The Wizards Breath

Chapter 6....Balance and Counter-Balance

Hermione stayed in his bed that night. Softly lying next to him, listening
as his heavy breathing made his chest rise and fall like the tide. It was
nice for once not to be haunted by the silence of her apartment. Too
many nights her bedroom had been stone dead. It was like a tomb.
Cold, quiet and full of shadows, and she was always alone.

She laid a soft hand on his chest, just to make sure he was really
there, to feel his warmth. Hoping this whole crazy thing wasn\'t a
dream. It had been too wonderful, beyond her imagination, and she
felt changed. Maybe a little more alive than before.

Hermione had been feeling like she was dying inside lately. The
long hours at the hospital, Harry and Ron drifting away, and not to
mention the sheer loneliness of it all. She dreaded going home to
her empty flat every night after work, with only Crookshanks to meow
his hellos. At least he counted for something.

Snape mumbled in his sleep, and turned over on his stomach. The
blankets sliding down past his waist, and sitting sinfully on the curve
of his pale asscheeks. Sending another stir through her lower regions.
Severus\'s body was long and lean, with small ridges placed here and
there. Just begging to be touched.

Hermione couldn\'t resist and she moved a soft hand down the spine
of his back. It was lovely the way he felt to touch, soft skin covering
hard muscle and bone. It would of been perfect except for the scars
she was beginning to now see. There was no way her nails had done
that. They were old, purposely stitched vulgarly together before being healed.
Almost like someone *wanted* the wounds to end up scars. She could only
think of one person, and he was dead, Voldemort.

She traced the largest one with her finger. Almost looked like someone had
tortured him with a burning whip. Brutal and sadistic it had been. She could
almost make out the bubbly scar tissue. Hermione suppressed a sob. So many
had been lost in the Great War. Lee Jordan and Susan Bones had gone together,
hand in hand before being cursed to their deaths. So many...so many....they flashed
before her wet eyes. Mad-eye Moody, Bill Weasley, even tiny Professor Flitwick. Gone,
they were all gone, and nothing she could of done would of saved them.

Hermione rolled on her side and curled into Severus, planting small kisses
on his shoulder. Shedding her silent tears for the fallen ones, as she did so
often. The war had either taken your life or changed it. No way around it,
being with him had been one of the first rays of light she had seen for awhile.
She was cold inside, and he had warmed her glacial emotions. Just the thought
of almost losing him too, she couldn\'t bear to think of his torture at the hands of the
dark lord. She buried her head into his neck, smelling his clean hair and musky skin.

He startled her when he spoke in a low voice. \"Why do you cry, Hermione?
Do you wish to leave?\"

He wasn\'t even facing her, hadn\'t moved, but still he knew. Maybe taking
her sadness for regret. Hermione regretted nothing about where she was,
or what she had done. She supposed her tear flow down his arm had woke
him.

Hermione sniffed then whispered, \"Your back...,\" she traced his scars
with a soft fingertip. \"They caused so much pain, and it still goes on. I\'ll
never forget what they have done.\"

Severus turned his head to face her, \"Some scars never really heal.\"
He sighed sadly as she caressed the abominations on his back, and
continued. \"But the pain they cause, only makes us stronger, changes
who we are. \"


Hermione had stopped crying, and was at his mercy once again. For
three years the pain had resided heavily in her heart, and no one seemed
to have any answers for her. Sick and tired about hearing how time heals
all wounds, when everyone knew it was all bloody lies. It was something
they told themselves to make it seem all better, but it wasn\'t.

\"When does it stop?\"

Snape rolled over and sat up, propping himself against the numerous
pillows by the headboard. He opened the nightstand drawer once
again, pulling out a pack of clove cigarettes. Severus lit one with a small
smile as she curled into him.

\"Hermione, I know the war affected you, it affected us all. Some good,
some bad, but you can not dwell in the past. The ones who left us died
for a noble cause, and for that we are indebted to their spirit. Your sadness
only takes away from their heroic actions. They died so others could live.\"

\"I never thought of it that way.\" She nuzzled into his crook of his arm,
letting her head rest on his chest. The spicy smell of burning clove, and
his soft words were making her sleepy again.

\"Your pain won\'t stop, Hermione. It only gets replaced by something fresh,
some new pain that comes with life. And along the way good things will
happen, things that bring you joy. They will counter balance each other,
hence our human struggle. Happiness is fleeting, it comes and goes like the
wind, but pain whether it physical or mental is forever. You don\'t forget, it is
always with you in some form.\"

\"Do you have no happiness to counter balance your own life?\" Hermione
looked into his dark eyes, and they softened for a brief moment.

