All the way

Snape jumped to his feet, catching Pat\'s eye. She looked up from her notes, like every other student.

\"I have some business that I need to attend to,\" He sneered, \"I want you to work in silence and if I find out that you have been badly behaved -and I will-\" He paused, \"you will regret it dearly.\"

Pat looked over to Annie. Her cousin was biting her lip. It was obvious that they were both starting to regret asking Hermione to let Snape teach them. They thought it would be a laugh; no one could be that bad. But he was.

Just then a thought hit Pat and she thrust her hand into the air as Snape rounded his desk.

\"What do you want, Miss Weasley?\" He barked impatiently.

\"D-does... your business h-have anything to do with auntie -I mean Professor Granger?\" She stuttered as he glared.

\"You\'re right; it is my business and NOT yours!\" He fumed. Snape walked up to their desk and bent down so that his nose was inches from hers, \"I suggest you learn some discipline and when to keep your mouth closed...\" He glanced over to Annie, who was trembling, \"like your cousin,\" He stood up to his full height, \"Then again, you are Weasleys.\"

With a final sneer, he strode from the room, black robes billowing. Pat looked over to Annie; she was still shaking.

\"Gods,\" She breathed, \"\'Mione weren\'t kiddin\' when she said that we would regret asking her. He\'s scary.\"

\"I wasn\'t scared.\" Pat lied, \"Just caught off guard, is all...\"

\"Yeah,\" Annie replied as she turned back to her bubbling cauldron, \"What ever you say deary...\"

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Hermione knocked once on Remus doors and slipped in. He was sitting on the sofa, a small, uncorked bottle of silver liquid on the coffee table in front of him.

\"You... you\'re really going to do it this time?\" She asked, sitting next to him gently.

\"Yeah,\" He nodded confidently, \"I have decided; now \'Dora\'s pregnant, that it’s all or nothing. I don\'t want to have a child who\'s earliest memories will be of his father looking ill and defeated, and I don\'t want \'Dora to have to look after me as well as our son or daughter.\"

\"I\'ve told of the risks before,\" Hermione could feel tears pricking her eyes, \"I have never tested the potion, it... it could... could...\"

\"Kill me.\" Remus supplied the words that Hermione couldn\'t bare to form.

\"Yes,\" Hermione gathered all her will power not to cry and smiled, shakily, \"Are you ready?\" When Remus nodded she picked up the bottle and gave it to him, \"I will talk to you while it takes effect because I don\'t know if you will be able to hear or not and if you can it might calm you down. If it works, it should nock you out for about a minute -not much longer- and then you should wake up and I will test your DNA.\"

Remus brought the bottle to his lips, but stopped, \"If this goes wrong,\" He put his hand up to stop her protests, \"If this goes wrong... tell \'Dora that I love her and that I did it for her and our child. Tell Harry that I am so proud of him and that he was a credit to James and Sirius. Tell all the Weasleys that they are my favorite family and that no one compares to them. Tell Minerva that she is brilliant for giving me the chance to teach again. Tell the staff that they are all wonderful. Tell Severus... to remember what I said at the Burrow the other day. And, if it does go wrong I want to thank you for trying where no one else has. You are very special.\"

At last Remus gulped down the potion. He screwed up his face and then his eyes rolled in his head. Hermione guided his limp form into her lap and stroked his hair, praying that he would wake up in a minute.

\"Hey,\" She said to him, \"Do you remember that time in my third year when we were taking our exams and we had to fight the Bogart. I ran out crying because Professor McGonagall said that I have failed some other exams.\" Hermione chuckled, \"Every one thought it was some thing really terrible. And do you remember when Neville’s Bogart came out. It was Severus in his Grandmothers clothing and you told him to think that didn\'t you?

Neville was petrified of Severus, you know. That’s why he wasn\'t very good in his class I think. I heard that he\'s going to marry Hannah Abbott -\"

Hermione stopped as she heard a mumble.

\"Remus? Remus?!\" She shook him gently. His eyes slowly opened. \"REMUS!\" Hermione yelled, \"Oh Gods! You\'re awake!\"

\"Hannah’s pregnant...\" He mumbled as he sat up.

\"How are you feeling?\" Hermione asked excitedly.

