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 25 ~ Alone

Hermione sat up in the bed, her eyes resting on the spot Severus would have been lying in if he had stayed. She realized that in her deepest heart she had been hoping the wizard would realize he loved her, and not have left. But this was Severus Snape and he let nothing control him anymore. He had a path for his life, and was determined to follow it.

The witch sighed and bent her leg, tapping her thigh. The contraceptive patch she had bought weeks before glowed green. It was still in force. She had purchased it just in case she and Severus had another tryst. They hadn't, but she still took the precaution. It had come in handy. She tapped it again and it disappeared.

The witch rolled out of bed. She could still smell the wizard on her. Sex and sandalwood. She walked into the bathroom and relieved herself. There was a small sting and residual ache from the wizard, but it was bearable…Severus hadn't been as voracious as the first time they engaged. He had been much gentler, much more…how could she put it any other way…loving.

She walked to the shower, pulled back the translucent glass and turned it on. She stepped inside and washed him from her body, the last remembrance swirling down the drain. His last words to her had been "I'll miss you."

Hermione gulped suddenly, willing herself not to cry as she finished her shower and stepped out, picking up a towel and drying herself off.

She couldn't go with him. Running all around the world, being pursued by gods knew what, going to strange dangerous places and risking their lives over and over in the pursuit of knowledge. It was madness. She wasn't a student at Hogwarts any more, getting into dangerous situations with Harry and Ron. Yes, she knew a lot of defensive spells and had to admit those times had been exhilarating as well as frightening, but…but…she was a grown witch now with responsibilities.

"What responsibilities?" a small voice in her head said to her.

"The manor. The house elves. Ying and Yang. My research." Hermione thought back.

The little voice fell silent as the witch dressed.

She walked downstairs, her footsteps echoing in the great manor. It felt so large and empty. She made it to the first floor, walked down the hall and past the kitchen though she was hungry, turning right and following the corridor to the pool room. She pushed open the door and walked in.

It was still very humid. She had never reset the temperature. She looked at the glistening water and remembered Severus trapped her against the side of it, naked and aroused, demanding that she apparate them to her bedroom. The witch wrapped her arms around herself at the memory of that night. He had been exactly what she needed and gave her closure, eased her guilt when he took her so strongly, reclaiming what she had taken from him fully. It had been a powerful experience.

Now Severus was gone. He had another calling other than being her lover.

Hermione left the pool room, and walked the lonely corridor. She saw several house elves cleaning unnecessarily. But they looked happy and nodded to her as she passed. They kept the manor up admirably and needed no orders or instruction to maintain it. And they were self-sustaining. Hermione hadn't had to provide anything special for the little creatures since they arrived.

Determined they received some kind of recompense, Hermione had it set up through Gringotts that they received a galleon a week apiece. They wouldn't accept anymore, and each had a small moneybag that provided their weekly "gift." She didn't think any one of them had spent a single galleon yet, and accepted the money more to humor her than anything else. But it made her feel good that they did receive something.

She turned back into the kitchen to find a rather sober-faced Eli there, and her breakfast ready. Ying and Yang were there also, looking up at her with their tails twitching fitfully.

"Good morning, Eli," she said to the elf, who carried her breakfast over to her, his ears somewhat flattened.

"Good morning, Mistress," he replied in a somewhat dejected voice. He set a soft-boiled egg, butter toast and cup of coffee in front of her and walked back to the stove, removing the pot and placing it in the sink. His little shoulders were slumped.

Hermione looked down at the meal. How had Eli known that she couldn't eat a large breakfast this morning, despite sleeping with Severus? House elves were truly amazing.

Hermione started to eat.

"What are you still doing here?" a male voice said to her.

Hermione started and looked over at Eli, who was washing the pot, his back turned to her.

"Did you say something, Eli?" she asked the elf, who turned to her.

"No, Mistress," he said, then turned back to the sink.

Hermione looked at him for a moment, then began to eat again.

"It wasn't the elf. It was me."

Hermione felt a moment against her leg and Yang was there looking up at her.

"Yang? Is that you talking to me?" she asked the cat incredulously.

Eli half turned around, and a slow smile crossed his face. The familiar was talking to the Mistress. Hopefully some sense.

"Yes, it is. You need a good talking to. Why are you still here?" he asked her.

"I live here," she said, her eyebrows raised.

Ying walked up.

"You should be gone with the wizard. There's nothing here. We can run the manor and oversee the elves," the Siamese sat, licking her coat for a moment then staring up at Hermione with her blue eyes.

"But I couldn't go…I have to…" she began.

"You have nothing to do. You don't work. The manor is taken care of. You are rich. You've been sitting on your haunches for five years wasting life. You need to go someplace and do something. Get out!" Yang hissed at her. "Go with the wizard."

Hermione scowled at him.

"I will not be told what to do by a…a…cat!" she seethed at him.

"Fine. Be miserable again. But I won't be talking to you anymore, Mistress…you can be sure of that. It is a total waste of time. I told you Ying!" he said, looking at his companion with narrowed eyes and stalking away, presenting his butt to both Ying and Hermione.

Ying looked up at Hermione.

"Why do you fight happiness, Mistress? This is a big lonely place for a witch. You will waste your life here alone. Adventure is not for males alone. Please go, Mistress. We will keep the manor for you," the cat implored, rubbing against her leg.

Hermione looked down at the cat, then over at Eli. She made her decision.

"Eli," she said softly, "Summon the house elves for me."

Eli turned to the witch, smiling now.

