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Master Mine Book 2: A Lesson in Love	By : snowblind12 & Lissa Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 16041 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Anything you recognize, we do not own and are not making any money off it. We are no way affiliate with the Harry Potter Franchise, J.K. Rowling, or Universal Studios.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
AN: We are beyond thrilled with the initial response to Master Mine: A Lesson in Love. You are all epically amazing people and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for every follow, kudo, vote, favorite….and especially comments. Oh the comments keep us going, guys. Here is chapter two. Chapters three and four are moving into the editing process. We are staying on track to post weekly either late Friday nights or first thing Saturday mornings. We love you all so much. XOXO Lissa & Snow
Chapter Two
BETA love: RaynePheonix2 & sab81790
Snape stood when she reached the table – the same one they had eaten at during their first date. He was nervous, Hermione could tell. She was too, undoubtedly, but she gave him a warm smile and kissed his cheek. Snape moved aside and silently gestured for her to slide into the booth, she complied.
Hermione hadn’t seen him since he’d left her apartment Saturday afternoon, and they had only spoken via owl to figure out when to meet. When he suggested Tuesday evening at the sweet little Italian place where they’d had their first official date at, she was pleased and quite touched. It felt like it signified something special. A new beginning. Back in January, it was the beginning of a hopeful relationship. Now that the relationship had been well established, they were moving to the next level. It was the start of their next adventure – of their Dominant/submissive relationship.
They made small talk between ordering a starter and a glass of red wine each. He pulled her in close to his side after the waitress had taken their dinner order and pressed a kiss to the center of her forehead. Hermione closed her eyes in bliss. These moments, the little gestures that made her feel loved and cherished, were the ones she lived for. The small comforts of connection that erased the years of loneliness that she had been living.
She tilted her head back and let her gaze linger on his lips, causing him to smile just a bit before he covered her mouth with his. Oh, his kisses were like a drug of the highest potency. Hermione made a pleased sound in her throat and he deepened the kiss a touch, the tip of his tongue expertly parting her lips as one long fingered hand moved to cup the back of her neck. She all but melted into him, instantly turning into a pliant block of clay for him to mold however he wanted.
He chuckled softly as he ended the kiss and she knew she was looking at him with glassy eyes. The heat in her belly was intense…she wanted him. She always wanted him, though.
However, they had things to discuss. They needed to talk more about the things that were plaguing them. In addition to getting good sleep for the last two nights, there had been time to think and process everything that had happened. They each had a better grasp on their feelings and were in a better place to share them.
“Tell me,” she said after the waitress delivered their starter. “Have you heard more from Britt? Is she doing okay?”
Next to her, Snape stiffened slightly, but she leaned into his side, not letting him pull away from her. “I received an owl from her this morning. She has made an appointment with an Obstetrics Healer at St. Mungo’s for Friday morning and asked if I would attend with her. I haven’t answered her yet, I wanted to discuss things with you further.”
Hermione’s stomach clenched painfully. She was jealous, and she was fully aware of the fact. She wanted it to be her, and she hated that she felt this way. Worried about coming off petty or callous, she replied carefully, “Of course you should go with her, Severus. You have a history and, while we agreed it’s not likely, there is the possibility that the child is yours. She came to you for help – you should be there if you can –”
“Hermione,” Severus cut her off gently, but firmly. She looked up at him with wide eyes. “Mine,” he whispered and lowered his forehead to hers. “I know this is bothering you, and I understand. It’s okay to show me your true feelings, you’re allowed to have them. We’ve come so far in the last four months, I’m not going to run if you get mad. I swear it. We need to be honest.”
Hermione closed her eyes, tilting her head to nuzzle her nose against his cheek. “I know I said that I’m committed to making this work, and I am. I hate that I’m uncertain and jealous. And I’m… I’m scared.”
