AFTERWARDS

Severus stirred the potion in his silver cauldron, smaller than the usual cast iron one he used but necessary as part of the ‘Iunctio Memoria’ ritual. He looked down at the aged text beside him and added the final ingredient of liquorice root and stirred twice clockwise. He looked across at Hermione and nodded. She took the ladle from his hand and also stirred twice anti-clockwise. They looked into the potion. It had turned almost clear but with a slight silvery tinge. Taking two small flasks, Severus filled them both before sealing them tightly with cork stoppers and melted candle wax. He placed them carefully on the shelf behind them ready for the ceremony the following day.



‘Are you ready for tomorrow?’ Hermione looked at him. The enormity of what they were about to do had started to weigh heavily upon her, even though she still felt it was the right thing to do.



‘I am. Are you?’ Severus looked at Hermione with concern. It had taken a month of planning to prepare for the ritual and she had become more nervous as the time approached.



‘I’m fine, I think. A little apprehensive but it’s fine. We had better go and tell Celestina the potion is complete, then she can give us the instructions for the next bit.’ Hermione nodded towards Severus’s quarters and they walked into his sitting room.



Celestina Morrow was the only High Priestess in Britain who could safely conduct the Iunctio Memoria ritual. They had been working closely with her for the past three weeks, ensuring they had everything prepared for during the ritual and more especially, afterwards. She turned her thin, lined face towards them serenely, her long silver hair hanging softly down her back, her hands clasped in front of her pale green satin robes.

‘Well?’ Her voice was light and melodic, a sing-song lilt that reminded Hermione of the Welsh accent but had an other-worldly quality to it. When Celestina spoke, her words took on a life of their own and the listener drew them into their very souls.



‘It is ready, Madame Morrow.’ Severus spoke respectfully to her.



‘And the chamber is ready also. Come. See where you will be joined. Then we will discuss the hand fasting.’ She smiled at them both and her face lit up with happiness. She had been surprised to be asked to officiate over their bonding ceremonies, but having spent time in their company, she knew only good would come from this joining.



Hermione and Severus walked towards his bedchamber. Hermione gasped and Severus’s eyes widened.



The room had been transformed into something magical. It was twice its usual size and it was like stepping into a secret garden. Where the ceiling of the dungeon had been, there was blue sky dotted with fluffy clouds, moving gently on a warm breeze. Under their feet, soft mossy grass was growing. Severus’s bed was positioned in the centre of a stone slab circle. At each corner of the bed was a column on which dishes were balanced. Hermione knew these were for the offerings to the elements. A simple stool was positioned by the bed for Celestina, who would stay with them throughout the ritual and protect them both.



‘It’s so beautiful.’ Sighed Hermione.



Celestina turned to her and placed her hand directly over Hermione’s heart.



‘It reflects your soul, dear one.’ She smiled and Hermione felt a wave of love wash over her. Two gentle tears fell down her cheeks and she felt Severus take her hand in his.



‘Let us discuss the hand fasting.’ Celestina turned to them. ‘This must take place within two weeks of Iunctio Memoria and within the same chamber. The only thing that may be removed is the bed, the sacred circle must not be dismantled nor the offerings removed until the fasting ceremony is completed.’



‘We are ready, Madame Morrow.’ Hermione answered.



‘More than ready…’ Severus murmured.



Celestina smiled at them both. ‘Sleep now. We will meet again at dawn. Rest well, dear ones.’



Celestina walked to the floo and was gone in an instant, breaking the serenity of the moment. Severus pulled Hermione to him in a gentle embrace and she tipped her head to his for a soft kiss.



‘Let’s go home. Dawn will come before we know it, I think.’ Severus spoke gently and they walked over to the floo together.



******

The following day they rose before dawn. Neither spoke but instead pulled on the clothes they had laid out for the ceremony, two simple white gowns which looked like their school robes but were loosely tied in the middle. Neither wore underwear, as this would interfere with the second part of the ritual.



