True Love Ways

7 New Awakenings

They woke up the next morning, still wrapped around each other and long before the eventual rise of an uninspiring and weak sun. Their lovemaking was breathtakingly emotional. Hermione's orgasm had reduced her to tears. She sobbed into Severus' chest - the years of sexual pent up frustration and disappointment washed away in one night. As a lover, thought Hermione, he was the absolute best.

They left the guest quarters at 6.30am, just as some staff and children were making their way to breakfast. They wanted to catch the earliest train possible back to Calais. On route to Madame Malaide's study a voice shouted to them stopping Hermione in her tracks. "'Ermione? Ermione!!" She Recognised the voice immediately and with a sigh turned to face her ex-husband.

"Charles" she responded to his call rather flatly and didn't automatically offer her cheeks to be kissed, as was the French custom. "Why are you here?"

Charles grinned his devilishly handsome smile. "I'm teaching now. 'Ere. At Beaux Batons. I 'eard you were teaching at 'Ogwarts and I thought 'why not'? And 'ere I am". He took her hands before Hermione had the chance to react. "I missed you ma cherie" he drawled, kissing her hands "Did you miss your Charlie?" Hermione quickly withdrew her hands. Severus who had stood a few feet behind the witch made a step forward and joined Hermione close to her side. Charles looks a bit put out.

"Severus" she said "This is my Ex-Husband Charles De Loite." Both men eyed each other with suspicion. "Charles this is my...my..." she wasn't sure how to address Severus. What was he? Her boyfriend? Lover? Friend?

"Partner" stepped in Severus. He didn't offer a hand but slipped his arm around his witch. It was a small gesture but certainly not unnoticed by Charles who by now was looking rather petulant.

"No Charles" replied Hermione tartly, shaking her head and finding strength in Severus' touch "I haven't missed you one iota!" With that, she took Severus' hand and they continued walking up the dimly lit corridor. Hermione grinned to herself.

Sometime still before sun up the two bid a farewell and thanked Madame Malaide and returned, with their precious cargo, to Hogwarts. Minerva welcomed them - her face looked troubled and she related that eight more confirmed cases were now being treated by a very overworked Madame Pomfrey and Luna. They immediately went to work making up another batch of the compound. Minerva said nothing as she watched the two working together with a new closeness that certainly didn't go unnoticed. A part of her hoped that they could build on a relationship she knew Severus so desperately wanted; and Hermione Granger - the Insufferable Know It All as he used to refer to her - would be so good for him. She smiled wistfully.

Within two more days the Compound was all ready in phials and had been administered to all of the remaining thirty two students and three staff that had by now contracted the disease. Seven were still incredibly poorly but all were said to be expected to make a full recovery.

Back in Severus' potions laboratory both he and Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. No more cases had been reported within the last couple of days and it looked like they were over the worst. Lessons had still been suspended until the end of the week as quarantine hadn't yet been lifted. Hermione was cleaning the last few cauldrons when Severus came up behind her put his arms around her waist and drew her back to him. He kissed the top of her head and nuzzled his face into her hair. "You smell of Laverish and Daisy Dew" he growled quietly at her "I like it...." She smiled and turned herself in his arms so she was facing him.

"As do you!" She replied tartly, with a grin on her face. He brought his head down to thoroughly kiss her. At this kiss he could've melted; she did something to him that no one ever had. He was slowly beginning to realise that his first love, Lily Evans, was definitely no more than a boyhood infatuation. This was love. The feeling hit him there and then like an express train. He LOVED her!! He LOVED Hermione Granger, with every fibre of his body. He wrapped his arms as tightly round her as he could and held her like he would never ever let her go. When Hermione looked up she was surprised to as his eyes were misted with tears. "Sev?" She enquired gently at his tears. "Whatever's wrong?"

"Nothing" he replied huskily and kissed her again. He released her and turned to complete the last bits of tidying. Hermione looked at his back as he worked. Her feelings for him were growing day by day. Seeing Charles the other day brought home the fact that their marriage had been a sham, based on nothing more than lust and a mutual admiration for expensive French wine. Yes she had mourned the breakdown of her marriage but only because she hated failure in any part of her life. Looking back she should never have married Charles. She should never have left Hogwarts; she'd wanted Severus way back then but part of her had known they both needed to heal if they were to have any chance. Were they healed enough now? She smiled to herself; she loved this grouchy, grumpy, moody, sexy, intelligent, loving individual who stood before her. She LOVED him. She LOVED SEVERUS SNAPE!

Shining from the glow of their new found love, Severus suggested a walk around the Black Lake. It was late October and Jack O'Lanterns hung from the trees surrounding the water. The two lovers walked hand in hand. It was cold but they relished the privacy and solitude. They walked in silence for some way. The moon's glow shone over the lake like silver tinsel. Stopping to throw a 'good luck' coin into the Faeries Favour over a small bridge on the far side, Hermione stopped abruptly. "We have to make a wish!" She almost shouted at a startled Severus.

"Why?" He asked, with good humour, raising an eyebrow

"It's tradition" she responded putting her arms around his waist.

"Ok" he nodded "What shall we wish for?" Hermione shook her head.

"You have to have your own wish" she tutted. "We can't share wishes".

"Oh" he said "ok then". He somewhat dramatically closed his eyes and started "I, Severus Tobias Sna..."

"Noooooo!" Shouted Hermione, laughing with a feigned tone of exasperation "You can't TELL me what you wish for else it definitely won't come true!" Severus sighed.

"Ok" he said again "but these Muggle customs will never make much sense." He shut his eyes and thought for a minute "Done".

"You've made a wish?"

"Yes"

"And it's a good wish?"

"It is"

"Well. Good. My turn". Hermione screwed up her eyes tight. She smiled. After a moment she looked up at him and kissed his mouth. "Done" and kissed him again. They wandered back to the castle arm in arm.

.o0O0o.

Slowly the school term got back to its normal routine and Hermione proved to be an excellent Transfiguration Professor. Over time more and more of her belongings found their way into Severus' chambers and they spent most nights together. To start with their relationship was a great bit of gossip but within a few weeks nobody gave them a second glance and accepted them for what they were.

Soon the excitement of Christmas and the Yule Ball was getting to fever pitch. Hogwarts looked magnificent, decked out in it's full Christmas finery, The Great Hall had once again transformed into a Winter Wonderland. A week before Christmas Minerva McGonagall called all staff into her office to tell them of her Christmas plans.

"Come on in" she ushered people along. She smiled up at her staff before her. "Great news!" She exclaimed clapping her hands together "Due to the help that The Beaux Batons Academy gave us in our earlier Troll Pox situation, I have decided to extend the hand of friendship to Madame Malaide, her staff and pupils to join us here at Hogwarts over the Yule Period. I have just received an owl stating that they are most graciously accepting our invitation."

After the meeting finished Hermione was called back by Minerva. "It would appear your ex husband has decided to accept the invitation and will be here for the festivities." Said the elderly witch, peering intently at her young Professor "When I invited them here I had completely forgotten that he was a member of staff. I'm so sorry Hermione".

Hermione smiled, she realised Minerva was in an awkward position. "It's fine" she replied, "I'm sure we can be civil". Minerva hoped that was true - the last thing she wanted for them to be openly hostile and mar the festive atmosphere.

"Can you have a word with Severus?" Minerva continued, with a hint of mischief in her eyes "we don't want duels at dawn or hexing around the dining table - you know what he's like". She raised eyes skywards. Hermione grinned.

"Of course Professor" she retorted tartly " but I can't guarantee it - you know what he's like..."