\"Fine, but I’ll feel better once you have checked whether it has worked or not.\" He smiled.

\"Oh yes!\" Hermione jumped up and pulled her wand out, \"Of course!\"

With her fingers mentally crossed, Hermione skimmed her wand over Remus\' body and as she worked her way to his feet, her smiled grew.

Screaming, Hermione jumped to her full height and threw her arms around Remus neck.

\"It worked!\" she sobbed happily, \"Hell, it worked!\"

\"And which one of you is going to tell me what, exactly, has worked?\" said a suspicious voice form behind them.
____________________________________________________

Severus stood in the door way and watched as Hermione broke away from Remus and flung herself at him. He had time to notice that they were both crying before Hermione crashed into him.

He looked over her shoulder to Remus who was wiping his eyes. Severus sent him a questioning look.

\"Hermione...\" He sniffed, \"Well, I’ll let her tell you, I need to go and see \'Dora and Minerva, but you have one hell of a girl there Severus; make sure you realize that and treat her right, because if you don\'t you will have to answer to me. After what she has done, I owe her that much.\"

Severus frowned and guided Hermione towards the fire and through the floo to her rooms. He sat on the sofa and pulled the weeping girl into his lap.

\"Hermione?\" He said quietly, \"What’s happened?\"

\"Remus...\" She gasped. After a few moments, she got her breathing under control and started to explain, \"About three years ago, I started to try and make a potion to cure lycanthropy. I managed it after about a year, but had no one to try it on. I gave it to Remus and told him the risks, that it could kill him. He said that he would take it when the time was right.\" She took a deep breath.

\"Well, what with doing every thing with you and all that, I forgot about it. But obviously you saw the note that he sent and I went and he took it and...\"

\"He\'s still alive...!\" Severus whispered in wonder, \"That means... It worked!\"

Severus was overflowing with pride as he pulled Hermione tight to him. Remus was right, she was one hell of a girl and she was all his. She had done what no person had ever attempted; she had saved yet another mans life.

He placed light kisses on the top of her head and locked his eyes to hers as she looked up to him.

\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"

Hermione leaned up and pressed a kiss on Severus\' jaw. He took her cheeks in his hands.

\"Hermione I...\" She held her breath, \"I am so lucky to have you around.\" Hermione smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.

\"Flattery...\" she breathed. Severus put his arms around her, protectively and possessively.

\"And,\" he carried on softly, \"I... I love you.\"
____________________________________________________

Shite! Severus had said it aloud. He hadn\'t meant to; he was just going to add it to the end of his sentence like he always did. Supposing that he had said it because of the shock of the potions success, Severus inwardly groaned. Now he was in for it.

Hermione would shout at him, maybe even slap, him for assuming that their relationship was more than it really was... what ever that was. She was still for what seemed like hours, and then she slowly gazed up at him.

Severus braised himself; his heart was about to be shattered.

\"I love you too.\"

It was spoken gently, less than a whisper. Hermiones eyes were shining again, dancing in the torch light. An unrealistic feeling of complete serenity washed over Severus and he leaned down to possess her lips again.

He was so glad that he had finally told her. The bubble in his chest had burst and -as Hermione had said- it was the most wonderful feeling. He pulled her impossibly close and vowed -for the hundredth time- never to let her go.

Severus worked his hand through her robes and under her skirt. He had started to stroke her thigh and revel in the way that she shivered deliciously in his arms, when a series of explosions sounded from a room close by, making them both jump. The \'booms\' were followed by the sound of people screaming. Hermione jumped out of his lap.

\"Severus!\" Her eyes were wide, \"You didn\'t leave those first year, RIVAL HOUSE\'S ALONE, DID YOU?\"

Severus groaned and sprinted after Hermione down the hall to his classroom.
\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"
They hurried into the classroom, to find nearly every student drenched in purple goo and hiding under the desk; except two of course: Pat and Annie.

\"What happened?\" Hermione screeched.

\"It was him!\" both of the Weasley pointed under the desk that covered Lucius.

\"He called us blood traitors!\" Pat scowled.

\"And he said that you were just...\" Annie mumbled something quietly. Hermione and Severus walked up to her.

