Ghostly Curse

Ch 9

Ch 9 - Reflection and Discovery

Severus sat before the fireplace, sipping his fire-whisky slowly. Ginny had long since retired, leaving him alone with his thoughts. Staring at the amber-colored liquid he considered the choices he had made.

In his bedroom, tucked away in his huge bed was his beloved wife. He did love her. She had grown on him during the war until he found himself unable to consider what life might be like without her. He knew that she had loved Harry. He had never considered that she could ever find him appealing. He and Harry had never been able to like each other. Even when they knew they were truly both on the same side. Even after Harry knew that Albus had told him to take his life, he had been unwilling to believe that he could be trusted. Not that Severus blamed him. He had not always been a trustworthy person. No one knew that better than he.

When he had married Hermione, he did have two motives. One had been to be closer to Ginevra, and the other had been to have a suitable companion in Hermione. Ginny heated his passion and fired his blood. Hermione stimulated his mind. If there was a way to combine the two women, they would have made the ideal for any man.

He had not been in love with Hermione, but that did not mean he did not care about her. He had never meant to hurt her. But with Ginny he had seen his chance at true happiness. He was truly happy with the choices he had made. He wouldn’t change anything.

Why then was he tormented by the idea of another man touching his ex-wife? It bothered him to no end. Hermione wasn’t supposed to have moved on so easily. She was supposed to pine after him. He had expected that she would have missed him. Perhaps even enough to desire his company in a romantic sense while his wife was huge with child.

Ginny had become very hesitant to accept his advances as her pregnancy advanced. Even with her mother’s assurances that there was no danger, she had wanted Severus to make love to her as if he was handling a breakable piece of china.

Disgusted, Severus blew out a sigh. He had never thought that she would become so tender during her pregnancy. The truth was, he had not been able to find release with her from the very onset of her term. He had been reduced to sneaking off during the night to visit the nearest Witchery Brothel.

He had hoped that with Hermione’s return that she would be open to spending a little quality time with him. Granted, she wasn’t his first choice. But he knew that he had once been able to satisfy himself as well as her in bed. She had been a bit of a surprise, after all. He had never considered that she might actually be such a vixen in bed. He smirked, I doubt Hermione would be such a touch me not during her pregnancy.

Feeling a stirring in his loins at the thought, He stood quickly and gathered his cloak. After placing a sleeping charm on his wife, he left their home and Apparated away to the Brothel. He had every intention of asking for Rose. She was his favorite there, because her own tastes ran in similar directions to his. He wouldn’t have to hold back with her. Perhaps he could get her to glamour herself up to resemble the little know-it-all bitch that was the cause of his discomfort tonight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Lucius sat beside Hermione as she slept and watched her intently. He had fought so hard to keep from showing himself to Severus immediately at the moment that Hermione had called his love-bite nothing. But his pride and jealous nature had fought for control to the point that he considered castrating his one time friend.

He had noticed Severus’ preoccupation over Hermione’s possible love interest. He wondered if he was imagining it, or perhaps the old bat was feeling the pains of jealousy. A faint smile came to his lips at the thought. “Too bad, chum.” he whispered faintly as he brushed a stray curl from the sleeping witches cheek. “I found what you’ve lost, and I daresay you can’t have her back!”