A Matter of Circumstance

Chapter 40 ~ Another Try

With Eli’s head properly healed and bandaged, Severus carried the unconscious elf back into the living room and set him on the sofa. Hermione followed closely behind, watching as the Potions Master pulled out his wand and prepared to wake his servant.

”Be careful, Severus. He might try to hurt himself again when he wakes,” she said warningly.

Severus nodded and pointed his wand at Eli.

”Ennervate,” he said.

Eli stirred, then opened his green eyes and blinked at Severus for a moment. Then they filled with horror and self-loathing.

”Don’t you move, Eli!” Severus said firmly, “I forbid you to hurt yourself. You are to stay seated.”

Eli trembled, his desire to punish himself almost causing him to disobey a direct command from Severus, but he fought it down. He shook his bandaged head despairingly.

“Eli is a bad elf. Has revealed his master’s secret. Deserves clothes, Eli does,” the elf said miserably.

Severus stared down at the elf, then looked over at Hermione and drew in a deep breath.

”Eli, without your intervention, I believe I could not have expressed my feelings convincingly to the mother of my child. I…I doubt if I could have shown her what you did,” the Potions Master said haltingly, “Weakness is not something I would willingly share…”

Hermione walked up to Severus.

“It isn’t weakness to love someone, Severus. It can be a great strength and comfort. You aren’t alone in the world,“ she said to him softly.

Severus looked down at her.

”But I am alone in the world, Hermione. I have always been alone,” he said to her.

“You don’t have to be, Severus,” the witch said with a tender smile, “If you’ll just ask me the question the proper way and mean it.”

Severus’ expression was plaintive.

“Hermione, those three words that are so important to you are quite…difficult for me to say,” he said to the witch honestly, “I don’t know if I can speak them…”

The wizard looked pained. Hermione took his pale hand into her own.

”Severus, you’ve shunned love almost your entire life…of course it would be difficult for you to say the words. You didn’t even know you were in love with me until you almost lost me. You don’t have to worry. I know you love me now. I can wait to hear you say it…but now, I can see it in your eyes,” she said to him, her own eyes full of love.

Severus wondered if his love was as obvious as Hermione’s. If it were, that would be quite disturbing. How could he snark about Hogwarts with love-filled eyes? That wouldn’t inspire terror in anyone. Reflexively, he scowled.

Hermione laughed.

”It’s not that obvious, Severus. No one will know if you don’t tell them,” she said, thinking Albus would know. Albus seemed to know everything.

”I hope not. If I were as doe-eyed as you…” he began, then stopped, knowing he was about to say something not quite in line with “the moment.”

He could rant about that later. But now…now he had something else he had to say to Hermione.

Severus blinked down at her and cleared his throat as he took her other hand. He stared at her a bit more.

“Hermione Granger…” he said hoarsely, then faltered.

”Yes, Severus?” Hermione replied encouragingly.

Severus tried again, looking down on the witch.

”Hermione Granger…” he said once more.

”Yes, Severus?” Hermione replied again, tightening her hold on his hands.

Severus looked at her then muttered, “Oh bloody hell,” and dropped to one knee.

”Hermione Granger, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” he asked her, a bit paler than normal.

It seemed she would say yes…but still…

”Severus Snape, I would love to spend the rest of my life with you…so…yes, I will marry you,” Hermione said, very moved that the wizard had proposed on bended knee. She knew it was a sincere gesture on his part.

Severus Snape wouldn’t do such a thing for just anyone.

Suddenly Eli let out a squeal and began dancing wildly on the sofa cushions, but then got dizzy and staggered about before almost falling. Severus caught him and set him down.

”Calm down, Eli,” the wizard said to him.

”Kisses her, master. You is supposes to kisses your wife-to-be!” the elf said, holding his bandaged head, “And then slips the ring on her finger!”

Severus froze.

The ring. He didn’t have a ring. He didn’t see any reason to get one unless Hermione said yes. It would lose value if he sold it back.

He looked at Hermione apologetically.

”I didn’t…” he began.

Hermione smiled at him.

”I know. You didn’t get a ring in case I said no,” she said to the wizard, shaking her head, “It would depreciate if you had to sell it back to the jeweler. Severus, all you think about is Potions and ways to save galleons.”

The wizard arched an eyebrow at her.

”Considering one is my livelihood and the other important to my, and now your security, I see nothing wrong with that, witch…but you are incorrect. I think about something else as well…” he said, drawing Hermione into his arms, “You.”

