im sorry.



Lucius







Severus folded the note and looked across the table at Hermione. She was crying as she set the piece of parchment on the table and stood. Severus got up and rounded the table to pull her into his arms.



“He left me.” She whispered softly into his chest as she cried.



“Don’t cry, he’s an idiot.” Severus wasn’t good at offering comfort, he had no idea what to say, what to do.



“I can’t believe he just left me.” Her tears were soaking through his jacket and wetting his shirt. “I knew I couldn’t do it, I knew he wouldn’t love me.”



“Have you ever told him that you love him?” Severus asked, reaching into his pocket for a handkerchief and drying her eyes.



“No. I didn’t want to scare him off. Looks like it didn’t matter, he left me anyhow.” She allowed him to lead her down the hall and into the media room to sit.



“Did he tell you where he went?” Severus asked as he took a seat beside her on the sofa.



“No, just that he was sorry he hurt me and he needed to get away. Do you think he went to Draco’s?” Hermione asked, a hopeful tone in her voice.



“I’ll go check.” Severus walked to the fireplace and called for Draco down the floo network.



“Uncle Sev! What can I do for you?” Draco asked, his head popping into view.



“Have you seen your father?”



“No, he isn’t at home?” Draco asked, frowning.



“He left.” Draco looked around Severus to Hermione who was still crying on the sofa.



“Give me a minute to clear my schedule and I’ll come through.” He popped out of sight and Severus returned to the sofa and within minutes Draco stepped through the fireplace and into the room.



“What happened?” Draco asked settling beside Hermione and putting his arm around her.



“He left me Draco, that’s what happened.” She cried softly.



“Your coward of a father basically abused the girl then left her without a thought.” Severus spat. He was furious at Lucius. Draco stiffened and began to check Hermione for injuries.



“No, Draco, it wasn’t like that…please, I’m sure he would have stopped if I told him to.” She was humiliated enough that her husband had left her, much less having his son, her friend know just what had happened between them last night.



“Would he? Did he give you a safeword?” Severus asked, his hands fisted on his hips.



“What’s that?”



“It’s a word used when you’ve had enough, or lines have been crossed. You should always have one before you begin any sort of….play.” Draco said, his pale skin flushing pink.



“The fact that you don’t even know what it is tells me he didn’t.” Severus resumed his pacing. “He knows the rules, he knows better! He was angry and jealous, I saw that but I never thought….I thought he had left his death eater ways behind but I suppose I was wrong.”



“Severus, don’t say that…please.” Hermione was shocked at his valiant defense of her. “I think maybe I’ll just go lie down.” She stood slowly and made her way across the room. She stopped long enough to kiss Severus on the cheek.



“Thank you.” She said, and left the room.



“Where do you think he went?” Draco asked.



“I don’t know, but when I find him….”



“He loves her, and it terrifies him.” Draco said.



“I know that Draco. I just never thought he would do something like this….” Severus frowned for a moment. “I need to go home and gather a few things, I’m not going to leave her here alone while that idiot sulks. Don’t leave until I return.” Severus turned and stepped into the hearth, calling out for his home at Spinner’s End.



“Is she alright?”



“No you bloody coward she’s not alright!” Severus yelled as he stared down at Lucius who was sprawled across the sofa in his living room. “What the hell are you doing here?”



“I wanted to talk to you before I left for France” Lucius said, sitting up slowly.



“France? You are going to leave your wife, who is even now crying her eyes out in your bed and go to France?” Severus asked.





“I can’t think straight around her. She’s getting under my skin and that’s a liability I cant afford. Look what happened to Narcissa, what almost happened to Draco.” Lucius pulled his robes over his shoulders and fastened the closure at his throat.



“Tom is dead Lucius! D-E-A-D!” Severus was shouting, something he never did.



“Doesn’t matter, someone else could use my family against me just as easily and I know I wouldn’t recover from such a loss. I need to go away and get her out of my system, it’s the only way.”



“I’ve got news for you Lucius, she’s under your skin and no matter how far you run, she’s there to stay. You love her, admit it and apologize to her.”



“No, admission to it makes it worse, time away will lessen the feelings, I know it will.” Lucius said, dusting his robes.



“And what’s your excuse for abusing the girl? You know the rules Lucius, you never, EVER, go there in anger! She can barely sit this morning!” At least Lucius had the sense to look embarrassed.



“Just another example of why I need to get away from her Severus. I wasn’t thinking about anything other than the fact that she was mine, and I wanted her to know it.” He said quietly.



“Jealousy Lucius?” Severus shook his head. “You can not honestly believe that we were flirting in truth? It was a ridiculous, playful volley of words, nothing else. That woman adores you, though I don’t know why, you don’t deserve her.”



“I never claimed I did.”



“Then dissolve the marriage and let me have her you bastard! I sure as hell wouldn’t abuse her then leave her crying her broken heart out because I was too chicken shit to admit my feelings!”





“I’m going to forget you said that Severus, and if you are smart, you will never attempt to sway my wife into your bed.” Lucius said, his voice low, his tone dark and menacing.



“We’ve been friends a long time Lucius, but right now, I don’t like you very much.” Severus walked into his room and tossed a few things into a satchel.



“What are you packing a bag for?” Lucius asked, glaring at him.



“While you are off sulking in France, I am going to be staying in YOUR house, caring for YOUR wife. Lock up when you leave.” Severus stepped back into the hearth and left Lucius staring after him in shock and anger.









“Why were you gone so long?” Draco asked.



“I was talking to your father.” Severus said, tossing his satchel at a house-elf who took it to his room.



“Where is he?” Draco asked, coming to his feet.



“On his way to France the bloody coward.”



“France? But what about Hermione?” Draco was scratching his head and trying to figure out what was going on.





“He thinks distance will purge her from his system.” Severus said, rolling his eyes.





“So what did you tell him?” Draco asked.





“I told him to dissolve the marriage and let me have her.” Severus smiled. “I’m the reason he’s jealous anyhow, I intend to stay here with her until he comes to his senses. I figure it won’t take long, knowing I’m here with her, to make him realize what he has.”





“I always said you were a master manipulater.” Draco shook his head. He hoped his father came to his senses soon, before it was too late.