The Fortress Within

Severus wandered through their new home


Severus wandered through their new
home.  True to his word, Albus had
transformed the second floor right hand side as well and they now had a huge,
well appointed living space.  Hermione
and Ginny had spent the better part of a week decorating. 
Hermione had insisted on an elaborate kitchen, insisting that they would
take some of their meals in their quarters like a normal family. 
Severus hadn’t been sure what that would entail, but he quickly found
out his wife was a more than adequate cook. 
Dishes were another story; thank the Gods for house elves.
 


His wife; it still brought a
silly little smile to his face.  Severus
paused at the mantle and took down their wedding picture. 
Hermione had been beautiful, decked out in formal crimson robes with gold
braiding along the hem.  It was a
simple design, nothing elaborate.  She
didn’t need all the trimmings, her beauty stood on it’s own, needing no
enhancement.


 


It had been a simple wedding,
held in the Great Hall.  They had
been flanked by Ginny and Harry as they took their vows.  Severus had grumbled about looking like a Christmas tree,
Crimson robes on either side of his dark Green ones. 
Hermione had insisted on it, though. 
She claimed she was tired of his endless black wardrobe. 

 


He could hear sniffles as he
walked down the center of the hall preceded by Harry.


 Despite his scowl, Poppy and Minerva continued to cry softly
until the sight of Hermione silenced them. 
She was breathtaking, and Severus couldn’t take his eyes off of her,
not even for a second.  


 


In the muggle tradition, her
father escorted her as she made her way toward him.  Her parents had been shocked by the news of Treasure, and
even more dismayed when thet Set Severus.  He
had done his best to not to make any sneering comments or present any raised
eyebrows.  Despite his personality
quirks, their concern was more with his age than anything else. 
Hermione had done her best to explain that age took on a different
meaning in witches and wizards than muggles. 
He thought her mother was going to faint when Hermione pointed out that
Albus was over 150 years old.  Even
with that reference, her parents still remained skeptical, but at least had the
good grace to be polite for their daughter and granddaughter’s sake.


 


Hermione had seen no reason to
elaborate on the circumstances of the last year to her parents and Severus had
agreed wholeheartedly.  Some secrets
were just better kept.


 


Treasure had slept through the
entire joining, safe in her Grandmother’s arms.  She had worn her first set of witches robes, tiny satin with
pink embroidered rosebuds scattered around and Severus was grateful he hadn’t
had to decide which one of his women was the most stunning that day.


 


His own mother had not responded
to his owl announcing the marriage and his request for her attendance. 
It saddened Severus, but they had years ahead of them to try to bridge
the gaps on his side of the family.  Severus
planned to send several pictures to his mother, including one of Treasure, but
hadn’t been able to compose the right words to accompany them yet.


 


The students had arrived about a
week ago.  At the conclusion of the
sorting, Albus rose to make his start of year announcements. 
Severus had laughed out loud at Madam Hooch’s expression when Hermione
opened up her robes and pulled out their daughter following the Headmaster’s
news of their marriage. 


 


Next was the introduction of the
new DADA professor and the hall had erupted into thunderous applause as Harry
Potter made his way to the Head Table. 


 


Hermione was overwhelmed with
offers to baby-sit from the all houses and Treasure had been passed all around
during the entire feast. 


 


So, there life had begun and
routine established.  Severus was
blissfully content in his new, more domesticated role. 
He wandered through their formal dining room, still clutching the
photograph.  Outside, he sat
underneath the stars on the elaborate, second story deck. 
Above him a smaller, similar porch protruded from their bedroom, joined
by a spiral staircase not only to the main deck, but also to the garden below. 
From a nearby window above he could hear Hermione singing to Treasure as
she bathed her.  Severus was anxious
for her to be finished and their daughter tucked away into bed. 

 


A little over two weeks had
passed since their joining and Hermione had apparated to St. Mungo’s today for
her final postpartum examination.  She
had announced during their evening meal, taken in their quarters, that Ginny had
given her the thumb’s up.  Severus
wasn’t sure exactly what that expression meant, but from the half lidded eyes
that looked across the table at him, he had a feeling he was going to enjoy the
night tremendously.


 


Severus sat outside in the warm
night air and ran different seduction scenarios through his head. 
He was so engrosseth vth visions of the hours (and hours and hours) ahead
of him that he didn’t even hear Hermiondescdescent from their room above. 
When he looked up she was dressed in a long sheer gown that left very
little to the imagination. A very sexy, front slit went right up to the pink and
white cross-dyed lace bodice. Delicate white ribbon straps disappeared over her
shoulders and a matching lace bikini completed the ensemble.


 


Carrying their child had only
accentuated her figure.  Her breasts
were fuller and her hips had more curve to them.  Any stray memories of her as a student were gone, replaced by
the moonlit image of the woman before him.


 


She crossed to him, her hips
swaying seductively, and he found his lap was full even before she sat down. 
“So, Mrs. Snape, is our daughter asleep?”


 


Hermione paused the nibbling on
his ear long enough to answer, “Oh, yes, Mr. Snape, she is very definitely
asleep.”


