CHAPTER 29
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 29 ~ Preparation
Later that morning Hermione told Severus what had happened to Harry while he was playing the music.
Severus arched an eyebrow.
“I placed a rather strong silencing charm around the room. He couldn’t have heard the song. It had to be an internal reaction,” the wizard said as they sat at the kitchen table.
Hermione nodded, looking thoughtful.
“His broken soul reacted,” she replied, “It felt what was missing and drew him to it in an attempt to heal itself. That must be it.”
“You say he ran directly into the ward?” Severus asked the witch.
“According to Dobby, yes,” Hermione said, “I didn’t see it for myself. He was already unconscious when I got there.”
“Still running towards the unknown full force,” Severus said, sneering a bit, “His soul might be broken but apparently some idiot behaviors never change.”
Hermione scowled at the Potions Master.
“That’s a terrible thing to say,” she snapped at him.
The Potions Master looked at her coolly.
“Since I am the one who will be standing in a circle, risking life and limb and no doubt my own soul for the wizard, I believe I am entitled to say what I think,” Severus said pointedly. “Unlike you, who will be standing a safe distance away.”
“That’s not fair. I’d gladly exchange places with you if I could, Severus,” Hermione said.
Severus looked at her, his eyes going harsh.
“If we bring Potter back, Hermione…I want you to remember your body is mine for the duration of our agreement,” he said darkly.
Hermione stared at him in disbelief.
“What? You think I’d fuck Harry?” she asked him incredulously.
Severus’ eyes washed over her. He looked quite possessive as he did so.
“I think it is possible that your joy could translate into something physical, yes,” he replied, “Such things have been known to happen. Two friends sharing joy or grief finding comfort in each others’ arms.”
“Well, that’s not going to happen. Anyway, the patronage oath wouldn’t allow it,” the witch said frowning at the wizard.
“Fidelity is not a true part of the patronage agreement,” the wizard said quietly, “Even though you agreed to it, the magic might not bind you. You might be able to fuck another wizard if you truly wanted to.”
Hermione stared at Severus for several moments. He was trying to hide it, but she could see that this possibility didn’t set very well with him. His mouth was drawn in a thin line, and his eyes rather hard.
“You don’t have to worry about that, Severus. You meet my current physical needs, if not my emotional ones. Having Harry back will give me that. He loves me,” she said softly, her eyes growing a bit distant. “And I love him.”
Severus felt a pulse of jealousy and for a moment was tempted to tell the witch all that she whispered to him last night as he impaled her with his cock. How would she deal with that knowledge? It was clear she had no recollection of her words, but a quick look into his mind would remedy that. He shifted in his chair slightly, trying to decide if he would tell Hermione or not.
Dobby walked in.
“I is going to fix lunch now. No more eating after that. Ritual,” the elf said. Eli walked in behind him, scowling.
“Tonight I will leads the elves in the chanting. Is my Master we is protecting,” he declared.
Dobby frowned at Eli.
“No…is MY master that is being protected!” he argued, “I shall leads the chanting.”
Both elves began to hiss at each other, claws crooking and sharp pointed teeth showing as they snarled and began to circle each other.
“Severus, do something before they hurt each other,” Hermione said to the Potions Master.
“Eli, stop it,” the Potions Master said, “You will be in charge of preparing the ritual area. The sand needs to be smoothed and cleaned of any foreign objects, torches set up for light to see by and wards put in place so no one inadvertently disturbs us. You will also hold the wands while Hermione draws the protective circles and protect her when the ritual starts. That is your work for this evening.”
Eli bowed.
“Yes, Master. I will go and start preparing the beach now,” the elf said, giving Dobby a smirk. He had more work to do than the other elf did and gloated. The happy Eli exited the kitchen, a frustrated Dobby looking after him.
“Will be glad when that one goes home,” the elf muttered, walking to the cooler and taking out some sliced meat and making Hermione and Severus two rather dry, thin ham sandwiches and giving each a glass of pumpkin juice.
“Must check on the Master,” he said, exiting the kitchen.
Severus and Hermione looked down at their plates.
