Everything I Do, I Do It For You

Chapter 59: All Wards Are Down

Severus raced to Hermione’s side and sank to his knees, gathering her in his arms.

“Severus?” Hermione asked; her voice was frail as her eyelids fluttered slowly open. She reached up and tenderly ran her right hand down his cheek and across his jaw line.

“I am here,” Severus answered, black hair shadowing his face as his eyes looked adoringly at her face; his voice was thick with emotion. The dark-haired man pulled her close to his chest, rocking her slowly as he closed his eyes and thanked the gods above that she was indeed alive.

“I think the wards are down,” Tolmie stated, breaking Severus and Hermione out of the trance that held them in their own little world. “We’d best get back to Hogwarts,” he carried on, taking a step towards Cornelius’ broken and battered body.

Severus stood and picked Hermione up in one fluid motion. He clutched onto her body with a tenderness that not many had seen from the elusive Potions Master.

“Can you manage with those two?“ Severus enquired, looking up towards Tolmie and flicking his eyes in the direction of Peter and Cornelius.

“I’ll be fine,” Tolmie replied in a fatigued voice. Although he would claim that using his empathic powers took nothing from him, it was different when standing up to the late Dark Lord.

“Then I am going to take Hermione back to Hogwarts and have Healer Jensen take a look at her,” Severus replied, turning Hermione’s face affectionately into his chest as if to shield her from the carnage in the mansion’s vestibule.

With a final nod to Tolmie, Severus summoned Hermione’s wand into his hand, and with that, they both Disapparated.

They reappeared moments later on the outskirts of Hogwarts’ wards. As Severus embarked upon the long walk to the castle within his sights, Hermione stirred in his arms.

“Severus,” Hermione started, her voice was still weak from her overuse of magically power. “Do I really have to go see Healer Jensen?” she asked, a tinge of hope in her voice.

Severus didn’t pause in his march to the castle; however, he looked down at Hermione, brow furrowed as if examining her.

“How do you feel?” he asked, his voice held a warmness that Hermione knew was only for her own ears.

“Honestly?” she asked, and Severus gave a slight nod of his head. “Just a little worn out, nothing a good bath would not heal,” Hermione said, as she smiled back at the dark-haired man who was currently cradling her body as if she were a fine piece of china.

“Then to the dungeons,” was his only response and Hermione snuggled closer into his chest and wrapped her arms around his body.

Once inside his suite, Severus placed Hermione on the settee in his sitting room and set her wand on the low lying table next to the settee. He then left momentarily to fill the bath. He added herbs that he knew would invigorate her and, once the bath was finished filling, he stepped back out into sitting room to find Hermione sitting up.

Pointing his wand at the fireplace, he started a fire to take the chill out of the air.

“Your bath is drawn, M’lady,” he said with a sweep of his arm in the direction of the bathroom as he tucked his wand back into his robes.

“Thank you, Severus,” Hermione replied, as she stood and made her way into the bathroom.

Severus stepped aside to allow her entry. When the door was firmly closed, he took off his heavy black robes and hung them over one of the chairs. Next came off his teaching robes, which he preferred to wear at all times, leaving him clad in only his white shirt, black trousers and boots. Severus went over to the fireplace to contact the Headmaster.

Throwing some Floo powder into the fire, he knelt down and called out for Albus.

Dumbledore looked quite awake when his head popped into the fireplace, answering the call. Severus sat back on his heels as he looked into the older man’s face.

“Oh, Severus, how is Miss Granger?” the elderly wizard asked, though he showed no outward appearance of concern as he knew that Hermione was in the securest of hands.

“Good; she is taking a bath,” Severus replied. “Has Tolmie returned?” he asked, furrowing his brow in concern.

“Yes, yes, he is in my office with the bodies of Peter and our former Minister of Magic,” the Headmaster replied. “He is stating that Miss Granger is responsible for the death of the Minister and that the Minister in turn is the reason for Peter’s unfortunate demise,” Dumbledore said, although his face was stern, Severus knew that he wasn’t angry.

“Yes. I am sure that Tolmie can fill you in on the details of the night,” Severus replied, getting ready to stand.

“And, Severus,” Dumbledore added before the Potions Master could get away, “be sure to take care of Miss Granger.” Then Dumbledore disappeared into the folds of his office.

