The Serpent and the Lioness

Chapter 30

"P-lease, yo-u do-n't have to do this. Please!"

"I'll make it quick."

"Please! I'll g-ive you any-thing, anything!"

Chains rattled as they grew tight.

"Hold still... they can't see..."

"They're going to k-ill me aren't they?" A deep female sob.

"Yes..."

"Please, don't do this..."

" I don't want to."

" Then why?"

" I have no choice."

"There's always a choice."

Hermione reached for him as the memory was slammed back inside its door. She could feel various locks heavily falling into place before the wall tried to rise again.

"Severus." A gentle whisper against his ear.

He could feel her pressing against him, her hands gentle, soft, trying to soothe away his pain. He tilted his head just enough to hide his face into her shoulder. His arms wrapping themselves completely around as he clung to her presence. Her smell, her taste, her everything. He was there with her, safe.

"No one is ever going to harm you again."

Her voice was resolute and he truly feared for the next person to try and do him harm.

"That includes yourself." Her voice was gentler but her meaning held true.

Hermione looked to the heavens as a tear rolled down her cheek. She would protect this man until her very last breath. She would fight the world just to keep him in her arms.

With a soft sniffle and a small adjustment, Hermione took his face into her hands. She waited for his eyes to open before offering him a kiss. A simple kiss, that held all the power she held inside. When his lips finally met hers the world exploded into a brilliance of silver and gold. Their hearts called out to the other like never before. The lights grew bright behind their closed eyes as she pressed herself even closer.

She would protect him, and he would stand beside her. Until the very end.

"I love you."

A bright smile glowed beneath the lights that rose around them. Hermione had never heard those words spoken in such truth. Her heart was racing beyond the horizon and she knew of only one thing. He was, for all time to come, finally and completely hers.

"I love you, too."

The lights shimmered and grew even stronger, and they couldn't have cared less. The world was trembling around them but they didn't take a single notice.

They followed each other back to the center of the bed. Hermione pulled herself from his lips with a small whine but quickly occupied herself with other endeavors. His hands had already removed her final layer and were doing a very good job of distracting her from her goal. When his finger pressed inside she went still and let out a low moan, he didn't go far but it was a rather nice preview of what was to come.