She felt Severus’ hand smooth some hair from her face as his other encircled her waist and pulled her closer. “Tell me why.” Their appetizer was untouched, and Hermione felt bad they had even ordered it. She was so full of nervous energy that she didn’t know if she’d be able to eat much. She reached for the wine instead. She took a sip before answering him, “I’m scared that the child is going to be yours. That you’re going to feel differently about this whole situation if it’s a life you helped create that hangs in the balance. I wouldn’t blame you if that were to happen, but I can’t deny that I wouldn’t be devastated.”
She was avoiding looking at him, instead playing with the stem of her wine glass with one hand. “A child of your flesh and blood has to be a heady thing. You and Britt have a long history and had real feelings and a real connection once upon a time. Having a baby with her could change everything…and I’m just…scared.” She finished her thought lamely. She felt like a child whimpering about how being alone in the dark was terrifying.
She had just lost Lucius…and it stung. Remembering that she now had a chance to be with Severus fully was the one thing that made her let him go – she had been pining for Severus for so long, that she knew had to (and she wanted to, desperately) move forward with him. Now a new obstacle was thrown in their path, however, and it was just so…disappointing.
He hadn’t answered her yet, and she knew he was probably processing what she had said and how he wanted to respond. She wasn’t finished though, so she took a deep breath and continued, “I’m also frustrated.” She met his eyes finally and one thick brow raised at her choice of words. His onyx eyes seemed sad and she impulsively reached to caress his face. “After all we’ve put each other and ourselves through, we finally reach the point of moving forward confidently only for this big road block to plunk down and make us question everything.”
“I’m questioning nothing.” Severus said firmly as he took her chin in hand and tilted her face. “I’m questioning nothing, Mine. I will support Britt because of our history. I truly don’t think the child is mine, but she’s nervous and doesn’t really have anyone to turn to. I will help her – because it’s the right thing to do. And like I told you in the small hours of Saturday afternoon – should the child me mine…in the unlikely event that the child is mine…I will do right by him or her, but I choose to be with you. I want to be with you.”
Hermione felt her eyes sting. “You can’t be so sure…your feelings could change.”
“Ah, but that is all part of life, isn’t it? You could walk out of here and run head first into a man you’re destined for, couldn’t you? In an instant, you could be saying ‘Severus who?’” He gave her a light smirk and Hermione couldn’t help but laugh. He was being so sweet and his attempts to lighten the mood were helping.
“Impossible,” she murmured, leaning in to pressing a light kiss to his lips. “That man is sitting right here with me.”
Severus’ eyes darkened and a predatory look took over his features. He claimed her lips in a harsher kiss. “Regardless,” he said huskily a moment later, “you understand my point.”
“We never know how life will change,” she reached for her fork. She was feeling better with the knowledge that he was right and found herself suddenly starving. She speared a bite of fried ravioli and popped it into her mouth.
Snape sat back against the wall and brought his wine to his lips. “Exactly. Therefore, we take it one day at a time.”
She nodded before swallowing. “Alright, I agree. One day at a time.”
Their main dishes arrived, and they didn’t speak of much as they ate, only chatting about work. When their dishes were cleared and water glasses were filled fresh, Severus looked at her seriously.
“Please let me finish speaking before you react or interrupt,” he told her, and she snorted. He really was beginning to know her almost too well.
“Alright,” she answered with a smile.
“I want you to know that I don’t have any intention of collaring you just yet,” Snape watched her face closely and felt bad when a little color drained from her cheeks. He hastened to continue. “Not because I don’t want to – I do, and I fully intend on asking you to wear my collar after we’ve had some time to figure everything out.”
Hermione had regained her composure and Snape let out a controlled breath of relief. She said, “You want to ‘play’ for a while and see how the D/s meshes in with our day-to-day and vanilla sex?”
“Yes, that’s precisely what I want,” he told her, and he was unable to suppress a smile. “Your thoughts?”
“I think it’s a good idea,” she agreed. “Less formal, less restrictive – I’m assuming anyway. It’ll give us a chance to get to know each other as Dom and sub before setting a firm contract?”
