Chapter 56: Unbreakable Bonds

The Grounds, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World....

Hermione had been anxiously awaiting the end of her last class. Snape's final class had ended early this afternoon when he had been called to help Pomona and Neville with a mandrake shipment. While the two of them had experience handling the deadly things, Severus Snape had been a potions master and knew a few tricks to go through the shipment quickly without anyone being harmed in the process. Of course Hermione could have just told them that Snape simply cast a silencing charm on the creatures before he handled them. She had noticed he did this while watching him interact with them when he was Sebastian Prince.

The stubborn Slytherin had not seen why Professor Sprout had been making such a fuss about how to handle them and simply whipped out his wand and cast a silencing charm on the little buggers. If a teacher complained about him using his wand during class without instruction he would simply apply his wandless magic.

The bushy haired witch had been practically pacing as she further made up her mind about where this thing with her and Severus was going. He had given her a warning about what she could expect should she continue with pursuing him. She had not been deterred in the least by his words nor his tone. She made up her mind and all she needed to do was speak to Severus. Given the many things he had been called upon to handle at once, that was easier said than done.

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Later...

Severus Snape had been in a foul mood as he made his way from the greenhouse passing through the corridors. He had not seen Hermione all day which did little to improve his recent crankiness. The Potions Professor stalked to his quarters an angry billow of black robes trailing behind him as he made his way toward his front door. He had only place his hand on the iron handle when he heard the sound of small feet beating against the cold stone floor behind him. He had no doubt in his mind that they had been the foot steps of a 1st year Slytherin. The dungeons were off limits to others especially this late in the day. Snape turned around to see Austin Embers trying hard not to cry and he was sporting a brand new shiner over his right eye. Snape whirled around and kneeled to get a good look at the young man's face.

"Who did this to you?" asked Snape trying hard to suppress the surge of rage that threatened to take control.

Austin looked down at his feet fiddling with his robes.

Snape looked around the empty corridors. He opened the door and motioned for Austin to join him. The young Slytherin followed Snape into the entrance of his quarters.

"Mr. Embers." said Snape. "I want to know who is responsible for the state you find yourself in."

Austin fiddled with his robes.

"Austin." said Snape addressing the young Slytherin by his first name.

Austin looked his Head of House in the eyes.

"M-My Uncle came back sir." he said. "H-He wanted money...he...he said that I should have lots of money...because I'm a freak that can do magic."

His words stung Snape as he looked at the sorrowful boy.

The Potions Professor opened his mouth and whispered a word that Austin had no concept of.

"legilimens."

{ Rapid flashes rushed by as Snape sifted through the mind of the eleven year old Slytherin. Different stages of abuse had been evident through out the small boys life. He saw the boy's uncle hit him as if he were a dog just because he had a bad day, or he missed a meal. The little red haired Slytherin would spend countless hours huddled with his knees pressed against his chest hoping that one day someone would save him from the chaos that surrounded him.

Having his fill of childhood flashbacks that paralleled his own miserable existence Snape sifted further. He saw the man pack a suit case as he watched a happy Austin cling to his Hogwarts paper. The man told him how he was glad to be rid of him and that he would become someone else's problem.

Snape registered the relinquishing of blood rights in this memory but the boy had not understood. The Potions Professor continued to sift through the memories until he came across some that contained himself. There was the first meeting in the dungeons where he introduced himself to the new Slytherins and explained his expectations. The boy seemed to contain a great deal of admiration for him. He quickly went through the speech in 1st year potions...and the diner at Malfoy Manor...he saw that the boy took their discussion to heart and he had a genuine fear of disappointing him.

More sifting lead Snape to the event that he had been waiting for. He saw the boy's uncle speak to him in the exact manner that Tobias once spoke to him in and he watched as the boy's uncle struck him for failing to be his meal ticket. Seeing enough Snape pulled out of the boy's memories.}

Austin looked at Snape confused.

"Professor?" said the boy.

The expression on The Potions Master's face had been blank as the memory of Tobias Snape reared it's ugly head. Snape buried it with all the other unwanted memories and turned his attention back to the boy. He would be damned indeed if he allowed this young Slytherin to suffer the same fate as he was allowed to suffer.

