CHAPTER 28
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 28 ~ Reactions
When Hermione awoke, the first thing she was aware of was a familiar ache inside, then being in a bed, then her body wrapped up tight in the sleeping Potions Master’s arms, her back against his chest, his chin on top of her head. He was snoring.
The witch realized she was in a short silk nightgown, and could feel by the fabric resting against her buttocks, that Severus was wearing boxers. Why were they dressed? She didn’t bring a nightgown since she slept in the nude. The wizard must have created it for her. How had she gotten here?
The room was lightening. The sun was coming up.
Hermione shifted slightly, unable to believe the wizard was sleeping with his arms around her. The last thing she remembered was his fucking her on the beach, driving her across the sand with his body. Gods, he had been so good. He gave her foreplay for the first time and was quite good at it. Hermione had hoped to get a dominant position in on him, but the wizard had flipped her over…and that was the end of that idea.
The witch felt a bit of warmth in her belly as she remembered the wizard kissing her deeply as he stroked her. He was right…kissing did make sex seem more intimate…Severus’ kisses made her feel as if he cared about her beyond sex, but that was her emotional reaction to that type of intimate contact, not reality. Hermione did know the wizard desired her however. He was hooked and she knew it. But sexual desire did not equate to actual care.
She shifted again, then let out a little gasp as Severus’ arms tightened around her and his loins pressed against her ass. She could feel his cock swelling inside his boxers. The snoring stopped and she felt the wizard’s head shift, his lips resting against her ear.
“Be thankful my erection is just because I have to piss, witch. I don’t think your body can take around round with me,” he purred, releasing Hermione and rolling out of the bed, picking up a small case off the nightstand and walking into the bathroom. He didn’t close the door.
Hermione heard him using the loo, the stream strong as he relieved himself. It flushed, then she heard water running in the basin, then the sound of brushing.
Hermione shifted to the edge of the bed. She had to pee.
“Are you going to be long?” she called to Severus. The brushing continued and Hermione stood up and minced over to the bathroom door, holding her legs together tightly. Severus was facing the mirror, brushing his long tongue.
“I have to go,” Hermione squeaked. Severus’ reflection scowled at her in the mirror.
“Go then. I’m not finished,” he said, returning to his brushing.
Shit. Go with him in here? She stood in the doorway unmoving.
Severus’ reflection looked at her again, the wizard lowering the toothbrush.
“Witch, I have swallowed fluids that come out of you. Stop being modest and pee already,” he snarked.
Hermione colored. He was right. She hurried over to the loo, lifted her nightgown, sat down and peed.
“Owww!” the witch complained as the hot urine stung her delicate parts.
Severus smirked. He knew it would sting.
“I didn’t bring any purple potion with me, but I imagine Dobby has a supply here. You should ask,” the wizard suggested before cupping his hand under the faucet, sipping up some water, swishing it about and spitting it back into the sink.
Hermione stood up, wiped herself carefully, wincing as she did so, then tossed the tissue into the loo and flushed it. She walked around Severus to the other basin to wash her hands and noticed her toothbrush case on the counter. Severus must have retrieved it last night. Hermione opened it, took out the brush and rinsed it with cold water.
She looked into the mirror. Both of them standing side by side this way looked quite domestic. Severus cut his eyes toward her in the glass.
“Can I have a bit of your toothpowder?” Hermione asked the wizard.
“If it will rid you of that dragon’s breath, you can have the entire jar,” Severus replied, placing the toothpowder next to the witch.
Dragon’s breath?
Hermione cupped her hand and breathed into it.
She took a sniff and immediately regretted it as she nearly gagged. Wow. She didn’t have dragon’s breath. Dragon’s breath smelled better.
The wizard arched an eyebrow at her reaction as he rinsed and put his toothbrush away in its case.
“That is the main reason you were spared a morning ride,” Severus said, exiting the bathroom. He began to dress.
Hermione took a lot of time brushing her teeth and tongue. When she finished, she walked over to the shower, pulled the door open and turned on the water.
Severus appeared in the door fully dressed as she started to remove her nightgown.
“You don’t need a shower. I bathed you last night when we returned from the beach. You had sand everywhere and I couldn’t sleep with half the beach in my bed,” he said silkily, then disappeared from the doorway.
Hermione did feel completely clean, but taking a shower in the morning was an automatic act. He had bathed her? She must have really been out of it. She had no recollection of being brought back to Harry’s house. The witch turned off the water and exited the bathroom
Severus was gone.
Oh well. Any questions she had could wait until later. Then her belly tightened. Later they would be doing the ritual.
Hermione quickly dressed in a pair of brightly colored cotton shorts, a white t-shirt and a pair of sandals. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail, then exited the room to find Severus and Harry already at breakfast. Harry was again in a bib, his black hair damp from his morning shower. He looked straight ahead as Dobby fed him.
“Good morning, Harry,” Hermione said.
The wizard’s green eyes shifted toward her and he smiled just as Dobby tried to slip the spoon in his mouth, the contents dripping down his chin and falling to his bib.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Dobby,” she said to the elf, who looked at her.
“He drops food whether you is here or not, Miss. Dobby is used to it,” the elf replied, wiping Harry’s chin with a napkin and going at it again.
Hermione sat down and had a slice of toast with jam. She also had a cup of coffee. That was it.
Severus looked at her disapprovingly. After last night, the witch should be on her second plate of food. The gods knew he had a hell of an appetite.
“Is that all you’re going to eat?” he snapped at the witch, who looked up at him rather startled.