He nodded while taking a sip of water. “I want to know hard limits – things that you’re one hundred percent not okay with. We’ll talk about each scene before it happens, and I can adjust my plans. I was thinking we do these informal scenes for a couple weeks, see how they fit in with what our relationship has become and feel each other out. In about two weeks, I’d like to sit down and draw a formal contract. After that – I will collar you when I feel we’re both ready. Of course, if you don’t feel ready when I present you with a collar, you can tell me so. Does all this sound fair?”
He knew by the look on her face she was on board with what he had just suggested. Her expression was eager and happy.
“It does,” she told him. “So, we need to set a few ground rules?”
“I have a couple questions,” was his reply to her inquiry. “First, what are your hard limits?”
She answered succinctly with only a tinge of a blush staining her cheeks. “Permanent marking or piercing, excrement play, or vomit play. Blood play, too, but since your proclamation that I’ll not be left alone when I’m on my period, I’ve been considering penetration while menstruating, and will hesitantly consent – but only period blood. Again – that goes back to no cutting or piercing. And no photography.”
“I understand why you don’t wish to be photographed and I have no problem with that. I’m not into any of those other things, either,” Snape responded with a slight smirk. “And I’m happy to hear you’ve come around on period play. We’ll put it as a soft limit for now and cross that bridge when we get to it. Fair?”
“Fair.”
“Tell me what you like.” He loved that her pupils were growing wider and that her respirations had increased.
“Being tied up.” It was a whisper, but he heard her as if she were yelling it. “In any way. Straps, ropes, suspension, buckles, belts, bars - anything. If I can’t get away – I get so wet, it feels like I’ve sprung a leak.”
Snape tilted his head back briefly and pressed his eyes closed. Fuck – Luc had done a good job teaching her to speak her mind. “I remember, Mine. I believe I suggested we call a plumber when I was onstage with you and Lucius.” He realized his already baritone voice had dropped an entire octave – and his date shuddered deliciously at the sound.
“What do you hate?” he asked.
“Not pleasing you and earning punishments.” Hermione’s voice trembled slightly, as if she were remembering every past transgression she had made. He took her face in both hands and searched her eyes with his own.
“No one is perfect, Mine. You will make mistakes, and there will be punishments. It’s not worth beating yourself up over. I want my submissive to live in the moment – if a mistake is made, punishments will be swift. Once the punishment is done, it’s over. Forgiveness is granted and we move on. Do you understand?”
“I understand,” she responded. “Lucius was the same way.”
“You’ll find there are many similarities between us, just as there are many differences, as well.”
She seemed to ponder his words.
“Do you have questions?”
“Yes – what do I call you while I’m not collared?”
“Very good question,” he praised and snorted mentally when she sat up just a little straighter and her face colored with pleasure. She was so incredibly responsive. “You will call me sir or Severus. Either is fine as long as it is done respectfully. Another question?”
“What do you like? I mean – what are your favorite things?” He should have known she’d have more – she was Hermione Granger.
“Breast play,” he answered simply. “My favorite spanking instrument is my hand and the cane.” She flinched slightly at the mention of his cane and Severus sobered at what he knew her to be remembering. “I like using the cane to bring pleasure, Mine. I will make you love it…beg for it even. I promise you that.”
If possible, her eyes had grown even darker and her lips parted in desire. She was squirming in her seat, which made the blood in his body race to his groin.
“One more question – and then I’d like you to take me home. That is, if you’re willing, sir?” She looked at him with large, innocent eyes, but he knew instantly that she was playing him like a fiddle.
“One more question and then I’d very much like to take you home,” he agreed
“What instrument do you typically use for punishment?”
At this, Severus smirked wickedly. He knew she wasn’t going to like his answer much. “A large wooden paddle.” He chuckled as her mouth dropped and her eyes widened.
“Fuck,” she muttered, which made him laugh outright.