Wordlessly, they floo’ed into Severus’s chambers where Celestina was waiting for them. She was also wearing a simple white gown tied in the centre with a silver twisted cord, her hair tied in a simple braid down her back.



This was a private ceremony due to the personal nature of it and there would only be the three of them in the room. Celestina bowed to them and they followed her into the bedchamber. She opened her arms and they separated, each walking to either side of the bed and lying down beside each other.



Celestina handed them both a bottle of potion, which they opened. Before drinking, she reminded them of the purpose of the potion and the reason behind the ritual.



‘The potion will enable you not only to see but also feel the other persons’ memories of you. You will feel the love they feel for you, as if it is your own love you are feeling. The physical of the other will become your physical. You will be each other.’



Hermione and Severus nodded their understanding. Celestina walked around the bed in a circle, pausing at each corner of the bed to add offerings to the Goddess of the Elements. Golden flames appeared in one corner bowl, trickling water in another, a miniature tree grew in the third and in the fourth; a small whirlwind began to spin.



Celestina nodded and together, Hermione and Severus drank their potions. It felt like apparating, their stomachs were pulled backwards and they lay flat on the bed, their minds spinning as they fell into each other’s memories.



****



They were in a Potions class. Hermione was looking out over the classroom, her stomach tightly knotted as she looked at Harry. She could feel pain as she looked at him, grief as she stared into his eyes and a female face swam before her. Harry’s Mother.



Severus watched as he looked up at himself staring down at Harry Potter. His heart skipped a beat as he looked into the dark eyes, which suddenly met his, and he was overwhelmed with a sensation of wanting to kiss the lips in front of him.



They left the classroom and Severus was standing in a passageway, looking onto himself in the Shrieking Shack as he was trying to stop the bleeding from his neck. He was overwhelmed with grief; a pain clutched at his heart, he wanted to help but knew he couldn’t and turned to walk away. The memory faded and he was running as fast as he could back into the Shack, bending over his lifeless form and sobbing with relief when he realised he was still alive.



They were in the house in Hogsmede, the dirt caking the windows. Hermione could see herself bending over the bed through half-closed eyelids, confused, in pain.. thirsty. Her eyes met her own and she felt the beginnings of something there.



Severus looked through Hermione’s eyes at himself as he lay in the bed, wanting to touch but not daring to, aware that the love he was feeling was overwhelming and unreciprocated. He felt Hermione’s pain as she walked out of the Shack.



*****



Celestina stepped a little away from them, her eyes soft as she watched their faces, emotions playing across them as they treaded softly through each other’s memories. She sat on the stool and waited. She knew this would take some time.



*****

Severus was lying in Hermione’s bed with his head under the covers, his heart broken as he sobbed, his mind recalling images of their lovemaking from Hermione’s perspective



Hermione was frustrated and walking quickly to see Albus before she exploded. She demanded to know why she was feeling the way she was and why, after they had shared something so wonderful, everything had gone wrong.



‘This is the path of true love, Severus…’ Albus had said. And Severus knew it to be true and felt bereft, wishing he had stayed with her and not left her crying by herself.



*****



They were making love, Severus feeling as Hermione, Hermione feeling as Severus. Their hearts were full, their bodies as one as images played through their minds of how they shared each other.



*****





Celestina saw them waking and stood at the end of the bed, waiting.



Hermione woke first and began to sob uncontrollably, her fists clenched as she allowed all of Severus’s emotions to wash over her. He loved her so deeply it totally overwhelmed her and she couldn’t stop the tears.



Severus opened his eyes and turned quickly to her, his face pale and haggard. She had gone through so much for him and now he truly knew how she felt about him, he was in awe of her.



Hermione was weeping softly and Severus turned and pulled her close to him, cradling her head against his chest. Celestina approached with soft feet, smiling gently.



‘You are joined, dear ones. I will leave you now. You must ensure the second part of the ritual is completed.’ She smiled serenely and Severus nodded at her as he gently caressed Hermione’s hair.



Celestina left and closed the door.





*******



I really really hope you like this chapter. It made me quite emotional!!! Lemons to follow...