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The Quickening	By : Desert_Sea Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 32428 -:- Recommendations : 4 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any other characters/things/places created by J.K. Rowling. I make no money from my fan-fiction.

Chapter List
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- 30
A/N: Well this is it—the final chapter. It has been more intense than I thought it would be but also a lot of fun. I can’t tell how many people are still reading, as the counter died for my last few chapters. But if you liked or didn’t like anything about the story, I would love to hear from you. As I said before, I’m a newbie at all this and I really want to learn as much as I can. I have some ideas for the future but if you have any that you are interested in (e.g. the sex book), let me know.
Thanks to all you wonderful people who took the time to rate or review. It was a great motivator to keep me posting and has made this first foray into fanfic very rewarding. All the best, DS.
OracleObscured: Thank you for your too-kind words, I really enjoyed writing the last chapter – I think it’s nearly my favourite. Tympany v Tympani – well this is an interesting one – Tympani relates to the drum but I was thinking of the medical approach where the chest is percussed. Thanks for alerting me to the alternative. ‘These are things only a lover would notice and delight in’ – absolutely, I’m glad that came across. I loved the tongue to fingertip idea too. ‘I know I can come back and roll around in the words whenever I please’ – awesome visual. Thanks for being you.
LeWyKi: Your review made me laugh and I have appropriated your term ‘albino ferret’ for this chapter (see call out at end). ‘who knows when the well meaning public may intrude again’ – the sarcasm was dripping down my screen. ‘For me it is the affirmation to ignore "never" and "impossible", whenever I get to hear them’ – so true. You don’t write but maybe you should – I’ve very much enjoyed the poetic honesty of your reviews. Till next time.
Lovey_reader: It felt like the end didn’t it? Well this is the end end, but it is a bit of an epilogue I guess - only a week or two beyond the last. You will notice I voice one of your questions within this chapter (the one about the volume of potion). ‘They overcame everything that they had been through to just worship and love each other’ – that’s it in a nutshell. It was a relief for me too. I’ll definitely be back with more. Thankyou for your support.
Chapter 30
“Wait up, Mione!”
Hermione turned to see Harry jogging toward her in his Gryffindor graduation robes, hat in hand.
“I hear congratulations are in order.” He grinned.
Hermione smiled shyly. How did he know?
“Top mark for your N.E.W.Ts.” He put an arm around her shoulders as they walked toward the great hall.
“Oh that, yes,” Hermione answered a little too quickly.
Harry squeezed her gently. “Why? Is there something else I should be congratulating you for?”
“No . . . not that I can think of.” She never was a good liar.
“I’m glad you’re so happy,” Harry murmured. “Now Ron and I don’t have to worry about copping a bollocking every time we open our mouths.”
Hermione snorted, drawing looks from the procession of gowned students around them.
“You make me sound like a banshee,” she muttered.
“No joke, on her day, Moaning Mione gave Moaning Myrtle a run for her money.”
Hermione elbowed him in the ribs, only just holding back another snort.
“So when did he propose?” Harry looked at her.
“Oh fuck, Harry,” Hermione spoke quietly into her hand. She hadn’t expected word to get out so quickly.
She leant her head against his shoulder as they continued to walk in silence. His hand still gripped her firmly and she knew that he wasn’t angry. Just protective. That’s why she loved him so much.
“If you’re hoping for an explanation, I’m afraid there isn’t one,” she said.
“I’d settle for an answer to my question,” he said, his face open and honest.
“Two days ago.” She hooked her arm around his waist.
“I’m guessing that something happened before that,” said Harry. “It wasn’t just ‘Hermione, you are an insufferable know-it-all. By the way will you marry me?’ was it?”
Hermione convulsed with laughter, burying her face in his shoulder. She’d forgotten how funny Harry was and how good he made her feel.
“No, there was a little more to it than that,” she admitted, drawing in a deep breath. “You know how it is for you and Ginny? Well, it turns out that’s how it is for Severus and I.”
“I know,” she said, seeing Harry’s raised eyebrows. “I call him by his first name and everything. I mean, marriage was always going to be the next step.”
Harry chuckled and looked around to make sure they were out of earshot.
“As long as he makes you happy,” he said. “Like I told you before, he’s the bravest man I’ve ever met—and he’d have to be to get hitched to you.”
“That’s it!” Hermione cried, digging her fingers into his side and making him yelp.
“What’s it?” Ron nudged into them like a sleepy badger, his gown hanging askew and his hat nowhere to be seen.
“Harry’s just full of . . . “
“. . . brilliant ideas,” finished Harry.
“Mmm.” Hermione looked at him dubiously.
“Are you okay?” Ron looked over her face.
“Fine thank you,” she replied. “Why?”
“Oh. It’s just that. Well, you sort of looked . . . different . . . before.”
“This is me looking normal,” said Hermione. “Sorry it’s such a disappointment.”
“Nah, not really,” said Ron. “Well . . . maybe a bit.”
Hermione rolled her eyes. “You two will be the death of me,” she muttered, hooking her arms into both of theirs.
They had managed to shuffle their way into the Great Hall which was adorned with an impressive array of decorations and constellations for the graduation ceremony. It was one of the unusual times that the staff forfeited their positions on the stage to honour the graduands. Hermione, Ron and Harry, together with the rest of their final year classmates took their seats, looking out upon a sea of eager student faces, behind a row of smiling teachers. All except one.