"Iura tutoris." said Snape with his obsidian eyes locking onto the dark brown eyes of the red haired Slytherin.

Austin found that he couldn't move it had been as if his entire body had been frozen in time. Snape found that he could not move either his body planted where it had been with his eyes locked on Austin's. Swirls of magical rings surrounded their individual bodies giving off a light blue hue. Snape felt his blood boil as he remained locked in place. He did not doubt that Austin had been feeling the same way.

After a few moments of intensity, Both Austin and Snape had been free. Snape looked at the boy who's dark brown eyes had taken on the obsidian hue of it's own.

"Your uncle will not be a problem anymore." said Snape in an expressionless tone.

Austin nodded oddly knowing what he meant.

"celeri sanare." said Snape waving his hand over the boy's face.

Almost immediately the ugly black and blue shiner his uncle had given him had vanished.

"Return to your common room." instructed Snape.

Austin smiled briefly at him.

"Yes sir." he said.

The young Slytherin ran back to his common room in good spirits.

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The Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts...

Hermione had been looking for Snape everywhere. When she found no sign of him she decided to check his quarters. The bushy haired witch entered the corridors in time to be treated to a very elated Austin Embers making his way down the halls. She was the boy come out of Snape's room and wondered what had occurred that been worth Snape bring a student here of all places.

"Hi Professor Granger." said Austin still pleased. "He's in his room if you're looking for him."

Hermione smiled and nodded.

"Thank you Austin." she said.

"You're welcome bye." he said happily.

Hermione shook her head. Trying to figure that boy out was like working with a muggle Rubik's cube. Much like someone else I know. She made her way toward the door and pushed passed it. His front room had been dark with the exception of the fire glowing from the fireplace. Steeling herself as she had so many times before, Hermione entered Snape's quarters.

Snape's Quarters, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts...

"Omnes qui sperant omissa ingredieris huc." said Snape in his rich baritone drawl from where he stood in the darkness.

Hermione had not been afraid as she stood in the center of the room watching as the orange, red, and yellow flames danced in the fireplace. The tail of the flames flickering could be seen reflected in her amber eyes.

"Hello, Severus." said Hermione.

"I presume you are bothering me for a reason." asked Snape in a lazy tone with an arched brow.

"Indeed." replied Hermione using one of his usual words against him. "But, I would hardly call my being here a bother."

"Really?" asked Snape seemingly intrigued by her manner. "Then just what would you call it?"

"You wanted me to make a choice." said Hermione confidently. "I am here to deliver my answer."

The scent of herbs and fresh earth flooded her senses and she took it in.

The feel of his presence behind her had only intensified the longing that was starting to build in her the moment she knew she was coming to his quarters.

"Speak." commanded Snape with his deep baritone voice seemingly like music in her ear.

"I want this." said Hermione suddenly finding her words. "I want you."

There was silence for a moment.

Hermione stood still taking in the heat radiating off his very near body and the scent of him.

"Are you sure?" he asked a hint of a warning in his tone.

"Yes." replied Hermione adamant. "I am well aware that you are not Sebastian, and I don't care...I want you...Severus...only you."

"There's no going back." warned Snape. "You belong to me witch."

Within seconds, Hermione felt her body being wrapped in the arms of The Potions Professor as he lifted her off her feet and carried her into his bedroom. He wandlessly cast a silencing charm over his quarters, it simply would not due for his Slytherins to believe that he was torturing the Charms Professor.

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Snape's bedroom, Slytherin Dungeons...

He put her down in front of the large four poster bed. His obsidian eyes gleamed as he looked upon the beautiful young witch before him as if she were a feast for a starving man. Hermione had felt just a little self-conscious with him staring at her so intently. No one ever looked at her twice as far as she had known not unless it was some creep trying to get into her knickers for one reason or another. Snape looking at her with such intensity made her feel different.

Like she had been the most beautiful woman in the world to him.