"Yes, Mistress. I gets them right away," he said, winking out.

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Severus stood on the deck of the "New Life" the vessel that would take him to ports unknown. He leaned on the railing, his black eyes watching the deckhands load the ship with goods and supplies. The sky was overcast, the perfect backdrop for the bit of darkness that clung to him.

Hermione wouldn't come.

The Potions Master sighed.

It would have been more work if she had. They would have spent much of the voyage toughening her up with exercise. Severus blinked.

And much of it fucking too.

But Hermione had the heart of an explorer, and she was courageous. She had proven that when still little more than a child at Hogwarts. And she would have been a great help divining the elixirs once they got them in their possession. The witch knew how to protect herself as well. It would have been nice to have a companion, a fellow explorer and a lover alongside him.

But she clung to the things he had let go. The life he found too constricting. But it was familiar, safe. The witch had folded in on herself over the years. Maybe that ran deeper than he had realized. He listened as the captain shouted to his men to prepare to launch. A few stragglers ran up the gangplank.

"All passengers below deck!" the captain bellowed.

Severus turned to descend into his small room when he heard something.

"Wait!"

He turned and walked back to the railing, peering down at the box and rope strewn dock.

"Wait! Please!" a familiar female voice cried.

Severus' heart began to pound in his chest. The sailors heard the voice too…they had just been about to draw in the gangplank when they saw a small woman with a bag running toward the ship and waving at them.

"Please…wait, I want to come aboard!" Hermione shouted.

The sailors looked at each other, then back at the captain who nodded.

"Always could use a few more galleons," he growled.

The sailors released the gangplank and Hermione jumped over the scattered debris on the dock quite nimbly, then hurried up the gangplank, the admiring eyes of the sailors on her.

The captain walked up to the witch, who was dressed in jeans, trainers and a white sweatshirt. She still looked damned good. The captain, who imagined himself as somewhat of a witch's man, gave her a good once over. Maybe he'd get lucky on this trip. His blue eyes glittered appreciatively as he looked down on the petite witch.

"Are you traveling alone, Miss?" he asked her, a small smile on his face. She hadn't arrived with anyone…so most likely she would be alone on the voyage. Just perfect.

Hermione looked up at him and was about to reply when a long arm encircled her waist, pulling her against a hard, lean body.

"No, captain. She is not traveling alone. She's with me," Severus replied, meeting the seaman's gaze rather dangerously.

The captain's eyes raked over the tall, rather ugly wizard. He looked quite formidable, and the possessive way he held the witch let the captain know there was something intimate between them. Shit. Lucky bloke.

"Very well, Mr. Snape. Will you be requiring a bunk, Miss?" the captain asked Hermione.

"No," Severus replied.

The captain scowled at him as Severus reached into his pocket.

"But you have a single," the captain said.

Severus dropped a very large amount of galleons into the wizard's hand.

"So much the better," he purred at the captain, who gave a slow smile and nodded. He looked at Hermione.

"Welcome aboard, Miss," he said, tilting his cap slightly, then striding away.

"All passengers below deck!" he bellowed again.

Severus looked down at the witch.

"You came," he said, his silken voice cracking a bit.

"Yes. I belong with you Severus," Hermione replied softly.

"I'm glad you finally realized that. Just like a witch…waiting until the very last moment," he mocked griped. "I am going to have to teach you a lesson about being punctual."

Hermione felt a little warmth rise up in her belly.

"A lesson?" she asked him, a little squeak in her voice.

"A very thorough lesson," he purred, pulling her against him a little tighter as they descended into the dark depths of the ship together, heading for the Potions Master's quarters.

A shocked squeal then a giggle rose up from the darkness as the gangplank was drawn in and the ship prepared to launch.

Invisible, Eli rested against the railing, staring down at the docks, a huge smile on his face as the ship lurched away. After Hermione gave the house elves their instructions, Eli gave Leaf Ear and the others instructions of his own.

"The Mistress needs a servant. Eli will go to the dangers with her. Elf magic will be very good there," he said. "Leaf Ear will be overseer tills I get back. You bests keep the manor well."

Leaf Ear bowed low.

"Yes, Eli. No worries," he replied.

Eli turned invisible and tiny, and without Hermione knowing, mounted her shoulder and rode with her as she disapparated. He would wait until they were far out at sea to reveal himself to the witch and wizard. He would be most helpful on their journeys. He could help them steal, fight and escape. House elves had been very good at that when they were free and it was ingrained in them, despite their servitude. The elf was going to enjoy this particular service. He grinned wickedly.

In Severus' tiny quarters, the wizard was busily prying Hermione from her jeans. He had a full sized bed, which would require them to snuggle relatively close at night. He didn't mind that at all.

"I have you now, witch," he breathed at her as he slipped her blue jeans down, then straightened. "You got away from me once…but never again."

Hermione nodded, her amber eyes soft as she looked up at him.

"It's been a long way back to you, Severus," she said, "but I guess it was all part of my journey."

"Yes," the wizard said, guiding the witch to his bed and helping her in. He joined her, slipping a long finger under her chin and studying her face. "The first of many journeys and adventures together witch, starting with this one."

The Potions Master rolled on top of the witch and proceeded to take her around the world…his way. Combined with the rolling lurch of the ship, it was quite a convoluted and adventurous journey indeed.

THE END

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A/N: And that is the end of "A Long Way Back." I hope you all enjoyed it, and the ending appealed to you romantic cupcakes. Got to love Eli, the sneaky thing. Lol. I think there well be a short epilogue describing one of their adventures. Please review.