Severus kissed her passionately.

On the sofa, Eli smiled horrendously as Severus and Hermione locked lips. Yes, his master had his Miss and his daughter now.

And most important of all, he had Love.

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Hera smiled as she viewed the happy couple, Zeus spooned around her in their marriage bed, kissing her shoulder softly as the goddess sighed.

”Mortals. So foolish, yet so wonderful,” she said softly.

”Snape almost blew it,” Zeus murmured.

”Almost doesn’t count,” Hera said, turning in the god’s arms, “Besides, there’s nothing new about men almost blowing it.”

Zeus arched an eyebrow at her.

”Thank goodness there are second chances,” he said softly, drawing Hera close and kissing her passionately.

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In the bowels of the earth, Eros sat in Eris’ throne, the goddess on his lap, her arms draped around his neck as they both watched Severus’ proposal.

”Well, that’s that,” Eris said as Severus dropped to one knee, “Didn’t know he’d turn so corny at the end though. Ah, well. Love makes fools of us all…or so they say.”

She looked at Eros, whose blue eyes were glued to the mirror.

”He can’t fuck her yet. He should have waited. Then he could have gotten something out of it,” the god said, completely oblivious to Eris’ musings on love.

He really didn’t have a clue.

Eris shook her head.

”Of course, some of us are just born fools,” she said softly, kissing Eros’ forehead lightly.

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In his chambers, Ares wiped at his wet eyes with one calloused hand as he too witnessed Severus’ downfall.

”Well Snape, you’ve finally lost. After all your battles to remain free, you’ve been brought to your knees by a mere slip of a woman. Life just isn’t fair for you mortals, is it?” the god of war said, shaking his head, “I’m going to miss you, warrior.”

The god stood up, removed his helmet and bowed his head in respectful memory of the fallen.

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In her flower-strewn bower, Aphrodite did a wild little victory dance, then pointed her finger at the kneeling Severus in the gold-framed mirror, smiling broadly.

“Take THAT Severus Snape!” she gloated, “Love conquers ALL, baby! Love conquers ALL!”

She continued dancing, her golden tresses bouncing joyously.

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” Pahhhh!” the Fates hissed when Hermione accepted Severus’ proposal. In a fit of temper, Atropos blasted the mirror to bits.

”Damn it!” she hissed, “I hate happy endings!”

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For the first time since Cassia arrived home, Eli, after being convinced by both Severus and Hermione that he performed a very great service by revealing the Potions Master’s secret, was to be allowed to tend to the baby for the entire night, completely Hermione-free. He was elated.

”The young Miss will be fine…just fine,” he gushed, gathering nappies, clean undershirts, bottles Hermione filled with breast milk and a little storybook Cassia couldn’t possibly understand yet. But that didn’t matter to the elf. He was caring for a child again.

Hermione and Severus retired to the bedroom, Hermione putting on a nightgown and the wizard stripping down to his boxers. Both got into bed, and snarky Severus Snape was kissed more in one hour than he had been his entire life.

But…pleasant as Hermione’s loving kisses were, Severus hadn’t had any in weeks and was feeling quite randy. The problem was, he couldn’t have a go at Hermione for at least five more weeks. His cock throbbed uncomfortably and finally he could stand it no more.

“Hermione,” he said hoarsely, sitting up in the bed.

Hermione sat up too, and Severus’ eyes dropped to her over-sized breasts. They were three times their normal size. She wore a maternity bra under her gown and pads to prevent leakage.

”Yes, Severus?” she said to the wizard softly, noticing where his eyes were focused.

”I wonder if you might…might let me have a bit of relief,” he said in a tight voice, “It has been a while for me witch…and I have needs.”

”Oh Severus. You poor thing,” Hermione said sympathetically, “Of course.”

Hermione began to lean down into Severus’ lap but the wizard stopped her.

”Ah…as pleasant as oral sex would be…I had something else in mind,” he said with a bit of a growl as he caressed the curve of one huge breast.

Both of Hermione’s eyebrows rose.

”What do you want to do?” she asked him.

Severus licked his lips.

“I want to…to…” he began, trying to find a delicate way to say he wanted a titty fuck. Coming all over her luscious breasts was a fantasy he’d had for days.

“I want to slide my cock between your breasts,” he said.

So much for delicacy.

Hermione blinked at him.