Once again, they were too full for dessert and found themselves back in her flat sooner than later. Since their discussion at dinner, Hermione had been squirming with the uncomfortableness of her desire. A part of her was struggling with her feelings, though. There was still so much uncertainty of what may or may not be coming due to Britt’s pregnancy.
Severus could feel her desire…but he could also feel her hesitancy. If he were being honest with himself, he was also feeling a bit reluctant to engage fully in Dom/sub play because of the situations they still had hanging over their heads.
In the end, after he ordered her to bare herself for him and then watched with hooded eyes as she slowly undressed him afterwards, he decided to start with very light play. They could work their way up to full scenes. He would spank her and tie her up a bit before fucking her into the mattress. God, it had been months since he’d fucked anyone. Not true fucking. Of course, he and Hermione were having sex, but it didn’t seem to matter how rough they started, it always turned into lovemaking. It was a cosmic pull of sensations.
In fact, Severus felt he had made love more in the last two months than he had in his entire life. It was just that, all he had to do was seal his lips over hers and they were both goners. Her kiss was both an aphrodisiac and a drug. It didn’t matter how fast and frenzied their couplings were, they always ended with heated hip roles, heavy breathing, and passionate kisses.
Severus was so in his own head, he hadn’t realized that Hermione had finished undressing him. Therefore, he was surprised to find her kneeling at his feet, waiting patiently with her eyes fixed on the floor for his next directive.
Heat instantly coursed through him. It was her first demonstration as a well-trained submissive: there had been no questions asked, she had just automatically chosen a position in which to wait until her Dom was ready for her again.
He grasped his engorged cock in one hand before sitting on the edge of the bed. “Very good, Mine,” he praised. “You can look at me.” Her beautiful eyes raised to his and she smiled sweetly at him. The anticipation on her features was impossible to miss. They were both slipping comfortably into their roles. “I want to start slow, so I’m just going to give some basic direction tonight.” He paused while she nodded her understanding and agreement.
“I expect you to answer direct questions, otherwise I expect you to not speak. Of course, that doesn’t include any sounds or phrases you may say while we’re engaged. I don’t expect you to remain silent.” She nodded again. “I want your eyes, always. Whenever you think about it, you should be looking at me. I will ask you to look at me when I notice you’re caught up in sensation, understood?”
“Yes, sir,” she answered succinctly.
“Tonight, I am thinking I would like to spank you over my knee. Then I’d like to tie your wrists and fuck you into the mattress like the dirty little whore you are.” He couldn’t help the smirk that crossed his features when her breath hitched. Hmm…she liked dirty talk, did she? He had known that to a certain extent…but he had certainly not called her by any derogatory endearments prior to this night.
“When you’re ready, you may stand and ask me for your spanking.” She looked confused for just a brief second, and he knew instantly that this was an area of difference between him and Lucius. Lucius directed his submissives to do what he wanted of them. Severus felt that it was a privilege to be spanked by him, and therefore felt he should be asked for one politely.
Hermione stood slowly before moving to stand at his side. “Sir, may I please have a spanking?” she requested.
He tilted his head back so he could look at her directly before asking. “Why?” He almost laughed when she looked utterly lost.
“Because you told me to?”
That time he did laugh. “You want a spanking because I told you that you wanted one?”
Understanding cleared her confused features. “No, sir. Will you please spank me?” She had chosen to start fresh. Perfect.
He smirked. “Why?”
“Because I need one, sir.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m a whore, sir, and I need my naughty bottom smacked.” Her cheeks were tinged with the pink of embarrassment, and for a moment it felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room.
Yes! His heart thrummed at her answer – it was flawless. “Very well.” He was struggling to maintain his composure even as his excitement rose. He gestured for her to lay over his lap and had to bite the inside of his cheek when she hastened to comply. He helped her balance by using one hand to grip her waist and relished the feel of her breasts pressed against his thigh. Her stomach brushed his erection and he grit his teeth. Fuck, I can’t wait to bury myself inside of her. Even as he thought it, he couldn’t help but marvel how perfectly her petite form fit over his thighs. The heat and electric current that happened whenever they were together intimately was ten times more palpable.