Hermione gazed at him. He wasn’t scowling or sneering. Rather, his expression was one of mild intrigue, his obsidian eyes fixated upon her. And as she watched him slide his hand down under his cloak, she felt the warmth of his fingers slip around hers, his thumb rubbing gentle circles on the back of her hand. A lump rose in Hermione’s throat. How did he always know exactly what she needed? And how much of that bloody potion had he made? She held back a sob of happiness as he continued to caress her.
Her eyes moved behind him to the bobbing mass of students. And there was Ginny, giving her the double thumbs up. She was her best friend and confidant. She knew everything. And she still loved her. Hermione was beginning to think that her unlovable self might not be as bad as she had once thought.
Sliding along to the end of the front row, her gaze snagged on someone whom she didn’t, at first, recognise. Not only because she wasn’t wearing her uniform, but because she had changed—considerably. Poppy Pomfrey was looking so well these days, she might even be described as radiant.
Hermione smiled to herself. The mediwitch had been more than happy to accept the Galvanismus. It had been quite a simple process in the end. All it had taken was a scalding hot bath and a focussed intent. The blue bolts had transferred to Poppy Pomfrey in a slithering wave, almost as though they belonged to her. And considering the incredibly close relationship she had had with Professor Dumbledore, it wasn’t difficult to imagine that he would have wanted it for her—not as a curse but as a blessing. Her medical knowledge and healing powers were now unsurpassed and she had the kind of outlook that Hermione knew would allow her to use it to its full effect and for maximum benefit.
Her mind suddenly lurched back to the present as she heard her name announced in Professor McGonagall’s gentle Scottish brogue. As she stood, the entire hall erupted in rapturous applause. She was suddenly overwhelmed by the magnitude of the occasion, her watery smile holding back a well of emotions. It was the end of one exciting but tumultuous era and the beginning of another—full of unknowns, but a new phase she was more than ready to embrace. As she made the slow trek across the stage, she imagined the thousands who had made the same journey before her—it was the culmination of their childhood experience and endeavours. She also wondered how many had covered that distance with their lover’s fingertips trailing lightly up their inner thigh.
Accepting her certificate with a nod and warm handshake from the Headmistress, she turned to acknowledge the joyful crowd. But all she could see was him, back to his old self, a thoughtful finger pressed against the soft pad of his bottom lip and the simultaneous sensation of that silky petal brushing against hers. She couldn’t remember a happier moment in her life.
***
His feet were propped on a footstool and her bushy head was nestled comfortably in his lap. She voraciously consumed a book on wandwork, while he massaged her scalp and read the Daily Prophet, spread on the arm of his transfigured couch.
Suddenly, she was jolted by his loud snort and her eyes flicked up to his, waiting for the explanation that would follow.
“It seems that Lucius Malfoy is still in St Mungo’s recovering from his ‘mystery illness’,” he reported drily.
Hermione couldn’t help but smile. Severus had never told her the details of what had happened at Malfoy Manor but she knew that Lucius was lucky to have escaped with his life.
“How awful for the albino ferret.” She closed her book, then reached up to curl one of his dark locks around her finger. “I wonder which item was kind enough to exact revenge.”
Severus gave a wry grin. “I think he might have actually tried to skrewt himself. Those creatures can grow alarmingly quickly, especially when hexed with an engorgement charm.”
Hermione pondered the image of a monstrous skrewt burrowed inside the albino ferret—it would make a prime attraction for the Hall of Abominations.
“And here’s more sad news.” Severus gave the page a flick. “It seems that the world has lost a ‘loving sister and daughter’ in Violetta Rosier.”
“Oh, shame.” Hermione gave a mock pout as she continued to fondle Severus’ hair. “She sounds like a really lovely person.”
“She was,” Severus nodded. “Only I think she’s more lovely dead.”
“Any other news?” she asked, moving to his cheek where her fingertips brushed over the dusting of prickles that had emerged over the past day.
“It seems that the Ministry of Magic is still pursuing reports that a five charm combination was cast through a single wand. It’s yet to be verified but, if so, it will be the first on record.” Severus raised an eyebrow. “Whomever executed it must be an astoundingly . . . potent . . . wizard.” He gave her a lascivious grin before pushing the paper off the chair and catching her by the wrist. Bringing the pale inner surface, laced with delicate blue veins, to his lips, he nibbled and nipped at the skin like a hungry vampire.
“Or witch,” she added, beginning to squirm as her body immediately responded.
“Or . . . witch,” he breathed over the damp skin, making her shudder. “Imagine the offspring of such a wizard and witch,” he murmured, looking into her eyes as he planted kisses along the inside of her elbow.
“Imagine.” She smiled. “It would take a lot of practice to make just the right ones, though.”
“A lot,” he agreed. “They would need to try every . . . possible . . . position.”
“Mmmm.” Hermione closed her eyes as his hand slithered down her neck and stroked her breast. “They would need to take every opportunity . . . to experiment.”
“Indeed,” he growled, pulling her up and capturing her lips in his. “Mastery would take a life-time of . . . exploration.” His voice continued to warm and excite her.
“Luckily, a lifetime is all the time I have,” she said, her eyes swimming with tears of joy as she pulled him back into her.
THE END
A/N: I’d like to acknowledge LeWyKi for the fabulous phrase ‘albino ferret’.
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The Quickening