With that, the Floo connection was closed and Severus was left kneeling in front of the now bright orange flames.

He stood quickly, taking a step backwards so as not to be burnt by the flames, and brushed off his shirt. The Potions Master sighed loudly.

Severus turned sharply when he heard a noise behind him and collided with a still dripping Hermione. She wore a towel draped around her body and her hair was still wet from the bath.

‘She looks much better,’ Severus observed as they both stood there looking at each other.

They stood so close, neither of them touching or daring to breathe. They looked deeply into each other’s eyes.

Severus could read the almost animalist hunger lingering in Hermione’s eyes, just below the surface.

Without warning, Hermione threw her arms around Severus’ neck and almost forcefully began kissing him.

Taken aback by surprise, the taller, dark-haired wizard took a couple of seconds to be engulfed by the hunger, passion and urgency that was driving Hermione.

He picked her up, not breaking the kiss, and almost ran her to his bed, kicking open the door, which banged loudly into the stone wall, still frantically kissing her as if he feared that all this was just a glorious dream and that if he were to awaken, he would once again just be able to fantasise about showing Hermione how much he loved and desired her.

Hermione started to bite Severus’ lips, slowly at first, but getting more desperate as they passionately wrestled on the large king-size bed. She felt as if her need to touch, kiss and love every inch of his body would in fact drive her insane. Hermione was unable to physically express what she was feeling at that instant, the closeness, the unbreakable bond and was unprepared for the feeling of utter ecstasy that his touch brought to her.

“Help me take these off,” she panted, indicating towards his shirt and pants. She didn’t even wait for his response as she started to rip on Severus’ shirt, popping all of the buttons, leaving his chest exposed. “I need to feel you, taste you, all of you,” she continued, as she took off her towel and kicked it to the floor.

Lying back to let him get an eye-full, her body exposed, she held no shame at her own sexuality. Her eyes were on fire, a desire burning in them, all for him.

Severus stood suddenly at the end of the bed, looking at her as she lay bare before him. Breathing in the necessary oxygen in gulps, his eyes were hooded as his dark-hair fell once more across his face. She looked so small and young on his bed, but she was definitely all woman.

Severus moved up the bed and knelt over her, ever so slowly climbing her body as he took in the sight of the goddess on his bed. He started kissing his way up her perfectly formed leg. The smell of her body was sweet and it took him all his strength not to just jump onto her and take her as she was begging him to do.

Severus, sitting up slowly, straddled her body. He then undid his belt, placing it next to him on the bed. Hermione was squirming with delight underneath Severus, the anticipation was building up inside her and it threatened to burst. Her eyes were glued to his chest, the chest she had longed for ever since he had held her, dressed only in a towel in her room in the dungeons.

She would never forget the incredible fondness and protective atmosphere she had felt that day, and often wondered if he were aware of the urges she felt, the overwhelming need to be near him, to touch and to be touched. Surely being linked to him would have given him an idea about her longings?

Gently, so not to scare her, Severus leant over her and took her hands in his own larger ones. He kissed them lightly and then lifted them both above her head, placing them within reach of the headboard. He picked up the discarded belt and tied both of her arms together at first, and then to the bed head.

“Oh, my Potions Master, feeling a bit kinky, are we?” Hermione responded in a mischievous and husky voice. Her eyes were half-closed as she wore a seductive look on her face.

Severus seemed not to have heard her as he finished making sure her bonds were secure. He made his way down her body, pausing as he longingly kissed her breasts and abdomen.

He raised himself up again, kneeling over the top of her. Never had he seen anything or anyone more beautiful than his beloved Hermione. He so desperately wanted to show her how much he loved her, but he was painfully aware that he had to do one last thing before he could hold the real woman in his arms.

The pain and horror of the past year had taken over Hermione’s personality, made her cut off her delicate, gentle and loving side to allow her to survive and live in a world surrounded by death, horror and deceit. Severus knew that he would have to help the true witch to emerge, as that was the woman he so deeply adored and would do anything for, even die.

Hermione was wriggling with desire, lips swollen and face flushed. Her nipples were erect and her body was begging to have its release.