“How many do you want, Mine?” It’s not like she really had a choice, but he wanted to hear her answer. He wanted to know how many she thought was the perfect amount.
“However many you want me to have, sir.” She was trembling with anticipation.
He closed his eyes briefly as his cock jumped at her delicious words. “Very well.”
Severus dropped an open palm over her backside, and she jumped slightly before letting out a sigh. “One.” He almost laughed again, he hadn’t told her to count, but if she wanted to, he wouldn’t object. “Two…three…four.”
He continued, building up a quick rhythm and pattern. Before he had smacked her bottom a dozen times, he realized that this witch would be the death of him. Yes, it had been over three months since he had delivered a spanking, so he was decidedly turned on. However, her responses were breathtaking. Hermione gasped and groaned and gyrated her hips. When Severus increased intensity, her tone took on a little squeak of pain that was intoxicating. Her arse went from light pink to a warm, ruddy hue and still she moaned. When she started to beg so prettily, asking him to touch her creamy cunt, he almost lost himself without any stimulation. He was so rock hard it was painful. Merlin and Morgana, he had missed this. He hadn’t realized how much.
A few moments later, Severus paused in his spanking to rub her heated skin. “Twenty-five! Thank you, sir,” Hermione said breathlessly. Her tone was thick with desire and her bum was wiggling in his lap.
“You’re welcome, Mine,” he murmured. Severus let his fingers trail down the clef of her buttocks to graze her pubic mound. He pressed his lips together to prevent a ridiculous grin from crossing his face when she sucked in a ragged breath and arched her back.
“Oh please!” she whined.
“More?”
“Anything! Please!” she pleaded.
Severus wanted to keep spanking her, but the desire to claim her was so fierce that he just didn’t have the patience. Without any direction he gripped her waist and forced her to stand. Wild, whisky irises met his and he was gone. Hermione’s eyes were usually crystal clear and full of intelligence; currently they were so dark with desire there was no room left for that spark that was her mind. Her pupils were blown wide and her gaze was clouded.
Grasping her waist, Severus propelled her to the bed. He crawled in after her in a predatory fashion that had Hermione scrambling into position in the middle of the bed. Both of their breaths were ragged and excited.
“Arms up,” he demanded. She complied with no hesitation. Her jaw went slack and she cried out with surprised excitement when he waved his hand and wandlessly tied her wrists to the headboard.
“Yes, yes, yes!” Hermione muttered again and again while he adjusted her legs over his shoulders before entering her with one long, smooth stroke.
Severus’ jaw slackened in pure ecstasy as she cried, “Severus! Fuck!” and he set a grueling pace. Fucking her into the mattress just as he had promised.
Hermione’s legs wrapped around his hips and she canted her pelvis, attempting to meet his strokes. She wound up just hanging on for the ride, not able to keep up with his pounding thrusts.
Streams of noise left her throat, all of it inarticulate and … was he snarling into her neck? He slowed just a hair and was startled to realize that, yes. Yes, it was him making those primal sounds. He didn’t care, and upped his pace once again.
Sinking his teeth into the side of her throat, Severus rejoiced in her cry of completion and felt the muscles of her pussy clenching around him. He laved the offended patch of skin with his tongue as he fucked her through her orgasm before slowing, because he wanted to switch positions.
When he raised his head to meet her eyes, however, he found she had been crying and his heart froze even though she had a small, contented smile to go with them.
Shit, shit! “Mine?” Severus’ voice was a bit urgent.
“Hmm?” Hermione was completely out of it, as she was still coming down from her fierce orgasm.
“You’re alright?” he was calmer now. Severus knew she was fine. He’d seen tears like this before… Hell, if he wanted to admit it to himself, there were numerous times in the past couple of months where he’d been close to tears like this as well.