She found herself blushing and neither one of them had removed a stitch of clothing yet. Snape wondered how after everything they had done that she could still work up the humility to blush. He shook his head and reached up taking her clothes into his hands. He removed an article of clothing one by one until she stood before him completely naked. Hermione fought the urge to cover herself remembering how he had not liked it when she did just that while he was Sebastian.

Snape took his time taking in the sight of her newly exposed form. His eyes scanned the way her bushy hair fell along the line of her neck, her slender form seemed to beckon to him as he ran a long pale finger down the curve or her hips. He trailed it across her smooth stomach and heat flashed in his eyes as he ran it along the upper part of her thigh. Hermione let out a soft gasp as he trailed his hand back up gripping her exposed backside firmly. Hermione felt the familiar tingling of a contraceptive spell as it fluttered near her belly.

The Potions Professor brought his other hand up her chest squeezing her newly freed breasts inciting a low moan from the witch. He squeezed her once more before he pulled her naked body close to his as he stood crushing his pale lips into her soft pink ones in a heated exchange. Hermione let out another soft moan as the heat from their bodies began to counteract the chill that had lingered in the room.

Snape lifted Hermione off her feet and brought her to the bed. He lied her down slowly as they continued to exchange heated kisses. Hermione began to unbutton the man buttons on Snape's trademark frock coat. He leaned against the pillows as she continued to undo the numerous buttons. He watched her silently still taking in her naked form. When she had finished the last button she turned her attention to his boots. A small smile filed across his face as he watched her pull and tug on his boots causing her free and exposed breasts to bounce as a result of her efforts. She managed to get his boots off and tossed them onto the floor below. Snape raised up and let her take off his coat but leaned back as she unbuttoned the long sleeve white shirt that he had worn beneath it.

Hermione made short work of these buttons. Snape let her get him out of his shirt leaving his pale scarred torso exposed. The amber eyes of the witch held a flicker of sympathy and she found herself lightly tracing a few scars with her finger. Snape continued to watch her not saying a word even as the young witch began to softly kiss each scar she saw on his chest. He closed his eyes in reaction to the softness of her kisses.

She turned her attention to his trousers unbuttoning them while he continued to watch her without saying a word. He lifted his hips in an effort to assist her as she pulled them down his surprisingly muscular but equally pale legs. Snape had been down to a pair of black boxer shorts. Before Hermione could make short work of them he suddenly grabbed her wrist and flipped her on her back against the mattress.

Obsidian met amber as Snape stared down at the naked witch beneath him. He pressed his body hard against hers making the witch moan once more. The much anticipated skin on skin contact had taken their desire for each other to new heights. Snape kissed Hermione on the neck in that familiar spot finding it amusing all the sounds he could generate from her with what he did to her. she moaned when he kissed her, gasped when he bit her and whimpered when he ran his tongue along the flesh of her neck.

She started writhing beneath him like so many times before. Snape groaned when her free hand trailed along his thigh and across his erection. Fed up with his torturous teasing, Hermione squeezed him like before. He let out a guttural groan and batted her hand away. When she felt him bite at the spot on her neck she squeezed him again.

This time Snape pinned her wrists above her head as she bent her smooth and slender legs at the knee and wrapped them around his pale lean frame. He smirked down at her taking time to bit at one of her exposed breasts and ran his tongue along the other. Hermione moaned and clamped her legs down on him in a bid to get him to stop his teasing.

"Severus, please." she said in a near whine.

Snape smirked.

"Gryffindors." he said. "Always so eager."

While keeping her hands pinned above her head Snape worked his way out of his boxer shorts sliding them down his legs at first with his hand and then with assistance from the friction of their bodies. He had gotten them all the way down by the time she tightened her legs against him again. He took his free hand and parted her thighs just enough and slid his hand between them.

The heat from his touch made her buck against him. The Potions Master smirked.

"Loosen your grip witch." he said. "I'm going to need a lot more room for what I've got planned."

Hermione loosened her hold although it was reluctantly. The witch had barely let out a breath before she felt the sudden intrusion of him sliding inside her. She let out a loud gasp in reaction to him stretching her beyond belief. Snape groaned feeling her warmth surround him. It had been five long years since he had felt this familiar tight heat.

