The Serpent and the Lioness

Chapter 29

Hermione pulled her hand from his gently cupping his cheek. She wanted to ask him something that was weighing on her heart but she could tell it wasn't the right time. Instead, she decided to give him something to do that he was very good at and she had come to appreciate.

"Severus...I don't think I can make it to the bath. I think you'll have to carry me, and undress me and wash me." She was lying through and through and the grin on her lips gave her completely away. She watched him visibly relax before he narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"I'm going to get very wet arent I?"

"Most definitely." She grinned wider and pulled back putting her arms up like an ardent child.

He gave her a look, a very familiar scowl with a raised brow before he sighed heavily through his nose and leaned down picking her up under her arms. She giggled into his ear and wrapped her arms and legs around him.

"My hero."

"Completely insufferable."

She let out another giggle this time against his neck and he felt her raise her hips trying to press into him, in what he was sure was an attempt to tease him. Unfortunately for her, she was just a bit too high and only preceded in pressing the buckle of his belt into her overly sensitive nether regions.

"I wouldn't do that." He cautioned but her gasp and nearly imperceivable moan seemed to have taught her the lesson. He kept his forearm beneath her, using his other hand to summon a small stool from the far corner of the room. The bath was halfway full now and would surely finish by the time she allowed him to remove her clothes.

"Sit down."

"Don't want to." She held him tighter hiding her blush against his neck. Now she really was acting like a child. She didn't want to let go, she felt so connected, so grounded. It was like a part of her was calling out and she was desperately trying to bring it closer, she knew it was important, so important. When she tried to ask him, share what she was feeling she found with dismay he had shut her out again.

"Why are you shutting me out?"

"I need to focus. " He sat himself on the stool and pulled his head back to look at her. "Why are behaving like a toddler?"

"I don't want to let go. You feel warm," Her brow furrowed, that wasn't what she wanted to say. But how else could she describe it?

"What do you mean?"

"I just, when I'm not touching you, or close to you I just feel... Not cold exactly... empty maybe?" It was hard for her to find the right words.

"How long have you felt this way?"

"Since I woke up, at Harry's house...I mean...I guess I have... I didn't know what I was missing at the time...but I just knew something was missing. Something... wasn't right..."

Severus frowned deeply, what could he say? How could he deny her? With a deep sigh, he ran his hands up under her arms trying to gently pull her away so that she could see him.

"It's the soulbond..." He tilted his head to try and see her head that she still refused to lift. "It's calling us together..."