“Severus, take me; I can’t wait any longer. I can’t wait to feel and touch you, please come to me, my Potion Master.” Hermione said, her voice filled with longing, a longing that Severus knew he could fill.

Again, as if she had not spoken at all, Severus gently started kissing her face, ignoring the ever growing urgency in her pleas. He started to whisper into her ear, at first so quietly that Hermione had to stop moving to understand what he was saying. He repeated the phrase over and over again and, as he had expected, Hermione suddenly changed from a loving temptress into an almost wild beast.

She began pulling on her restraints, tried to kick off any attempt from Severus to touch her, and only stopped kicking out at him when Severus had taken a seat on her legs. He leant over her, kissing her face gently and, in between her almost violent thrashings, he whispered, “Let your anger go, let it all come out and go away.”

Hermione froze for a second, and then furiously pulled on the belt that restrained her.

“Let me go, you bastard. What kind of sick game are you playing?” she yelled. Anger and frustration, as well as bottled-up fear swelled up into her consciousness all at once, without any warning for Hermione to prepare or shield herself.

Hermione’s body started to convulse with crying fits; she could hardly take in enough air between her sobbing. She blamed Severus for the way she was feeling, and with all her might, she started to throw the foulest language at him that she was capable of.

The more she swore and abused him, the gentler he caressed her, continually whispering, “Let it all out; let it all go.”

When Hermione realised that Severus wasn’t reacting to any of her shouting and swearing, she paused and looked deep into his eyes. There she could see herself free, happy and full of life. In this tiny moment, she saw herself with her dark-haired rescuer and she could see the glorious bond between them, the love that would be able to carry them beyond all the pain and loss.

Then, suddenly, she started weeping, at first out of frustration and then, just as Severus had hoped so desperately for, all her built-up pain from the past year came up. Again her body was thrown into convulsions as she cried out all her anger, hurt, frustration and fear.

The young witch was sobbing so hard, the pain coming from deep from within her soul. She didn’t even notice that Severus had untied her hands and now held her in his arms, caressing her like a small child.

“You are safe now. You are free now, my love,” Severus whispered into her ear as he gently rocked her body to and fro.

He held her for a long, long time, his back aching with each new burst of tears from her. He wished that he could take her pain away; he willingly would welcome the anguish if only Hermione would be released from it.

Morning had broken as Hermione quieted down and became less forceful in her sobbing. Her body began to relax in his arms and they both fell into an exhausted sleep, still clutching onto each other, as if holding onto a life raft they both needed for such a long time.

It was Severus who awoke first, a couple of hours later, not daring to stir for fear of waking the witch in his arms. Her breathing was still slow and steady, showing that she was still asleep. He lie motionless, watching her sleep and starting to feel breathless with the love that he felt for her.

Never had he experienced emotions so strong, so encompassing and overwhelming.

Hermione stirred slowly, and Severus realised that his erection was pressing against her stomach. She opened her eyes and looked into his. Without saying a word, she moved closer and kissed him, timidly and softly, on his lips.

“Make love to me, Severus,” was her only response to the erection that she most definitely could feel.

Returning her kiss with a gentle urgency, he took off his boots and the remainder of his clothes with her help. As he knelt up to remove his trousers, she kissed his navel and used her teeth to pull at the clump of hair just below his belly button. He pulled her up to his lips and started kissing her face softly, nibbling her earlobes and discovered that kissing the side of her neck, at her pulse point, drove her crazy.

They both lay down next to each other and, almost as if on an exploration, both were about to discover each other’s bodies with long kisses and stroking motions. Just as Hermione could hardly bear the feelings when he kissed her neck, Severus could easily be driven crazy when she slightly bit his nipples. She never knew that a man could be as aroused by nipple stimulation as she believed women were.

Both enjoyed getting to know the other’s body, playing and teasing each other. They took a long time caressing and just feeling, until Hermione sat up slowly and straddled him. She teasingly moved her tongue from his mouth over the stubble-covered chin, over his Adam’s apple, down his sternum to first the right and then the left nipple. Gently at first, but slowly getting harder in her nibbling of his nipples.

Severus, almost driven insane with desire, tried to pull her up, but she made quite sure that he understood that she was exactly where she wanted to be and that she knew where she was heading.