\"Sometimes.\" Severus stroked her side moving down her natural
curves. \"You were a sweet surprise.\"

She laughed faintly. \"Well I *was* surprised.\"

Severus chuckled softly. \"I know you were. I could smell it on you,
including nervousness, and dare I say sexual arousal.\"

Hermione covered her face to hide her huge smile. It was true, all true,
and he had known from the beginning. Sneaky bastard. She had flirted
and tried to be cute for no reason. No wonder Severus had asked her
here so quickly, he had been almost sure she would say yes.

Hermione placed a long tan leg across his pale hips, and pulled herself
up to sit on top of him. She let her hands run up his chest and placed
them in his hair. Coming closer, and closer to those black eyes until her
lips touched his. She didn\'t close her eyes this time.

They were locked together in their own world, swept away on a emotional
sea, drifting and fading in each other\'s arms. Both tormented by their past,
and seeking redemption from it all. Desperately yearning for an end to the
pain and suffering that dripped like acid from their gaping hearts.

Severus brought his mouth to her neck to lightly kiss her sweet skin. She
filled him like no other had, brought to the ends of his senses from her
touch, begging to be with her once again.

Hermione was no longer tired. Severus was softly palming her breasts
as she worked her hips against his, already feeling his length harden
beneath her. She couldn\'t, she wouldn\'t stop kissing him. His soft full lips
invited her to play upon them, and she explored his warm mouth with
her soft tongue.

Severus moaned into her kiss as she moved the blanket between
them, and used her small hand to guide him into her. Hermione gasped
as she impaled herself on his length, once again filling her with more than
he could of known. He sent her reeling with his deep lovemaking sounds,
as she moved with his encouragement.

Severus\'s hands were on her hips. Pulling and pushing her, fingers
digging softly into her flesh as he directed her movements. All the while
murmuring softly with her actions.

\"Oh, Hermione.\" Snape arched his head back, and she sucked his
neck with the skill of a vampire. Knowing for sure she had left a love bite.

Minutes passed as sweat began to form on their skin, timelessly entwined
together in passionate embrace. Either one had yet to close their eyes.
Hermione watched Severus as she rode him. His head moving side to side,
and his now trembling touch ran down her back.

Severus\'s black eyes were full of lust as she picked up her pace, and
he set a long finger next to her clit. Brushing it with his fingertip as she
moved up and down quickly. It didn\'t take long to bring her to the edge.
Severus\'s face tightened as he began to feel her quiver as she continued
to move on him.

Severus, with his wicked mind, purposely started making more noise
to send her over the edge. Moaning deeply, and then growling when she
clamped down on him with a series of whimpers and breathy gasps. He
followed her not long after, letting himself loose and pumping fiercely up
into her wet channel. Finally spilling hotly, as she whispered his name over
and over again at the peak of his passion. Grinding up into her as she pushed
down on him, making them wet and moist between their sexes.

Hermione collapsed on top of him, falling into his chest and breathing heavily,
but she was still smiling. Again seeming to glow from their late night tryst.
She was playfully nibbling his bottom lip, and he laughed lightly.

\"You may just be the death of me yet.\" He smiled and reached for another
clove cigarette, then changed his mind and opted for the contents of the little
silver case.

\"Oh, I hope not.\" She giggled.

Hermione rolled off and landed next to him, still panting, and slick with
their combined sweat. Feeling lost in the pleasure he gave her, and it
was more than just her body. For the first time since she left Hogwart\'s
she felt well...balanced. The pain of the past was still there, but the
thought of being with Severus held it at bay.

She curled next to him with a pillow and watched as he smoked his
hooter, and she gradually felt her eyes getting heavy. The smoke billowing
down on her, and his dark eyes were the last thing she remembered until
she felt the blanket being pulled up on her shoulders.

After that she slept, and her dreams were not filled with nightmares of
the war or her former potions master. She danced, danced like they all
had done before the war, before the terror of Voldemort seemed far away,
and laughter could still be heard.

Back to the times of her teenage years, back to the Great Hall
in all its glory. Back to the last time she had felt whole...until now.

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More later...hope everyone had a good new year...and just to say
I know how much a love writing and reading at AFF, and I will be
helping Ayla to maintain the site with a donation...hope you think
about doing the same...I would hate to see it close....Anyway,
please review with questions and comments...Shaolin

A/N..thanks for reviewing...new chapter up tonight..1-12-04