\"Tell us what he said about me.\" Hermione said gently as they listened intently.

\"He said that you were just Professor Snape\'s mudblood whore. Then he blew up my cauldron and said that he knew all about Professor Snape and that you were probably paid well, even if you weren\'t worth the money.\" She whispered both the teachers. Severus whipped around to snarl at the youngest Malfoy.

\"Detention with Filch, every night for the rest of this year and 50 points from Slytherin!\" He growled and after making sure that the goo wasn\'t toxic, shouted, \"GET OUT!\"

The first years yelped and scrambled from the room, except for Pat and Annie.

\"\'Mione,\" Pat said quietly, \"Why did you have to go out?\"

\"It’s your uncle Remus -\" Hermione started.

\"Is he ok?!\"

\"Is he sick?\"

\"He\'s fine,\" Hermione reassured them, \"And... he no longer has to worry about his furry little problem...\" Hermione let the news sink in.

Both girls squealed and threw themselves at her, bring all three of them crashing to the floor, laughing.

\"How?!\" Annie asked.

\"I made a potion for him and he is cured!\" Hermione told them excitedly. They hugged her around the middle and rested their heads on her chest. She squeezed them and kissed top of their hair. They were brilliant kids.

Suddenly, Pat sat up.

\"We need to go and see him!\" She grinned.

\"I think he has gone to see Tonks, but if I see him, I’ll tell him to find you, ok?\" Hermione smiled. The girls nodded and jumped to their feet.

\"See ya!\" The chirped and flounced out of the room. Hermione smiled and let her head fall gently to the floor. Today, she was sure, was the best day of her life. She had seen Severus back in his class, she had cured Remus, Severus had told her that he loved her and she had realized how lucky she was to have a lovely -though not blood- family.

She had more nieces and nephews than she could count, she had brothers and sisters and numerous mothers, fathers, Aunts and Uncles, and now, perhaps one day, a husband and her own children.

Hermione smiled at the last thought, but a cough brought her to her senses; she was still lying on the potions classrooms\' floor. She took Severus\' hand and he pulled her up and into a kiss.

\"Poor Slytherin...\" She muttered between kisses, \"They have lost... over 100 points...\"

\"Bloody... arrogant... prat... of a ... Malfoy...\" Severus said hoarsely. Hermione pulled back.

\"And you talk about the Weasleys breeding like rabbits.\" She laughed, \"At least they have name variety.\" Severus smirked and shook his head.

\"I believe we have a free hour,\" Severus pulled her hips tight into his so that she could feel his hardness, \"And I wish to take this time to show you exactly how much I love you.\"

Hermione giggled as he scooped her into his arms and headed towards his rooms.

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Minerva skidded to a stop in front of the hospital wing and hurried in.

\"Poppy!\" She bellowed, \"POPPY!\" The woman rushed out of her office.

\"What?\" She asked, \"What’s the problem?\"

\"Remus! He\'s cured!\" She screamed as she hugged her friend, \"He said Hermione made the potion for him years back and he decided to try it today; she didn\'t know whether it would kill him or not.\"

\"Oh my God! And he took the risk! With Nymphadora carrying and all!\" Poppy gasped as they made themselves comfortable in her office.

\"Yes! That’s exactly what I said!\" Minerva beamed, \"And, you\'ll never guess what!\"

\"What?! What?!\" Poppy panted.

\"Severus and Hermione are in love!\" she squealed, \"Remus said he could see it in Severus\' eyes and that there feelings were plain by the way that she flung herself at him.\"

\"Oh Mini! That’s wonderful news!\" Poppy gushed, \"They suit each other so well and he deserves some happiness and she deserves some one to love her, like she loves every one else.\"

\"I know, they are so sweet together!\" Minerva smiled. They did go well together and she was happy for them, \"I don\'t think that it will be long before we hear wedding bells...\"

\"And the pitter-patter of tiny Snape feet!\"

\"POPPY!\" Minerva gasped, \"I think you\'re going a bit far... again.\"

\"No, I really think they will conceive!\" She insisted.

\"Well, if they do -which they won\'t- I will be right behind them.\" Minerva mumbled and she crossed her arms over her chest. That was her final thought on the matter.