Crossing the Line

Epilogue

Snape's POV

Severus awoke to light streaming in across his eyelids. They fluttered open against his wishes and he groaned at the rude awakening. He could feel the warmth across his skin as it fought against the summer breeze. Though that wasn't his only source of heat.

He was currently staying in a B & B for a couple of weeks. The owners were an elderly couple who didn't seem to mind his presence nor did they force him to socialize or attempt to feed him. No one else seemed to be staying here at this time. Which worked out perfectly for him. It was a simple set of lodgings. But it was perfect for the time being. This place of residence was only temporary. Light and neutral tones spread out through the room. A large bed with a comfortable bedspread. Their own personal washroom was attached to the bedroom. There was a vanity, a wardrobe, and of course a table with two chairs.

It has been over three months since the final battle and his memories of Hermione from that night still haunted him.

The moments of that night passed in a blur once Hermione had woken up. He was not ashamed to admit that there were many tears shed. Hermione didn't wake with a gasp or by sitting upright. Her eyes fluttered open as if she was simply waking from a deep sleep. She was still sore but all of her injuries had been healed. They embraced and Severus caught her up to speed. They fell asleep that night in the infirmary too caught up in their emotions to think about the consequences. They awoke in the morning to find Madam Pomphrey smiling with watery eyes. She was so pleased not to have to deal with another death that she completely cruised over the fact that Hermione and he were sleeping together. Though in her line of work there probably wasn't much that surprised her anymore. They were just lucky that no one else had discovered them. Now was not the time to draw attention to their relationship status when everyone should be surprised and overjoyed over Hermione's miraculous incline in her health. But that was all in the past. Their future was just about to begin. They were leaving in the next week to begin their travels. And once they returned they were going to be looking for a more permanent place to reside.

Looking down, Severus found Hermione curled up against his side. Her nose was scrunched up from whatever thoughts consumed her sleep but other than that she was peaceful. She looked absolutely beautiful and that didn't just have to do with her being naked with her breast pressed up against his chest. No, it was the feeling of her heart pressed up against his. The feeling of her alive by his side. Her skin marked by scars was smooth along her back as his hand possessively held her close to him. Her curly hair tickled his bare skin but he couldn't complain since she was here in his arms. Though Hermione denies that there isn't even a mark left on her chest from the dagger. Severus could still see in his mind the place where the blade was embedded into her.

Though he was relieved beyond words could describe that she was alive and it had worked. It left him a bit unstable. More so than what he expected. He had to deal with not only the mental aspect of accepting the Dark Lord's final demise but also coming close to losing Hermione and having to stab her in the heart.

Severus always knew that people would get hurt in war. He couldn't remember all of the countless names and faces of people who died in this blasted war. And frankly, he didn't want to, It would be too much to bear for one's shoulders. Or that people got hurt in the name of love. It was tremendously worse when the two were combined. He knew once the war ended and the realization that the Dark Lord was truly gone that he would feel immense relief. But it was nothing compared to Hermione's revival. He felt an immediate relief when Hermione woke up. But with the Dark Lord, it was gradual and slow-paced.

The problem of surviving that no one ever talks about is how it stays with you for the rest of your life. He had been having difficulties settling into the now and here instead of focusing on the there and future. He always had to stay seven steps ahead and plan for every possible outcome. He never had a chance to take a breath and enjoy the present. This was how it started though. Going through memory lane and dancing with ghosts. It was a slippery slope into oblivion. Severus has been there once before when he tried to heal from the first war and he would be damned if he let himself go there again.