In an Alternate Universe

Chapter 46 ~ Completions

Severus made love to Hermione almost the entire night, the witch finally pushing the randy young wizard off of her, completely utterly reamed and secretly satisfied. She awoke the next morning with Severus spooned around her, both arms wrapped around her belly possessively, his nose buried in her hair.

She lay there a moment, enjoying the feeling of being sincerely wanted, not just a momentary pleasure at best or a comebucket at worst. Severus sighed contentedly and snuggled closer, still asleep, his flaccid organ resting against her buttocks. Hermione knew if she moved, it wouldn’t be flaccid for long. She wasn’t willing to engage him further. She was sore and in need of her special “Purple potion,” a potion she’d developed specifically for sexual aches. She’d make sure to keep a few potions in her medicinal store from now on.

Well, they had class this morning. She turned in Severus’ arms, facing the wizard, who wriggled, his face frowning up at this change in position. He had been warm and comfortable against her soft body. Now there was air between them.

He opened his eyes, Hermione studying his face as they focused on her, and were filled with immediate affection. She felt her heart flutter a bit at his look, before he tried to pull her in for a kiss.

”Oh no. You have morning mouth,” she said, pulling away from him, “and so do I.”

”I don’t care,” he said softly.

Hermione felt something hard and hot thump against her leg. Obviously “little Severus” had woken up as well.

”You’d care, believe me,” she said, wriggling out of his grasp and standing up.

Severus’ affectionate look immediately became quite hungry as he looked at the body that had given him so much pleasure the night before.

”Maybe after we brush our teeth we can . . .” he started to suggest.

”Forget it. Just because I’ve agreed to continue with you for a while is no reason to think you’re going to be treated to a perpetual fuckfest, Severus. It’s not going to happen. My body needs a break,” the witch said, walking into the bathroom.

Severus listened as she used the loo, cursing a bit at her soreness. He heard the shower turn on, and rolled out of the bed. He entered the bathroom, used the loo, grabbed a washcloth and entered the shower with Hermione, his eyes hot as he watched her bathe.

Hermione turned to rinse her back and was poked in the belly by his erection.

”Can you please move that thing?" she snapped at him, “before I’m mortally impaled.”

”That doesn’t sound too bad to me,” Severus said with a smile.

Hermione snorted and switched places with him, noting the scratches on his shoulders and back as he washed.

”I’m going to go and get some healing potions for you,” the witch said gruffly, “so don’t dress completely until I get back.”

She slipped by Severus and exited the shower, the wizard looking through the glass at her as she dried and lotioned her body, brushed her teeth and her hair. Then she left the bathroom to dress.

By the time he finished his ablutions, Hermione had returned from her potions stores with the healing potions, walking much better since downing a bit of purple potion. She had Severus sit on the bed and carefully treated his scratches.

”Ow. That hurts worse than when you gave me the scratches,” the Gryffindor complained, wincing as the healing potion stung the long thin marks. They disappeared.

“Goes with the territory,” Hermione replied glibly, “now go get dressed. I’ll see you at breakfast.”

Severus stood up, then suddenly pulled Hermione to him. He wasn’t rough or too aggressive. He gave her a soft kiss.

”I love you,” he said gently, staring into her amber eyes.

Hermione blinked at him, then moved out of his embrace.

”Go to breakfast, Severus,” she said again, making a big production of digging in her dresser drawer for something.

Severus smiled and left the room. He knew the witch would probably never say those words back to him, but that didn’t matter. She must care about him. She accepted him after all. Love wouldn’t be far behind, even if she didn’t tell him. He really didn’t need to hear it as long as he could feel it.

When Severus left, Hermione let out a sigh. Gods, he was so fucking emotional. Her eyes fell on the rose, and she stared at it, amazed.

Not only was it more vibrant than ever, there was another bud on it. Another flower waiting to open. How strange was that?

She took her wand and added a bit more water to the vase, then headed out.

There was class afoot.

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The weeks flew by and they were quite happy ones for the young Gryffindor. He successfully completed all the brewings, thus proving the success of his techniques, his mentor signing off on them and taking them to a solicitor, who registered the techniques so Severus would get credit and residuals. He was already bringing in money and he hadn’t even graduated yet. Hermione also set him up an account at Gringotts.