”Um, Severus…I have to let you know something about that…it’s…er, not that I don’t want you to do it…” Hermione said, also trying to be delicate, “But it could get messy.”

”I know,” the wizard breathed, his eyes smoldering, “That’s what I’m hoping.”

”But…but, Severus,” Hermione said, “You don’t understand…”

The Potions Master was busily pulling her nightgown over Hermione’s head and quickly unclasped the front of her bra, pulling the pads away. He wasn’t listening as his eyes fell on her globes.

”Lie down,” he hissed, quickly removing his boxers.

Hermione looked at him. Oh well, he’d find out soon enough.

Hermione lay down on her back and the wizard quickly straddled her belly, his long, thick cock lying between her breasts.

”Oh my gods,” the wizard breathed, looking down at them, “They’re beautiful, Hermione. I’ve got to feel them around me…”

Hermione closed her eyes as Severus reverently and gently cupped the sides of her breasts. He pushed them together over his length with a growl…

and got a powerful double-shot of breast-milk straight to the face.

The wizard spluttered as the warm, sweet liquid dribbled down his face.

”What in the world…?” he gasped, wiping at his face with one hand as Hermione laughed. Milk was even in his hair.

”I tried to tell you Severus. The slightest bit of pressure makes me gush milk. I could hit the wall from at least eight feet away if I aimed them,” the witch giggled.

Severus wiped his face again, then licked a bit of the milk off his hand. He looked down at Hermione hungrily.

”Maybe if I drain them first,” he breathed at her, then moved back and latched his mouth to Hermione’s nipple, drinking in the sweetness that nurtured and nourished his daughter.

Hermione’s milk was so sweet, and the act one of the most intimate and erotic the couple had ever shared. Hermione’s hand caressed the wizard’s head. This was much different than suckling Cassia. Cassia didn’t run her tongue around her mother’s nipples, or switch back and forth between her breasts repeatedly, groaning her pleasure.

With Cassia, she felt the warm glow of motherhood. But with Severus, the glow had nothing to do with being nurturing. She buckled as Severus’ hand slipped to her core and his slender fingers found her center, doubling the witch’s pleasure, Hermione arching her back as the Potions Master took her to the heights.

His eyes closed in bliss, Severus brought Hermione to orgasm while nursing at her breasts, the witch’s undulating body driving him wild. As soon as she climaxed, he straddled her again and pressed her breasts over his cock and began to fuck them wildly, droplets of milk providing more lubrication as the wizard panted, sliding between her slick flesh, the head of his cock hitting her chin until she lowered it and opened her mouth, letting the wizard in and sucking hard.

”You are a nasty little witch,” the wizard growled as her breasts and mouth pleasured him, his pale body beginning to shudder as he quickly approached his pinnacle.

Hell, he was randy and out of practice…but damn this was good.

“Open your mouth,” he hissed at Hermione, moving faster now, his balls beginning to tighten, and he reflexively gripped Hermione’s hair tightly, pulling her chin down into her chest.

The witch knew what he wanted and was almost ready to come again looking at the wizard’s contorted face as he thrust back and forth almost desperately. Then he stiffened and let out a cry, gripping below the head of his cock and pointing it at Hermione’s mouth as he blew, his thick white seed finding her mouth.

”Oh, Merlin…sweet Merlin,” he whimpered as he watched the witch he loved receive his release, “Hermione…gods witch…you’re so good to me.”

Severus was so weak from his release that he had to hold himself up with one hand, his hair swinging around his face as the last pulses died down. His black eyes fell on Hermione’s coated tongue for a moment.

”Swallow,” he said softly, his heart pounding.

Hermione knew Severus liked her to wait until he “gave the command.” He was kinky like that. Luckily so was she. Hermione swallowed and Severus groaned.

The wizard’s dark eyes closed and he fell to the side, sated, exhausted and for the first time in a long time, genuinely happy. He kissed Hermione weakly, then fell back.

To think, he was going to be able to do this to the witch for the rest of his life.

If that wasn’t enough to make the Potions Master a happy man, then nothing was. He gathered Hermione in his arms possessively and fell fast asleep.

Hermione smiled at Severus softly, then curled a finger into his lank, black hair as he started to snore.

”Oh Severus,” she breathed, “There’s no one else in the world for me but you.”

The wizard smiled in his sleep, snuggled closer and let out a deafening snore.

”I guess that means you feel the same," Hermione grinned, then she too fell into a deep, satisfied sleep.

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A/N: Thanks for reading. ***