"Hermione." he said as if computing the sensations that were running though his body to memory.

The aforementioned witch looked at him through hooded eyes as she felt his length drilling into her with each thrust he gave in reaction to his need. Headboard beat against the wall in a steady rhythm with each thrust from The Potions Professor. As the pace began to pick-up Hermione found herself unable to register any logical thought feeling only his body and the heat that seemed to consume them.

"Severus." was all she managed as his pace picked-up.

It had been such a long time since Snape had been with a woman that his need began to take over causing his movements to gain power behind them. Hermione could only hold on as Snape began to pound into her mercilessly. She dug her nails into his pale back as if she had been holding on for dear life. He continued on unphased by the pain despite the red marks that were appearing on his pale flesh.

He didn't speak much other than the occasional guttural groan or feral growl. Hermione found that she like the edgy aspect of him. In contrast though she had been very vocal a series of moans ranging in different tones depending on how he thrust, instances where she was coherent enough to say his name, and a few vocalized pleas from her begging him not to stop.

Of course Snape had not needed any of these to spur him on. He continued to pound into the young witch losing himself in the sensation of her body. She gripped him tighter as he drove deeper and she yelled out louder. The black sheets became more and more rumpled on the bed as Snape continued to drive into the young witch, whom had as some would say foolishly, wandered into his clutches.

"Yessss." hissed Snape lost in ecstasy.

The images of Hermione when they had both been students flooded his mind. Her amber eyes flickered with excitement and relief whenever they were together. He recalled hearing her heartbeat one afternoon when they where in his secret room. He though it had been the sweetest music he had ever heard. She had never wanted to be away from him then. He had remembered feeling the same, with the both of them sneaking out of their respective areas to see each other.

Even when he didn't take her to bed he couldn't seem to get enough of her. He had to either be near her or tough her in some manner. He wondered briefly if that would happen all over again now that she was back in his life. If so then it wouldn't be a totally unwelcome side effect of having someone to love who loved him in return. He had spent so much time in one-sided relationships that it was a refreshing change when he discovered his dependency was reciprocated.

Hours passed with Snape and Hermione still going at it. It seemed like forever since it began and Hermione started to feel her legs go numb from them being wrapped around him so tightly for an extended period of time. Another half an hour had passed and Snape suddenly pinned Hermione down onto the mattress. His body tightened from his impending release. Hermione felt as if she were on the brink of an explosion herself as she looked up at him. Her breaths ragged and her hair a mess.

"Severus." she said lost in the sensations running through her body.

Snape let out another guttural groan feeling her body tighten around him.

"Hermione." he said in strained admiration.

She barely had time to exhale when she felt the rush of his release spill into her. In seconds her own followed leaving them both drained and breathing heavily. Snape's raven hair had been slick from sweat and stuck to his face in wild strands. Hermione's bushy hair had been stuck to the pillow. Her body had felt as if it had been on fire as she lay on her back gasping for air. Snape pulled away from her once the pulsing from their bodies subsided.

He crashed onto the bed laying on his stomach.

Both he and Hermione had been naked as the cool air from the dungeon washed over them providing much needed relief. With the last of his strength Snape waved his hand over Hermione knowing what to expect from the witch in a few hours.

"celeri sanare." he said.

In seconds he fell asleep. Hermione had not known what he had done but she immediately felt the soreness that he had caused with all of his uninhibited thrusting, fade and she shifted comfortably onto her side. She smiled taking in the sight of Severus' sleeping form.

She sighed holding out her hand over the edge of the bed.

"Accio wand." she said.

As soon as she finished the wand snapped into her out stretched fingers.

Hermione waved it over the bed as well as herself and a sleeping Severus Snape.

"Scourgify." she said letting the wand drop back down to the floor.

She leaned back against the plush black pillow behind her pulling the black cotton sheet up to her chest. She draped the sheet over Snape's waist as he slept and drifted off to sleep herself. It was official, she and Severus Snape were lovers once more and that was how she wanted it.

The contemplating witch continued to drift into a contented sleep with thoughts of Severus on her mind.

How could I not love him?