Chapters 101-110

Hold Me in Peace

The darkness was not as frightening as before. Now Hermione knew what to expect. But the river was closer this time, its rushing voice strangely spellbinding. Alina’s grip tightened painfully on her hand as they wandered the banks of the River of Death.

oooOooo

‘Severus. I’m here. You’re free. Please open your eyes. We’ve brought you home. You’re at Hogwarts now. We’ve got a ministerial pardon. You’re free. Please wake up. Severus? Do you hear me?’

oooOooo

Far away he heard her voice. He remembered when he’d heard it first. Just a little while ago, it seemed. It had been higher then, a child’s voice, raised in an eager question. Distantly he marvelled at the miracle of time that had taken away the foolhardy, nosy, annoying child and left a woman in its place, a courageous, intelligent, annoying woman.

You’re free.

But there was her hand on his and he could feel her frantic pulse. And at her side, he sensed the presence of another Necromancer—the girl, Alina. So young, so horribly young. Already so strong. With no one to teach her. Damn that coward Quirrell.

Free.

Weariness flowed over him, threatened to tow him under. Deep darkness beckoned beyond the cold, swift currents of the river. Velvet skies and blazing stars. Soothing silence.

Free.

Lips pressed down on his mouth. Soft and hot. Gentle and demanding. Fire raced through his veins. His heart thumped in his chest. An awkward, one-armed embrace tethered him to existence. Salty tears that dripped onto his neck reminded him of his thirst. A thirst that no river could slake, least of all the one he lay next to.

He opened his eyes. She was lovely even in this shadowy realm. She was his.

‘Hermione.’

oooOooo

The noise of the river faded. Mists enveloped her. She felt incredibly light. She could have floated away.

Insistent hands kept tugging at her. Annoyed, Hermione opened her eyes. Alina was pulling at her arm as if she was trying to wrench it from its socket.

‘I’m…’ She shook her head and blinked lids heavy as lead. Her voice sounded blurred as if she’d had too much to drink. ‘I’m awake, Alina. Stop that.’

She managed to prop herself up on her elbows. Suddenly someone was at her side and helped her sit up. Healer Mugwort.

‘Looks like we’re all back,’ Hermione rasped and shivered. Her clothes were damp and her skin cold, as if she’d taken a walk through the foggy hills around Hogwarts.

Mugwort raised an eyebrow. ‘So I see. Drink this.’

The healer put a vial to Hermione’s lips. Hermione swallowed obediently. It was Pepper-Up, the bite unmistakable and not entirely unpleasant. Heat flowed through Hermione’s body and cleared the cobwebs from her mind. She sat up and swung her legs over the edge of her bed. Alina crawled across the bed to sit next to her like a small black-and-white kitten.

‘I’m okay, Alina,’ Hermione said softly and reached for the child. ‘And—Professor Snape will be all right, too. Thanks to you.’

She drew the girl against her. Hermione could feel how Alina was shaking. She bit down on her lip, torn between the need to rush to Severus’ side and to comfort the girl who had saved him—hopefully.

‘Alina, Hermione has to go and see to Professor Snape now,’ Mugwort said calmly. ‘And I need to take a good look at you and make sure that you’re all right after this little adventure.’

oooOooo

Hesitantly, Hermione opened the door. Poppy Pomfrey was bent over the still form of the Potions master. With her left hand she was taking his pulse, while performing a diagnostic spell with her right. When she noticed Hermione hesitating on the threshold, she nodded towards her.

Hermione inched into the room, chewing nervously on her lower lip.

At long last Poppy straightened up. ‘He is asleep now. Normal, ordinary, healthy sleep. His condition is stable and his physical injuries should heal within a few days without lasting consequences. As for the rest…’ She cast a pitying look at the still form of the black-haired man. ‘Let him sleep and heal. Be with him. Stay calm.’

Hope for the best. Be prepared for the worst.

But the Hogwarts matron did not say that. She just smiled encouragingly at Hermione and briefly squeezed her arm, as she brushed passed Hermione on her way to the door.

oooOooo

He looked alien among the warm earth colours that dominated his bedroom, all stark contrast of blacks and whites. Black hair, fading black bruises, black pyjamas. White linen, sallow skin. Severus lay on his back, perfectly still, his lank hair spread out on the pillow. His breaths were shallow, but unforced and comforting in their regular rhythm.

For a long moment Hermione simply watched her husband breathing.

You’re back, she thought. You’re free. You’re safe. And oh God, how much I love you.

She took a deep, relieved breath. But the inhalation turned into a face-splitting yawn. The excitement of the last weeks changed into exhaustion and came to rest on her shoulders with a heavy weight.

Still yawning, Hermione crept around the bed. She extracted her nightshirt from underneath her pillow and unfolded it. Today the objects that lay inside made her smile. She circled the bed once more and carefully laid Severus’ wands on his bedside-table within easy reach.

With another yawn, Hermione put on her nightshirt. She crawled under the covers. The linen felt good on her skin, clean and crisp. She slid towards Severus. Although his perfume had faded from his skin, she could still smell the base notes of the fragrance she’d come to associate with him. Spicy, earthy. Complex. Hermione felt a slow smile curl up the corners of her mouth. Complex indeed. As she listened to the soothing sound of his breathing, a deep sense of peace settled on her. She snuggled closer and put her arms around her husband, to hold him while he slept and healed.