Partners Sequel to "The Hunt"

Severus didn’t move, but he felt the thirst coming on. He knew this would happen, from the notes. He reached up to one of the built in drawers of the headboard and grabbed the water bottles.



They drained them both, never separating. Severus just lay there holding Hermione in his arms. “Would you like a shower?” He finally asked. She nodded against his chest. “Well, you go get cleaned up and I’ll start dinner. We are going to get very hungry soon.” She nodded and rose up on her hands, looking down at him.



She leaned over and gave him a gentle kiss. Severus smiled and watched her rise and go to the bathroom. When he heard running water he put on his dressing gown and walked to the kitchen.



He moved around the kitchen out of habit, preparing dinner as he had done many times before, but this time his mind was elsewhere. What was Hermione thinking? She said she loved him, but she hadn’t mention it before now. Did she not want to tell him?



The shower stopped running. He felt the need to talk to her, but he had asked her not to bother him with asking for explanations. Maybe that was a bad idea. Should would talk to him if he wanted, he knew that now, but it didn’t take the nerves away.



He would admit now that love was something he needed but exactly what did that mean for them? A commitment was in the cards, there was no doubt about it, but what kind of commitment. What would she want to do? She said she loved him, did that mean she wanted to move things along and if she did, how so?



Move things along where? This led to far too many opened ended questions. What the hell was he thinking taking thinking by taking the potion? This time there was no potion to help him find the answers he didn’t know he was even confused about.



He was giving himself a headache now. “Severus?” He turned and looked at Hermione, her hair still slightly damp, wearing her pajamas.



“Ready for bed already?” He joked. She smiled and came into the kitchen.



“There’s no point in putting on clothes if I’m going to change anyway. Do you want to take a shower while I finish dinner?” She came forward getting plates from his cabinet.



“Yes, I’ll be fast.” He kissed her cheek and moved to the bedroom.



His thoughts ran away again as the water washed over him. During dinner he would talk to her. He knew what he said but he couldn’t keep quiet. Not after what they shared. He would let Hermione set the pace, just as she had been doing since they began seeing each other.



He quickly slipped into his black pajamas and went back to the kitchen. Hermione was pouring the wine, and two plates were sitting on the table.



“Sit down. I put a pitcher of water here too for the thirst, that way we don’t get drunk on the wine.” Together they sat down.



“That’s a good idea.” The pitcher was charmed to keep filling, which Hermione knew they would need.



“I think we should try and work on the dehydration effect. If it gets too bad, the ministry wont approve…….”



“Hermione we should talk.” He interrupted.



She put her glass down and looked at him, giving him her full attention. “I thought you didn’t want to discuss or explain anything.”



He looked at her suddenly unsure of what to say, but he spoke anyway. “Aren’t you concerned about what you felt?”



She smiled at him. “Not concerned per say, surprised is a more appropriate word.”



“Surprised? That makes two of us.” He took a drink.



“Was it such a surprise to you Severus?” She asked earnestly.



He sighed and looked back at her. “To be honest, yes I was.”



“And why is that?” If Hermione felt any insult at his admission she didn’t show it.



“Hermione, I enjoy being with you. You have a very special place in my life, one that no woman has been to. I have never felt something like this with any woman, it is a feeling I never knew how to identify and to be completely honest it was a little frightening.”



“Frightening how?” She leaned forward and rested a hand on his arm.



“For a long time I thought it was better to be alone. There was no hurt, there was no rejection. I know I’m not the handsomest man around, nowhere in the same area as Lucius Malfoy. To a beautiful and brilliant woman like you, what could I offer you?”



She smiled. “How about a partner who respects me, who understands my desire to challenge myself. The men I have met in my life expect me to either take care of them or stop working to make them feel more like men. You don’t do that. You have contributed to my frame of mind.”



“Yes, it was an honor to teach you all those years.” He admitted.



She arched an eyebrow. “It didn’t seem like it.” She said.



“I had a reputation to uphold young lady.” He said with his trademark sneer.



“Yes, I know.” She chuckled. “Severus you don’t know how much you have to offer me.”



“Like what?” He wasn’t searching for flattery, that wasn’t his style and Hermione knew it. He was genuinely curious.



“Aside from your intelligence and respect, you treat me as an equal and that means a lot. You value my input and I know we make a good team. You don’t pressure me for anything, and when I refuse something you listen to the reasons why and understand. You never make me feel less then what I am and that’s someone I love being around Severus.” He was taking in every word. “And I happen to think you are very handsome.” She added. Severus gave her another smirk, but ended it with a smile.



“Hermione, why did you tell me you loved me?” He asked quietly.



“Because I do. I have for some time now.” She told him.



He looked up at her, focusing on her eyes. She wasn’t afraid and she wasn’t nervous. “Why didn’t you say anything?”



“Because we had always talked about not letting things get out of hand, and respecting each others privacy. I thought if I let you know that you might think I was trying to trap you into something. I would never want you to feel that way. I love you too much to make you uncomfortable.”



“So when you suggested we take this potion……” he began.



“I was hoping you would be more aware of my feelings.” She answered.



“I wasn’t.” He said.



“No. but I have a theory on that.” She said. “You were confused about what you were feeling, I wasn’t. The potion was designed to help couples with communication problems. My feelings weren’t a problem, I knew how I felt I just needed a way to tell you. You didn’t know what you were feeling so the potion worked for you.”



“The potion also helped you deal with what needed to be told. You needed a reason to tell me and you got it.” He added.



“So the potion is a success Severus.” She took her glass and raised it. After they drank he looked thoughtful again.



“So what happens now?” He asked. “We know how we feel, how do we move on?”



“We go on as we have been and this time around when we feel something we will talk about it. Agreed?”



“Agreed.” He said. She gave him a brilliant smile and leaned forward to kiss him. Severus felt quite content as he returned her kiss.