Tears of completion. Tears of perfection. Tears because it just felt so fucking incredible.
“There is no possible way I could feel any better,” Hermione promised. Her eyes were clearing of their fog and she rolled her hips purposefully, making him growl low in his throat.
“Good.” Severus had changed his mind about switching positions and was starting to build his pace back up so he could chase his own climax. But then he leaned down to kiss her, and it was over. Just like every other time.
Hermione’s lips were soft, and she opened up for him so prettily, raising her neck to return his deep, plundering kisses with her own.
Of their own accord, his hips slowed from a hard cantor to a sensual roll. Hermione hummed her approval and started pulling against her restraints. Severus was done, he wanted her hands on his body. He wanted her nails to dig into his muscles. He muttered the releasing charm, and she complied with his mental wishes as if she were made for him.
Maybe she was.
Lucius flooed into the office at the dungeon Wednesday night with a heavy heart. He was struggling… Not getting to see Hermione tonight for their usual D/s session was proving to be a lot harder than he anticipated. Even more difficult, however, was not getting to see her loopy scrawl in her daily journal. He…missed her. As he had known he would.
He shook out his light cloak before hanging it from the rack next to the fireplace before gently unwinding the very beloved scarf from his neck. He fingered the gift Hermione had given him for Yule lovingly before draping it over his cloak. He wouldn’t be needing it for much longer. He sighed, melancholy rising in him yet again.
Severus had said nothing to him, the man was hunched over his ledger, meticulously filling in notes from the previous day’s accounts. Lucius settled himself at his desk before pulling a pile of parchment that had been left for him to contend with in front of him. After a few minutes of reading without retaining, he decided to talk.
“How are things going?” Lucius asked casually. Probably too casually, but he knew Severus wouldn’t comment on it.
“Fine – how are you, darling?” Severus drawled sarcastically. Lucius couldn’t help the indelicate snort and grin. This was a game they had played for too many years.
“Cut the bull-shite, Snape,” he rolled his eyes, “and tell m6e how things are going. You went out for dinner last night. Did you collar her?” His stomach clenched at the thought.
“I did not.” Severus tossed the quill down and looked up at his friend with a serious expression.
Lucius felt stunned. “Why ever not?”
“We’re going to take it slow. We had dinner – we did some preliminary discussion. Then I took her home and spanked her – which was incredible, she’s amazingly responsive – and then … well. We were intimate after, I don’t really feel like discussing it in detail. It’s …private.”
They made love. Lucius’ heart clenched. Snape spanked her, and instead of dominating her and controlling the situation, they had made love. Lucius knew that look. He had seen that look on his own face in the mirror twice. The morning after New Year’s and the morning after the punishment scene in the library. He took a brief moment to close his eyes and collect himself.
Apparently, a part of him had been hoping this wouldn’t happen. That one or both of them would change their minds. That’s not going to happen, Lucius. Pull your shite together. His thoughts were interrupted after a few seconds.
“Luc?” Snape’s voice was uncharacteristically soft. “I…need to talk to you about something.”
Lucius’ eyes snapped open, taking in Snape’s cautious expression. He sat ramrod straight before demanding, “What did you do?” It was out of his mouth before he could stop it and he clenched his jaw afterwards, waiting for Snape’s typical blow up.
He was shocked when Snape’s shoulders slumped. “You remember Britt coming in Wednesday night?”
A small, inexcusable flame of hope flared in Lucius’ chest. He had to fight to keep his voice calm. “Yes?”
“She’s pregnant.”
Lucius was frozen – completely paralyzed with his surprise. He scanned Snape’s form from top to bottom, landing on his face last. Snape’s expression was guarded, his eyes blank. “Is it yours?”
Snape shrugged and slowly started detailing what had happened over the last few days. Lucius listened carefully, the flame in his chest grew into a full-blown fire of anticipation until Hermione’s reaction and maturity over the situation was conveyed. That threw a bucket of water on it. Then the embers were dashed and ground out when Snape explained that it was his intention that – no matter whose child it was – he would stay with Hermione, as long as she would have him.