“Maybe we need to eat less for the ritual,” she said, lifting the bread and looking at the two thin slices of meat. There were no condiments. Just bread and meat.
Severus nodded.
“Perhaps I should have assigned Eli’s work after Dobby made our food,” the Potions Master said, sure that lunch would have been much better had he done so. He bit into the dry sandwich and chewed. Food was food. He’d had worse.
Hermione ate her sandwich half-heartedly. She liked lettuce, tomato, cheese, pickles and mustard on her ham sandwiches. Dobby was punishing them, she was sure. House elves were subservient, but obviously they could show their displeasure in ways that wouldn’t get them in trouble or ruin their service. He had fixed them lunch like he said he would. He didn’t say it would be a good lunch.
Severus finished his food, washing it down with the rest of the pumpkin juice and watched Hermione as she finished her food, his dark eyes unreadable. When the witch put down her empty juice glass, the wizard said, “I believe we should get some rest before tonight.”
Hermione thought this a good idea so she could be fresh and sharp.
“Sounds good,” she said rising from the table, “I’ll see you later on.”
She went to walk by the Potions Master, who caught her by the arm, his eyes glittering
“Where do you think you’re going, witch?” Severus asked her, rising.
“To my room,” Hermione replied.
“You have no room here,” the wizard replied, beginning to lead her down the hall to his guestroom. “You will sleep with me.”
Hermione didn’t protest. She wouldn’t win. Severus would push her into his bedroom anyway so she might as well cooperate.
Severus brought her into the room, plucked her wand out of her shorts pocket, then warded the bedroom door securely. He then began to unbutton his robes, looking at her.
“Undress. Down to your bra and knickers,” he said, slipping off his robes and working on his shirt.
Bra and knickers? Obviously the wizard didn’t intend to have sex with her. That was good because she would be terribly tired afterward.
Hermione removed her sandals and undressed as Severus pulled off his shirt and undid his trousers. He then sat on the bed and removed his boots and socks, tucking the socks inside the boots and sliding them under the bed. He then stood up and removed his trousers, stepping out of them. His silk boxers were only slightly tented as he looked at the witch in her white bra and knickers. His eyes swept over Hermione and there was a noticeable pulse under his shorts.
“Get in the bed,” he said, watching the witch climb in and slide under the white sheets. He joined her, pulling the sheets over his long pale body and sticking her wand under his pillow.
“Come here,” he said, lying down facing her.
Hermione moved closer and Severus forced her to turn over so her back was facing him and pulled her tight against his body, wrapping his arms around her, pressing his erection into her buttocks.
“I’d fuck you but we both need to be in top form tonight,” he said, sliding one hand over her belly slowly, caressing it. Hermione caught her breath. “And I imagine if we are successful, you will be spending a bit of time with the wizard bringing him up to date on what has occurred over the years. Understandable. But I will not be neglected, Hermione. And you still have work to do under our agreement. I don’t want you slacking because Mr. Potter is back. Do you understand me? I don’t want to have to come and retrieve you, witch.”
Hermione realized she was going to have to tell Harry that Ron was dead.
“He doesn’t know about Ron,” she said in a small voice. “I’m going to have to tell him.”
Severus was silent for a moment.
“Yes you will. It is best to tell him quickly with all the details,” the wizard replied. Severus had a lot of experience being the bearer of bad news. It was best to be direct and thorough so as not to have the person asking all manner of questions, making the bad new worse. He felt Hermione shaking slightly.
She was crying.
“Blast woman. Ronald Weasley has been dead over eight years now. Why in the world are you sobbing?” he asked her, his nose wrinkled in irritation.
“Because most likely to Harry, his death will seem like it just happened. I just find that so sad,” the witch sniffed.
“The world is full of sadness, Hermione. Harry has dealt with loss his entire life. He will deal with this too,” the wizard said by way of comfort. He felt Hermione cover his hand with her own and squeeze it gratefully.
She said nothing else as they lay there.
Severus didn’t know why he was holding her like this. Presumably so she wouldn’t sneak out. She was soft and warm and felt good pressed against his body. He rubbed his cock against her possessively and felt the witch shudder.