 


He moaned softly as she found a
very sensitive area on the side of hick.&ck. 
“Then I believe we have a marriage to consummate. 
That is if you are up to it.”


 


Once again, the explorations on
his skin ceased.  “I’m up for
it. Oh, my, so are you I see.”  Her
hand found its way through the opening of his green robe and across the front of
the silky dark green boxers underneath.  Even
though it was past curfew, Severus didn’t want any students who may be lurking
around outside to be witnesses to the completion of their union. If she
continued her explorations into his waistband, he’d also have to worry about
the Gryffindors on the other side of the castle being startled from their sleep
by the lusty screams of their Potion’s Master. Gently, he removed her hand and
with her in his arms, made his way in the door and upstairs to their bedroom.


 


Once inside he set her down
gently.  She picked up her wand from
just inside the door and with a wave, the room was lit by dozens of flickering
candles. Treasure was still a drain on her powers, and magic that she had been
able to perform easily even without a wand now took a bit more concentration. 
Ginny had assured her that once Treasure was weaned her magic would be
just as strong as ever.


 


The bed was turned down and
beneath the black coverlet crimson satin sheets sparkled in the firelight. 
Hermione turned to him and with a few quick movements stripped him of his
robe.  Again, her hands slid inside
his boxers and she knelt down, taking them with her to the floor. 
She pausedg eng enough to knead the heavy muscles in his thighs before
running her tongue, once, over the length of him and rising again to her feet.


 


Severus was quivering and his
voice shook a little.  “As
beautiful as this gown is, it’s got to go.” 
Two shaking hands tore the delicate lace, right in center between her
breasts and soon the gown was pooled on the floor beneath her.  Mimicking her movements, he divested her of her panties and
his tongue made an oh-so-brief sidetrack on the way up her body, as well. 

 


Hermione showed surprising
strength as with a shove, he found himself flat on his back across the bed. 
Hermione wasted no time now; his body was being devoured by her. 
Hot moist heat moved across his chest in a reckless path lower and lower. 
When she found him, the very tip somewhere in the vicinity of his belly
button, she was merciful and brutal at the same time in her attentions. 
Despite the flood of heat moving through his body he had a brief
recollection of the last time they had been in this position. 

 


As if reading his thoughts, her
head rose and she looked at him.  “Severus,”
she purred and giving one last swipe at him with her tongue, moved up to claim
his lips again.


 


The memories were gone, replaced
by her flesh writhing on him.  He
bent one knee, bringing it up between her legs and was please to discover she
began to move against him anxiously. 


 


Severus showed his own strength
as Hermione found herself lifted and flipped over to her back. 
Again, his leg was there and she was writhing against it, rubbing his
erection in the most delicious manner in the process.


 


Severus had planned to take it
slow, to make her beg, but at the movement of her hand coming down to grasp him
once again, he found his patience flying right out the window. 
They had all night for the slow, tender, lovemaking. 
Right now, all he could think of was “In.”


 


Severus halted, the voice that
said that was hers and now he was sure that she was reading his mind. 
His body yelled loudly to sod off with the mental examinations and get
down to business and he willingly obeyed.


 


Soon, he was in her and they
moved in time.  Severus didn’t
take it slow or easy and Hermione’s cries of encouragement only egged him on. 
Faster and harder he rode and soon the cries turned to screams of delight
that he was sure would wake the baby.  Between
his own grunts, he uttered a silencing spell and when the room was securely
muted, joined in her proclamations to the Gods above them.


 


Severus was exhausted almost to
the point of being unable to move an hour later. 
Hermione had spent the last half hour torturing him, screaming spells
denying him his release.  He had never experienced passion like that before, not even
with the woman lying beneath him.  She
was still breathing heavy and every time he tried, unsuccessfully, to pull out
of her and move off, another breathy little moan would escape her lips. 
Finally, with a shove from her, he was lying on his belly next to her,
drifting off into a satiated sleep.


 


Several hours later he woke to
find himself pressed tightly up against her and ready for another round. 
Hermione was smiling at him in the dim light and he found her ready and
willing as well.  This time they
took a slower pace and took the time to re-learn all of each other’s more
sensitive areas. 


 


Severus didn’t fall asleep this
time and as Hermione lay against his chest, listening to his heartbeat slowing
down, he reminded her how much he loved her.


 


He lay awake, long after she had fallen to sleep, still
pressed against him.  It had been a
little over a year since this journey began. 
A year ago Voldemort had been in power and he had little more than
loathing in his heart for the insufferable little know-it-all who now lay
sleeping in his arms. 
 


Somehow, through a seemingly
endless nightmare, they had found their way into each other’s lives and
hearts.  Through a miracle, they had
conceived a child and love had destroyed the evil that continued to surround
them long after the final battle.


 


Here they were, a year older and
a lifetime wiser.  As he, too, found
his way to slumber, he recalled the words that Albus had spoken many months
before.  “Life and Love will
always find a way, even when faced with the most insurmountable of obstacles.” 

 


Sometimes, it was almost
irritating the way Albus was always right.