Lucius knew she would have him.
Lucius had guaranteed that his beautiful, young submissive was ready for Snape.
Therefore, Snape’s she would be.
The floo call came at 3:30 in the morning on Monday April 23^rd, 2007. It startled him out of a restless sleep. As he had only been sleeping for a couple of hours after returning home very late from Hermione’s flat, he answered it groggily.
“Severus Snape?” The unfamiliar wizard in the floo was looking at him dispassionately.
“That’s me,” Snape drawled groggily. “What do you want?”
“I have a Britt Brennan at St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. She has your name down as next of kin to notify in an emergency?”
Snape was wide awake now and his heart was slowly starting an uncomfortable ascent. “I am – is she alright?”
“Could you please come to the hospital, sir?”
“I – er, of course. I’ll throw on some clothes and be right there!” Snape dragged a hand through his messy, chin-length locks. “Where should I go?”
“Family birthplace, sir.”
“Thank you.”
Ten minutes later, Snape was standing in the lift at the hospital waiting for the doors to open on level five.” The second the door dinged open, he strode with purpose to the Medi-witch station and snapped his fingers at the plump blonde witch behind the counter. “Britt Brennen – I’m her next of kin.”
The witch paused briefly to run her finger down a piece of parchment. “Room 394.” She didn’t look back to him.
He walked briskly down the hall, but the moment he reached the door he froze in his tracks. There was a foreboding in him that wouldn’t be ignored. He took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and forced himself to go inside the room.
Britt was propped up in a hospital bed hunched over tellingly. It was obvious that she was distraught, and when she looked up at him, she immediately burst into tears.
For a moment, he could do nothing but stare at the scene in front of him. A beautiful redhead woman – one he had almost loved once – holding her stomach as if the whole world had just ended. His heart stuttered in his chest as anguished eyes met his, begging for help – for comfort.
He could do that much, but first he had to know. “Is…” He? She? “Was…the child mine?” He had to know…it would change everything.
Britt started crying harder, but shook her head in the negative, and he automatically stepped to the side of the bed where he took her one free hand in his and squeezed it tightly. After a moment, he perched one hip on the edge of the bed and pulled the woman into his arms.
He lay his cheek on top of her head and gently stroked her silky hair. She used one arm to cling to him while the other cradled her stomach. It was many minutes before she was able to calm.
“She was too young to be yours,” Britt hiccoughed before taking a deep breath. Severus automatically pulled his wand out of his sleeve and incanted a spell to clear her tears and the mucus from her nasal passages. She murmured a thank you before continuing. “She’s was only fifteen weeks; you and I haven’t been together since New Year’s. I honestly couldn’t remember when I last had my period – I just…I just, w-wasn’t s-sure.”
She broke into tears again and Severus found his heart aching for her. He pushed his shoes off his feet and planted himself more firmly into the bed before dragging her bodily into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and held on for dear life. He didn’t know what else to do – what was there to say at a time like this? There were no words.
So, he just held her while she cried. While she stroked and massaged her stomach forlornly as if the child still rested inside of her.
“She would have been beautiful, I’m sure,” she murmured with a thick voice.
“Of course, she would have been, Britt,” he answered in a low, soothing tone. “What are you going to name her?”
“Sophia,” the answer held no hesitation, “after my mum. My mum would’ve loved her. I love her…oh, Severus.” And just like that he was cradling the broken mother in his arms again.
The grief in the room was palpable and his stomach hurt with the need to fix the situation. There was no fixing death, though. Death was permanent. This death was tragic.
“Do they know what happened?” he whispered later. Britt was laying against him, her back to his front with her hands cupping her belly. She was running gentle fingertips over the fabric of her hospital gown.
“They’re not sure.” Britt’s voice was husky from her tears.
“Do you want me to contact your sister?”
“Yes,” Britt answered.