“Yes. I’m not that hungry,” Hermione replied, chewing her toast slowly to make it appear filling. The truth was she was nervous about the upcoming ritual, and when Hermione was nervous…she didn’t eat a lot. Food had a habit of coming back up.
“You’re going to need energy,” the Potions Master said, leveling his dark eyes on her, “You expended quite a bit last night.”
Hermione thought she saw a flash of heat in those black eyes as the wizard looked at her.
“But then again, I’m not your mother. Eat what you want,” Severus finished, resuming his meal.
Hermione ate a small piece of sausage and then left the table. She walked through the house until she came to a bedroom with posters of Quidditch players all over the walls. It must be Harry’s bedroom. The witch walked into the bathroom and looked through the medicinal potions stores. Yes, there were several bottles of purple potion. She drank two down and immediately felt Severus’ ache leave her. She let out a sigh, then went to her own room where she retrieved her Harmonics book, then exited the house, walking outside to the porch. Eli was busily sweeping the wood flooring and smiled a greeting at her. He had work to do and was quite pleased.
Hermione sat down on the wicker loveseat and leafed through the book to the ritual instructions again. She knew them by heart, but this was Hermione. Checking and rechecking was natural for her.
The screen door opened again and Dobby exited the house holding Harry by the hand. He led him down the steps and toward the beach for his morning exercise. Hermione watched as Harry shuffled along behind the elf, staring over the water. When they came to the shore, Dobby let him go and Harry promptly dropped to his hands and knees and started working his hands back and forth in the sand, making large furrows then throwing sand into the air. Dobby was scolding him because the sand fell back into his hair, but Harry was oblivious and continued to play.
Suddenly, Hermione heard music…violin music. Severus was in the study warming up, ready to do another run-through of Harry’s song. Hermione quickly got up and hurried into the house, locating the Potions Master.
She entered the study and looked at the wizard, who was standing robeless in his bare feet, wearing a partially opened white shirt and black trousers, his hair pulled back in a ponytail. His eyes were closed as he swayed, drawing the bow lovingly over the instrument. Hermione thought he looked delicious.
Suddenly Severus’ eyes snapped open and he lowered the instrument, looking at Hermione blackly.
“Get out,” he said, “I want no distractions.”
“I just want to hear…” Hermione began.
“You will hear tonight. Now get out witch,” Severus said warningly, taking a step towards her threateningly.
“Fine,” Hermione spat, leaving the room in a huff.
What a bastard.
Severus smirked as Hermione stalked off, then walked over to his robes and pulled out his wand. He cast a silencing spell around the room and warded the doorway. The Potions Master could still be seen since the study was open and there was no actual door, but no one could enter or hear him. The wizard wouldn’t be disturbed.
He played the opening strains to Harry’s song.
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Harry suddenly looked up from the hole he was digging in the sand, staring toward the house intently.
“What is it, Master?” Dobby asked. Harry rarely focused on anything more than a moment, but he was looking at the house, his brow slightly furrowed.
Suddenly the wizard stood up and bolted for the house.
“Master!” a shocked Dobby yelled after him as the wizard ran.
Harry never ran. His gait was normally a shuffling step, almost like an old man’s walk. He certainly wasn’t shuffling now.
Hermione had just exited the house when she saw Harry running toward her, Dobby hot on his tail. Running?
“Harry?” she said as the wizard leapt up the stairs, ran past her and into the still open door, Dobby sprinting behind him. Hermione ran into the house behind Dobby.
Harry headed straight for the study where Severus was playing, running right into the ward, which was like hitting a stone wall. The wizard crumpled to the floor, knocked cold, blood running from his nose and his face badly bruised.
“Master!” Dobby cried, falling to his knees beside the unconscious wizard.
Hermione ran in after them, gasping and bringing her hand to her mouth as she looked at Harry. Dobby had his head in his lap and was stroking his hair.
“He never runs before,” the elf was saying, “He never ever runs since he comes here.”
Hermione looked up at Severus, who was completely lost in his playing, his body twisting, eyes closed as he drew the bow over the violin quickly. She couldn’t hear what he was playing, but apparently…Harry could and responded to it
Dobby healed Harry’s broken nose and cut lip with a touch of his long, scaly finger. Then he stood up and levitated the unconscious wizard to his bedroom, the other elves following, chittering worriedly.
Still playing, the Potions Master had no idea what had occurred. He was lost in the music, his shirt sticking wetly to his back as he poured all that he was into the song, feeling it swell his very soul. The wizard began to glow, Hermione watching his magic manifest itself. Even through the ward, she could feel his power.
If this was how Harry reacted to his song, he would have to be restrained in the circle tonight. Although she was upset about what happened to the wizard, Hermione was glad she found this out. Something horrible might have happened during the ritual if Harry launched himself at Severus.
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The Dementors milled about in the shadows of the ruined temple, bent and hissing with pain. Minerva was taunting her captor as usual.
“Upset belly?” the witch asked, an ugly smile on her face.
“Shut up before I tear you out of me!” the Dementor hissed.
“Hah! If that were possible, you would’ve done it long ago. They’re closing in on all of you. Your days are marked!”
Once again the Dementor wished it had found another victim those many years ago.
One that was mute.
Suddenly the pain was gone, and the creatures all hissed in relief.
The moment Severus began to glow, a dull pain shot through all the Dementors and each felt the sensation of something tugging inside them. They had no idea what was happening, but whatever it was, they hoped it was the last time they experienced it.
Dementors gave pain just fine but they weren’t made to deal with it.
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A/N: Sorry about the length of time it took to post this chapter. Long night last night. Next chapter will be the ritual itself. Please review.