Yes, she felt him.
The wizard closed his eyes and pulled Hermione against him tighter.
If something happened to him tonight, at least his last good memory would be having a relatively willing witch in his arms.
He wouldn’t have spent his last hours alone.
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Nightfall came quickly, and the couple woke up and prepared for the coming ritual. Hermione went to her room and showered, then donned a white robe, wearing nothing beneath it. She kept this little detail from Severus, not knowing if he would be able to resist taking a bit of advantage of her nudity. She didn’t think the wizard beyond going for a quickie. Eli appeared in her doorway just as she brushed out her curls.
“I is here,” Eli said, gathering up both the long willow and ironwood wands. “The beach is prepared, and Master Potter has been puts to sleep by Dobby. They is ready to follow you out, Miss. And the Master is ready also.”
“Thank you, Eli,” Hermione said looking at herself in the mirror. She took a deep breath, turned and walked from the room. Severus was standing on the porch, barefoot, in his white shirt and trousers, his hair pulled back in a ponytail. He held his Strad and bow in the crook of his arm, looking at the lighted beach.
He turned to look at Hermione as she exited in her pristine white robes. His mouth quirked.
“Now don’t you look ready for defilement?” he purred at her.
“Stop it. This is a serious matter Severus,” she snapped at him. His eyes went cold.
“Don’t you think I realize that witch?” he said sharply. “I’m going to be inside that circle.”
Hermione didn’t say anything but moved aside as the house elves exited the house, Harry levitated between them as they walked two abreast, two behind with Dobby bringing up the rear. They seemed to be chanting under their breaths.
“They is ready Miss,” Eli said to Hermione, who nodded and walked down the stairs, followed by Eli, Severus and the elves. The strange procession walked toward the shore. Eli had set up several torches that spread a red glow over the area. The atmosphere was heavy as if pregnant with expectancy.
Everyone watched as Hermione carefully drew the pentacle in the sand with the long willow wand, saying a quiet invocation under her breath as she drew the circle around it, making sure the tips of the star connected with it. She made it large enough so that Harry could rest inside it with his limbs spread. She then drew the Soul Circle, then switched wands and drew the Harper’s circle, carefully dividing it into twelve equal sections. She stepped back to look at her handiwork. Yes, it was a good job.
A greater heaviness seemed to fall on the space, and the elves’ chanting grew a bit louder.
“Place him inside the pentacle,” Hermione said, “Be careful not to step on any of the lines”
The elves carefully maneuvered Harry’s body over the pentacle, extending his arms and legs in mid-air, then lowered him gently to the ground. Then they exited the circle, surrounding it, heads bowed and still chanting.
Suddenly a blue light flared up around Harry in the shape of the star and faded away.
“Makes your circle quick!” Eli hissed, looking about worriedly. “Master, takes your place! Quickly.
Hermione quickly drew a protective circle with the ironwood wand and stepped into it, as Severus took his place above the head of Harry. Eli stood in front of Hermione and began to chant as the air was suddenly filled with black shadowy shapes that whipped about frantically. Hermione was reminded of a school of fish in a feeding frenzy. The black things were tadpole shaped and began to attack both Severus and Hermione, crashing against the invisible barriers that protected them.
Hermione could see they had skull-like faces and wore hungry, lustful expressions as they pounded against the barriers. These must be the creatures that sought entrance into the physical world. They were horrible.
The elves began to chant louder and the things writhed about as if in pain, but still kept trying to get at the witch and wizard.
“Play Master! Play!” Eli cried out suddenly. “We can’t holds them off too long!”
Severus started. He had been staring at the attacking spirits as if mesmerized.
He brought the bow to string. The moment it touched the instrument, a powerful golden light flared up around the Professor and telescoped around the outer circle, lighting each space, almost blinding Hermione with its intensity. The shadows around them fled a distance away but continued darting and whipping about almost angrily.
The light faded and Hermione’s jaw dropped.
“Oh my gods,” she breathed, unable to believe her eyes.
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A/N: All right…we’re in there now! Please review!