He left her then, just long enough to place a floo call to Britt’s younger sister. Lanni assured Severus she’d be there within an hour and Snape ended the connection. When he arrived back in Britt’s room, he found her a bit hysterical.
A Medi-witch was speaking to the distraught witch in a low tone. “I know, my dear heart,” the elder of the two nurses said quietly while rubbing Britt’s back. “You take all the time you need, no one is going to rush you through this. It’s very difficult. Try and take a breath with me –” she encouraged Britt to suck in a deep breath before blowing out gently – “there’s a girl. You’ve got this.”
A few minutes later, they were alone again. Severus did not join her on the bed again. He would stay until Lanni arrived, but he needed to distance himself before Britt’s emotional state made her think about things that couldn’t be.
He pulled a chair up so he could sit next to her on the bed and took one of her hands in his own. “I know this is hard, Britt,” he said softly. “And there is nothing I can say to make anything better. Just know that I’m sorry this has happened. I will be there for you if you need me.”
“Just not the way I need you.” Her voice wasn’t bitter, it was resigned. He searched her eyes and his chest tightened. He had damaged this girl, and it made his heart hurt.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I should have never let it go on as long as I did. I knew…I knew that you were in deeper than I was…and I’m so –”
She raised her hand, cutting him off. “I’m sorry.”
“What? No – you have nothi –”
She cut him off again. “I knew it wasn’t the same for you. I just kept hoping. And the way I reacted – you didn’t deserve that. You were being honest – you had been honest from the beginning. Don’t think that I don’t remember you telling me it would never be the same between us again. I remember – you were up front with me. I just hoped I could change your mind. That wasn’t fair – to either of us.”
Severus dragged a hand down his face, the guilt and grief he felt was overwhelming. “We don’t have to talk about this now.”
“It’s the perfect time. Because when you leave here, I’m not going to contact you again. I will see you at the club when I’m ready to return, but we won’t see each other socially anymore.” She was right, and he knew it. Now that they were certain the child was not his, they both knew they needed to cut ties cleanly.
“I like her,” Britt said, surprising him. “I don’t even know her – but I like her. You probably don’t see it, but she’s changed you. In a good way!” she rushed to add when his eyebrows rose in surprise. “You’re…happy. Severus, you’re happy. I have seen you smile more in the last three months than I have in the last thirteen years. I’m…so glad you were able to find someone that makes you feel this way.”
“I just…you must know that I … I care about you, Britt –” but she broke him off.
“I know you do, you don’t have to say it. I understand. Things might have been different once, but … well, there’s no use in dwelling on the but. It’s okay – I’m going to be okay…” She trailed off and it was silent for a while with the exception of her soft sniffles. Snape handed her a few tissues and she gave him a watery smile.
“You should go – get some sleep. It’s Monday, a busy day for you.”
“I’ll stay until Lanni gets here,” he assured her.
“Lanni’s here!” A young woman with auburn curls rushed into the room. “Oh, Brittny! Are you okay?” Both women burst into tears and Lanni hugged Britt tightly before pulling back to arm’s length.
“I’m…not,” Britt sniffled. “Let me say goodbye to Severus, then I’ll tell you everything.” Lanni excused herself to get some coffee, giving Severus a calculating look before she left.
“I’ll set her straight, Severus,” Britt offered by way of apology for her sister’s cool demeanor.
“She’s never liked me, you can make me the bad guy if you’d like. It doesn’t matter to me.”
“It does to me – you’re not the bad guy.” Her voice was firm even as she used a fresh wad of tissues to dab her face. “Before you go, can I have a hug?”
Snape paused for a moment but ultimately stepped forward and pulled her into a warm embrace. “Take care of yourself, Britt. Let me know that you’re doing okay.”
“I will – you take care, too.” She touched his face briefly as he pulled away. “And Severus,” they locked eyes, “let yourself love her, okay? You deserve it.”
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Master Mine Book 2: A Lesson in Love