With her tongue, she circled his belly button and then took his large, erect penis into her hand. She gave the head of his member an ever so gentle kiss and ran her tongue from the base to the tip, tasting the little drop of pre-cum that was slowly oozing out of the tiny opening there.

She looked him squarely in his eyes and then, with one lightning quick movement, she covered his cock with her mouth, moving up and down while twirling her tongue around him.

Severus felt as if he were in heaven. Not being used to having somebody else control any aspect of his life, let alone his sex life, he would willingly give into Hermione’s demands and follow her hints.

His heart almost stood still when Hermione crawled up his body agonisingly slowly, licking a path from his cock up to his hard nipples once more. She gently eased his penis into her warm, wet vagina as he grabbed her backside quickly and helped her move back and forth, up and down, both groaning with desire. Their rhythm was synchronized, as they both looked into each other’s eyes. The cascade of feelings and emotions ran through them both as they continued to stare into the other’s eyes. Not blinking, sharing a chain of thought, they were both reaching for their own peak.

It came suddenly and without warning as they both reached their destination far quicker then they both had hoped for. Hermione slumped, sweat-drenched, onto Severus‘ chest.

The Potions Master reached his arms around her, playing gently with her hair.

It had been the first time for both that they had slept with somebody whom they were deeply in love with. It was not just making love for them both, but a bonding ritual which brought them closer than they thought they could ever have been.

As they fell into a deep and satisfied sleep, Severus thought he heard Hermione mutter, “My Severus,” before sleep finally claimed them both.

***

Tolmie had walked up to the surprisingly open Headmaster’s office with the bodies of Peter Pettigrew and Cornelius Fudge in tow. He was exhausted, but didn’t let any of this show.

“Ah, Mr Crobobin please take a seat.” The Headmaster motioned while he stood up from behind his desk.

“Thank you,” Tolmie replied, as he levitated the bodies with his wand and placed them into the corner of the office. He took the proffered seat.

Dumbledore just stared at the bodies as if they would come back to life at any given minute. When Tolmie cleared his throat, the elderly wizard’s eyes shot straight back to his face as if waiting for an explanation.

Tolmie then began his explanation of the night’s events. He told Headmaster Dumbledore everything, from the moment they stepped out on their rescue mission, to Miss Granger’s heroic display within the mansion itself.

Albus listened. He heard about Peter’s demise and how he had saved them all in his one act of redemption. About Voldemort taking over Cornelius’ mind and how he met his death at the hands of Miss Hermione Granger. A Muggleborn witch, it seemed, took down the evilest wizard seen this century.

Then the fireplace turned green and Albus had to excuse himself to Tolmie as he went to get Severus’ call. He returned moments later and settled himself back into his chair behind his desk.

When Tolmie was finished relaying the complete story, Dumbledore looked at him over his spectacles, pensive for a moment. His fingers were steepled in front of his face, as though he were contemplating something. Before he could utter a word, his fire turned green once more; however, this time it was Healer Jensen and she told him to come quickly.

Dumbledore stood and all pretence of the doddering old fool was gone as he raced over to the fireplace where the flames were still green. He stepped through the green fire into the infirmary where Healer Jensen was awaiting him. She quickly led him over to Dr Andrew Poles’ bed where he saw the man was very much awake. He was sitting up and his mouth was open, but no sound was coming out.

Dumbledore looked at the Healer and she shrugged her shoulders and said, “Silencing Charm.” She looked flustered and her face was red.

“I tried everything, but when I couldn’t stop him screaming, that is when I placed the Silencing Charm over him and came to get you,” she added.

From a few feet away, Dumbledore stared directly into Andrew's eyes, attempting to perform Legilimency. However, he kept coming up with nothing from the young man's mind.

He took a couple of weary steps backwards and turned around.

“I will be right back, Healer,” he said.

And with that, he vanished back into his office.

***

A/N: Ah, there you have it. My attempt at lemons, what did you think?

Just one more (possibly two) chapter(s) to go.

If you haven’t reviewed yet, what are you waiting for?

Thank you all for your wonderful reviews and words of encouragement.

Mostly I would like to thank my beta, LariLee, without whom you wouldn’t be enjoying this as much as you hopefully are. Love you, hon.

Disclaimer: Not mine but J.K’s.