A/N: Thanks for those who have been reading. This is the last chapter.- Mayajane
Chapter six- The Link
He was running. Severus could feel his legs pumping and his hand was clasped into another's. Hers. What were they running from? He turned to look and saw black smoke coming after them. It was faster than them, they would be caught. He looked at her beautiful face and her rounded stomach and felt anger and regret. She saw his look and their running stopped. She kissed him softly and wrapped her arms around him as she had done countless times and she held on tight. Severus held her fiercely and couldn't contain his tears as the smoke consumed them and then they were ash.
His eyes sprung open his face wet. His stomach rolled and he looked over on the other side of his bed. It was empty though if he'd given in she would be here. She kept telling him she was his, he was allowed to have her but he just couldn't. Not yet. But when would there ever been a good time? They were running out of time. Last week the Dark lord called a meeting, furious. He knew his horcrux was taken and he probably knew how many were left. He been severely punished along with every other death eater there was. How did he manage to have the power to torture a dozen men? He body still hurt and that was another reason he kept denying her. If he ever did give in, he would make it magnificent for her.
He flipped back the covers and stretched his body sore. Almost instantly her voice drifted into his head.
I cant sleep. Are you awake?
He sent back that he was and he would be there soon. He still had classes in a few hours but he could go lay with her until then. Maybe she would fall asleep for once. Should he tell her about the dream? With their odds she probably had it too whenever she did sleep.
She was surrounded by books when he walked in. She smiled brilliantly at him before clearing a path for him. He accepted her embrace but never initiated it.
What are you thinking about?
She sent the words gently and he realized and still hadn't said anything.
You. He sent and he felt her smile into his chest. His heart swelled with happiness. Who would have thought she would make him so happy?
She leaned her head up searching for his lips and he brought them together. She was definitely a good kisser. More than good, she got his heart going with her kisses and that seemed all she wanted to was kiss him. Not that he was complaining. For once he really kissed back and his hands went around her waist. He felt her groan into his mouth and retracted his hands.
"Why do you always stop just when its getting good, Severus?" She whined but was serious. He frowned down at her sure she couldn't be serious, though her tone was.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Liar." She snapped and pushed him a little. He frowned harder and pushed her back, gently. Hermione full on shoved him obviously having thought of something that angered her. He showed his teeth and pulled out his wand. Were they going to do this now?
She surprised him but just launched herself at him, knocking his wand away. She landed a good shot to his ribs and then another on his jaw. He grunted with pain and used his long powerful legs to fling her off.
"What is your problem?" He demanded but she was swinging again and making more contact than he was proud of. His face would be black and purple in a few hours. He finally gave in and clocked her hard and she went down clutching her face but her eyes were angry. He held up his hands in surrender and expected her to drop it like always but she hurled herself at him and they fell onto the rubber ground that room of requirement supplied.
"Stupid man. I don't know why I put up with you. Many men would have me, why do I fight for any attention you give me!?" He suddenly realized what this was about and he lay flat on his back before rolling out from under her. She fell onto her hands and he grabbed his wand and put up a shield. He needed to think. How could he fix this? He couldn't keep ignoring it anymore.
"Hermione stop." He said seriously and she paused flexing her knuckles. Blood was smeared on them so he knew he must be bleeding. He dropped the shield and approached her. She was trembling and he felt so badly. She pushed him once he got close, but he persisted and tried again. She kept pushing him away until finally she snapped.
"Don't have to act like you want me now Severus." She growled and shoved harder. Severus got her hands expertly and brought her against his chest. She huffed and tried to escape but his strength held her.
"Who says I don't want you?"
She looked at him exasperatedly, "I can barely touch you without you pulling away."
"That has nothing to do-
"I think I know what it is. You cant do it can you? Problems with the plumbing Severus?"
He snarled at her and brought their mouths together in their most furious kiss. He shoved off his robes and ripped her shirt off. Clothes flew away and then they fell into bed together, moans escaping her lips. Once he was inside her she gasped and moved against him to encourage his movement. He set a brutal pace that she loved, really loved. His hands roamed her body as he'd been dying to do and he watched her face as she climaxed and he followed after her.
"Any questions now?" He said in her ear and she laughed.
"Only one. When can we go again?"
He suddenly realized she had planned the whole fucking thing but he couldn't be bothered to get angry. What had he been waiting for anyway? He gave in completely and pulled her glorious body against his so they could sleep for just a little.
Severus woke up to Hermione shaking him, "Hurry you're going to be late, Severus. Fuck look at your face."
He sat up and rubbed his jaw tenderly. "Did you have to hit so hard, Hermione?"
"Yes. I needed to get your attention. Besides I got what I wanted." She grinned cheekily and bent over exposing her nakedness. He groaned and looked away, hating to do so. He got dressed and saw she remained naked. His eyes raked over her body, studying it. She posed for him and picked up her clothes.
"You'll be late Severus. I don't know any glamour that can hide that."
"If only I was a Healer." He remarked tearing his eyes away once more. She got dressed and he used a cleaning charm on his clothes and body as a shower was out of the question.
"I'll see you once classes are out." She kissed him forcefully and he relented. Why couldn't he shake the feeling her shouldn't have her? She had been amazing, which he never doubted.
"Okay."
I love you.
He sent the words once he was out of the room and on his way to the dungeons. He passed student all of whom stared very obviously.
I love you too, Severus
He forced himself not to grin or smirk as people were watching him. He gave rude comments and passed out three detentions before classes were done. He was about to head down to the room when Hermione appeared with Albus.
