All the way II: And Even Further

Hermione made sure Lucius was actually in his common room this time and then went back to her rooms. She would talk with him tomorrow.

While she had been saying goodbye to Lucius, Severus must have passed them, because as soon as she had shut her living room door behind her, she was slammed into the wood hard, her mouth invaded.

When her senses caught up with her, Hermione pushed at the shoulders of the body pinning her to the door. Severus released her mouth and leaned his forehead in the wood above her shoulder, breathing hard.

"Severus?" She said breathlessly, "What was that about?"

He was always forceful, but never that type of forceful!

"Silly girl..." He said quietly.

Hermione turned her head slightly to look at his temple.

"What did he say?" She asked, for she knew Draco had caused this; it was instinct by now, to know when a Malfoy was concerned in any events. Severus didn't answer. "What ever he said isn't true -"

"Oh, but it is!" He told her harshly.

"What?" Hermione pushed at his shoulders again, but he didn't move this time, "What has he told you?"

What could he possibly have said to make Severus act like this? He hadn't been this possessive for... well, years!

Hermione could the sneer in his voice.

"He told the truth for once in his pathetic existence..."

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Annie stared out of the common room window. Pat had gone to bed and she was alone in the room.

She couldn't believe the day’s events. Well, one event.

Her mind was working in a viscous circle; Lucius had kissed her, she had wanted to kiss him for ages (if she was honest), but did he want to kiss her? No, because he was just doing it to piss of his father, but did that even matter, because Lucius had kissed her!

She was sad, to put it bluntly. She wished he had kissed her because of who she was and because he wanted to, not because of who was watching.

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Hermione stroked her husbands’ hair. He still wouldn’t tell her what Draco had said.

"Severus, please!" She said quietly, "I'm so tired of all this. Just tell me what's up. Maybe I can help?"

He heaved a deep sigh and push off the door. He looked down at her with dark eyes. Hermione leaned up and kissed him gently. His arms wandered from around her waist, and up her arms, over her shoulders, around her neck, coming to rest in her hair, pushing her forwards, closer.

And she leaned in. And he held tighter.

""""""""""""""""""""

Lucius, like Annie (although he didn't know it), was also alone in his house common room. He played with the corner of his robes. Everything was so clear, yet so confusing.

Clearly, he hated his father. Confusingly, he had a need to prove that he was nothing like him; thoughts like this ticked away at the back of his mind.

At the front of his mind, however, was one question. Was there any hope? He knew the moment he touched his lips to Annie's that she obviously wasn't happy with his actions. He had been stupid, he knew that, but it wasn't just because his father was watching. It was because of what his father had said. Draco had made him so angry and kissing Annie was the only thing he could think of doing, because, he supposed, some where in his subconscious he had wanted to do it for years.

The only thing that had kept them apart was their love for their own Quiditch teams and, in hindsight, it was a stupid thing to row over.

Annie had been out with lots of boys and something quite nasty had happened to each of them, often resulting in a weeks stay in the Hospital Wing.

Lucius had, of course, had lots of offers, but they just didn't feel right.

No.

Not right.

Not the same.

Never.

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As her husband collapsed beside her, Hermione summoned the energy to pull the bed cover over them both. She let her eyes drift shut, as she was pulled tightly into strong arms.

She pressed her lips to the nearest piece of skin she could find; it felt like a shoulder, but Hermione couldn't be bothered to open her eyes to check.

She was too sleepy.

Something had got Severus into a frenzy tonight, not that she was complaining, of course, but it had left her exhausted. She could feel his heart beating fast against her chest.

"I love you," She felt the need to reassure him.

"I Love you, too." He murmured, running his hand up and down her back gently, "very, very much."

He leaned down and kissed her furiously. When he pulled away, Hermione tried to roll over, but Severus held her still.

She sighed and brushed some black hair behind his ear. Her hand traveled down and stroked his cheek gently. Carefully, Hermione tried to pull away again, but he only held her tighter, if anything.

Realizing that tonight there would be no escape, Hermione pushed lightly on her husbands shoulder. He rolled onto his back, pulling her to lie partially onto of him.

After resting her head on his chest, Hermione sighed and fell asleep.

""""""""""""""""""""

Severus felt his wife’s breathing even out; she was asleep. She must have been exhausted; you didn't use that much energy running a marathon!

But Severus couldn't help it. As much as he hated to admit it, Draco had made sense.

Lucius was part of him.

And Hermione did love Lucius.

Therefore, Hermione did love a part of Draco, because she did love Lucius, and Lucius was a part of Draco.

But, a small voice reasoned, Draco and Lucius are different people.

Not that different.

But Malfoy is only a name.

But it makes them basically the same!

Severus sighed. Names did not make people the same. He was a Snape, but he was not like his father. At all. Nor would he ever be.

His father had been an abusive drunk. You could not call him evil. Voldemort was evil. But Tobias Snape had been cruel and some times cruelty was worse than being evil. Though not in Voldemorts case. He was evil and cruel.

So no, names did not make people the same. He would never hurt Hermione intentionally. He had, when they had just moved back into Hogwarts, but only because he was trying to stop her leaving.

He couldn't have lived without her back then and he still couldn't now, when he thought about it.