"Dear, you really shouldn't hurt the ones you love." Albus said and she looked affronted.
"Look at my face; it's not as bad but still."
Severus snorted and then grimaced as his ribs protested. She probably broke one. Maybe two. When did she get so strong?
"I see. Well Severus, I take it you can find your way to Voldemort using the mark."
"Yes." He said carefully.
"You'll go and find him, then come back where Harry, Ron, Hermione, and myself will go to him. Harry is prepared as is everyone else. I believe Hermione said you would be the once to destroy Nagini."
"Yes. I have no doubts. Its times Severus. Let this be over." She came to stand right in front of him and took his hand.
"What do you say?"
"I cant ask you to stay can I?" He asked softly of her and she shook her head.
"We're in this together. We'll succeed."
"Okay, give me a moment to use the mark. Gather everyone."
"First we need to say goodbye to Albus, Molly and Tatianna. They wont exist after today because the future will have changed too much."
"I never thought of that." Severus said and let Hermione put the chain around his neck. The room spun for a while and then stopped.
"Hurry." She dragged him down the many stairs and burst into the room. She gave a horrified scream and Severus covered his mouth to keep from vomiting. The three of them were in pieces, scattered all over the large room. He saw Albus's head next to his foot and scooted away grasping Hermione shoulders.
"Think, who could have done this?" He shook her and she shook her head.
"Only Albus, Harry and Ron knew of them place and how to get here."
"Right you are, Hermione." Albus appeared having been cloaked. He was sitting among the pieces as if the smell didn't bother him a bit.
"You see I've been coming here for a long time now and no one even noticed me. It was so easy to over time get you to tell me how to do it. Then Harry filled in the rest."
"It's the room. Has to be the room." She mumbled and Severus pulled out his wand holding it tightly.
"Now here's what going to happen. Give me your time turner and you live out your days here in this room. It supplies everything you need. Or fight me and lose, yes you will lose. The dark lord must not be killed now, its not the right time."
"Says you." Hermione spat. Severus pushed her slowly behind him and turned on Albus, but every hex and disarming spell he could think of Albus blocked and had many to send. Hermione sighed and got to her knees and used her wand to draw on the concrete. Albus paused in his tracks and watched her. Severus disarmed him and caught his wand, snapping it in too. Albus looked as If he were having a heart attack.
"It was just a distraction. Yes I know the room has affected you and I'm sorry Albus. I can't fix it. Give me the time turner."
Severus didn't wait for him to do it, "Accio, time turner."
It flew into his hands and Hermione gave the room one last glance before they both left and sealed the door. He would stay there until he died.
She was crying the whole time as they climbed the stairs and she could hear Albus yelling incoherently. Severus took the chain and put it around his own neck and they spun back to their time.
He held her firmly as she cried and he was glad to knew Albus would rot in that room until he died. Maybe it was the room that had slowly warped his mind. What had he meant, not the right time? Severus pulled away from her and stretched out his arm. All he needed to do was touch in and he would get a glimpse of where he was.
"Let finish this."
Voldemort was at Malfoy Manor.
"I am set in their wards so we'll be able to pass right through. Lets get Ron and Harry, Hermione. We'll make this right."
"Tatianna had a family. A husband and a daughter."
Severus shut his eyes and let that sink in. He was truly sorry for what happened to them and he wouldn't let it happen to Hermione.
Hermione left him to go and find them and she returned only five minutes later with the both of them.
"Harry, are you ready?" Severus addressed him for the first time and Harry nodded stonily. Hermione rushed to hug him.
"If there was any other way…"
"There's not. Ron and I are ready but you've been crying…"
"I um. A friend of mine died today a few actually. I'll tell you about this after its done."
They huddled into a group to use a portkey. They whirled out of Hogwarts and landed in the Malfoy house. Severus knew his way around and under notice me not charms, the lot of them made there way around the house until they came to the dinning hall where Voldemort was seated with Nagini and Lucius Malfoy. They were deep into discussion about something and Hermione found the whole thing odd, Severus could tell from her expression. He struck first severing the snakes head with Hermione's blade. Blood gushed everywhere and Voldemort stood with a crack of thunder. Hermione stunned Lucius Malfoy and Harry stepped in front of Voldemort with careful steps. Hermione, Ron and Severus stepped aside just slightly.
"Harry Potter. At last." He whispered and shot out the killing curse without hesitation. Hermione, beside him, shuddered and cringed into his side.
"Damn it!" Ron screamed, and Hermione was with him. Even though she knew he would come back it still hurt unbelievably to watch Harry die. But Voldemort at fallen and once Harry woke she could finish him off. Ron stunned Malfoy once more to make sure he didn't wake. Five minutes passed and Harry woke up first.
"Damn. Hermione…where's Albus?" Harry asked but Hermione shh'd him. Voldemort was waking up and Harry needed to appear dead.
She took out her wand and the moment his eyes opened she spoke clearly. "Avada Kedavra." Green light burst from her wand and it was easy to muster up enough hate to kill him. He killed Harry's parents and many people just like her. It was a fair thing to kill him.
He lay there dead, finally dead and Severus was embracing her and she was happy.
"We did it."
Yes we did, thank you for coming into my life. I love you.
Severus sent those words and she started to cry into his chest. "We get to have that future Severus."
"Yes we do." She answered and Severus kissed her not caring that Ron and Harry were staring and making noises. He could have a family now. The Dark Lord no longer owned him or anyone else. He could move on with Hermione and have what he had always wanted. A life.