Just the thought of any one giving her the wrong look made him bubble with anger, and the thought of any one hurting her made him murderous.

And Draco had done that. Although Severus hadn't cared all those years ago, Draco had been terrible towards her when they were students, and Severus had to admit that he hadn't helped the situation by favoring the Slytherin boy. Then, six years ago, when Hermione was pregnant and they were just married, the blonde had been trying to disarm his son, but had Draco honestly thought that Hermione would just stand and watch? As it was, she had taken the spell and been thrown back into the stone wall feet behind her. And, if that wasn't enough, he had then proceeded to abduct her, using one of her best friends, and send a fake body to Hogwarts.

Severus had found the body and it had felt like his world was crashing down before his eyes; there was nothing he could have done. He had locked himself away, only being brought food by the house-elf, Dobby. Not that he had eaten much of it. It had been the worst time in his life, and Severus would never forgive Draco for that. For taking her away.

And now he was trying to do it again, but through his son.

Severus would not let that happen, though. Hermione was his wife and no one would change that. Especially not scum like Draco Malfoy.

Severus loved her more than any one ever could or would. She was his and, although he would never admit it, he was hers.

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Hermione jumped as she opened her eyes and bit her cheek to stop herself laughing. Severus remained asleep behind her.

Eileen was giving Hermione a pointed look that she had learned from her father, but she couldn’t quite get her eyebrow to rise. So instead, she held it up with her finger.

"Auntie Molly told me to give you this," She said snarkily, passing her mother a note.

Dear Hermione,

Arthur heard about the disturbance at Azkaban and I thought you might like some space, so I let Eileen stay the night. Get Annie to send me an owl to make sure she's alright.

Love,

Molly.

Hermione threw the parchment over the edge of the bed, where it floated to the floor as Eileen climbed onto her Mothers knees.

"Did you miss me, mummy?" She asked, crawling up and burring her face in the crook of Hermiones neck.

Hermione hugged her daughter, "Of course I did, darling. Mummy and Daddy just needed some time -"

Eileen cut in, saying earnestly, "To make babies -"

"WHAT!" Well, at leased that saved Hermione the job of waking Severus up.

Hermione tried not to laugh, "Well... um..."

"I know that's what you do," Eileen told them shamelessly, "I'm not stupid, you know." Hermione did laugh this time, she was six and she thought she knew everything. What a darling. "Every one does it." the girl carried on factually, "I'm going to do it when I’m older... when I’m about auntie Annie’s age -"

"You are not!" Severus was very pale and wide eyed. Hermione laughed harder, "She's not even seventeen yet!"

"Yes I am, daddy." Eileen persisted calmly.

"Don't even think about it, young lady!" Severus looked like he was about to pass out.

"Eileen..." Hermione finally got control of herself, "I think you should stop... He's going to have a heart attack..."

"Aww," Eileen made a sympathetic noise, crawling over to her father, "I'm sorry daddy," she said sweetly.

Severus seemed unable to speak. He just put his arm around his daughter. After a minute, Eileen sat up.

"Love you, daddy," She planted a kiss on his cheek and turned to Hermione, "Love you, mummy," She kissed her mother, too.

"I love you, too." Hermione smiled. Eileen frowned, then jumped from the bed and ran from the room.

"She's got to grow up one day, you know." Hermione told her husband.

"I know," he sighed, rubbing his eyes, "but not so soon..." Severus sat up and kissed Hermione, "I love you."

"I love you, too."

Severus got up and headed for the bathroom. As soon as the bathroom door was shut, the one leading to the living room opened and Eileen slid in. She ran up and climbed onto the bed, sitting in the space Severus had left.

"Mummy?" She said seriously.

"Eileen?"

"Why doesn't daddy love me? He said he loved you, I was listening, but he didn't say it to me. Why?" She frowned.

"Because..." Hermione was taken aback, "He doesn't say it, darling, because he can't..."

"Why?"

"He can't say it because he loves you more than words." Hermione explained, "He loves you too much to say."

Eileen nodded slowly, "So... does that mean that he loves me more than you because he can use words for you?"

Hermione had to give it to her; she was straight to the point, not hanging around, "Well... I... yes, I suppose so..."

Eileen smiled brightly and bounded from the room. Hermione heaved a deep sigh and closed her eyes tightly.

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Severus was deeply disturbed by the conversation he had heard between his daughter and his wife. He knew Hermione had agreed with Eileen to make the girl happy, but... what if she really believed that he loved Eileen more than her?

He didn't. He loved them the same. Although, with different types of love. If he had too choose... well, he couldn't. It was as simple as that.

Severus dressed quickly and left the bathroom. Hermione was still in bed, as it was Saturday. She was staring at the ceiling.

Quietly, Severus sat down beside her, on the edge of the mattress. She smiled at him.

Obviously, she didn't know that he had heard.

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Annie walked into the Great Hall, pointedly ignoring the Slytherin table. She had gone from sad to angry.

She would not be used when it was convenient for Lucius bloody Malfoy!

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Lucius stared at Annie, willing her silently to look at him, but she didn't. She sat down at the Gryffindor table with her cousin and her friends, with her back to him.

At the end of breakfast she left the hall with her cousin. Lucius stood up. She had not looked at him once! That would be sorted out now!