What she didn’t know was that Severus had later gone down to the solicitor without her knowledge and arranged for him to set up another account, this one in Hermione’s name and to deposit twenty-five percent of his residuals in her account. He also drew up a contract that no more than one percent of the money could be given away in a year and that the account was non-transferable and his permission would be required for it to be closed.

He didn’t say a word about this to Hermione, but sincerely believed she deserved something for her work with him, some benefit. He’d deal with her hexing him later.

He might have been Hermione’s lover, but she meant what she said about their relationship not being a fuckfest. But he had developed a bit of finesse with his approach now, and wasn’t at all suggestive in his demeanor. He was slowly learning the art of seduction and discovered Hermione was much more amicable to a roll between the sheets after an evening of intelligent conversation and a bit of low-level affection. He no longer bowled her over with sneak attacks, but was very direct when he wanted to kiss her, and he never overstepped his boundaries unless she indicated she was willing for more.

He was also tending to his development of the Philosopher’s stone, having managed to create the white earth and oil. To make the oil, he had to collect the film that formed on the top of the putrid urine by filtration, scooping it out of the stinky mixture with cheesecloth, and cleaning it using running water while keeping it tightly folded in the cloth. Then he had to add a bit more distilled water and let it evaporate, the oil finally forming. The white crystals formed at the bottom of the urine. He simply let the urine evaporate to get at them

He was still distilling the red earth and oil. It was pretty horrible because he had to continuously distill the urine and let it putrefy further, but after four months it was ready.

Next, he had to flush the earth, to get rid of the putrid odor, which clung to the crystals as if it had teeth. This took another three weeks to accomplish. Luckily Flamel had the proper utensils and a source of constantly running water to do this.

Severus now had enough of the ingredients to do a bit of experimentation, and promptly exploded the cleansed crystals on three occasions when trying to combine them.

Graduation was fast approaching, and Severus was feeling the pressure of keeping his grades up, reviewing work and finishing the stone. Keeping Hermione at bay while he took off was rather difficult too, but he managed, getting Harry and Ron to cover for him when she checked to see if he had been with them.

”Anytime she asks you, just say yes,” Severus instructed them.

Finally, the young wizard believed he had it right and began to work on creating the stone in earnest. He had to carefully combine and warm the oils, but not too warm. The crystals would try and cool the oil because the ammonium nitrate would react with the trace amounts of water, so he had to be extremely careful. He added the red and white earth to the oils, then he heated the mixture carefully. It had to be exactly three hundred and sixty degrees or would explode. He watched, his dark eyes glinting as the crystals melted into the oil. The moment it all seemed homogenous, he turned off the fire and removed it from the heat. It had to cool. He set the mixture in the cabinet, locked it, closed the ceiling and headed back to Hogwarts, his stomach in knots.

It was two days before he was able to get back, his heart hopeful.

The moment he appeared in the lab, he ran into the moonlab, opened the ceiling and rushed to the cabinet. He stood before it for several minutes, unable to open it.

”Please,” he said to whatever gods oversaw such things as successful brewing, then he opened the cabinet and took out the small cauldron, looking inside, his eyes narrowed.

He blinked, then let out a whoop, reaching in and taking out a small red stone about the size of a large thimble. He held it up to the moonlight, peering through it. No cracks anywhere.

“Yes! Yes!” the wizard cried, bouncing about the lab with his prize. Then he sniffed it. No scent. That was good. Now . . . all he had to do was . . .

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Hermione met Severus’ parents at graduation. He had received the highest marks in fifty years. His parents were ecstatic . . . until they met Hermione.

”Mr. and Mrs. Snape,” she said formally, not shaking hands as Severus looked on nervously.

Severus’ mother, Eileen Prince, a rather short, pale woman with sharp brown eyes and her brown hair in a tight bun looked at the severe Potions mistress. Her husband, Tobias, was almost the spitting image of his son, tall, pale with black close cropped hair and a very large nose. He had black eyes as well. He gave her a small nod of acknowledgement but said nothing. He was a quiet man who let his wife ask all the questions and give all the answers. Life was easier that way. Being married to a witch could get harrowing at times.

”I understand Severus will be under your tutelage for the next four years. I imagine you are qualified to instruct my son?” Eileen said a bit tightly.

Eileen had heard about the offers Severus had for his apprenticeship and actually wasn’t pleased he passed over such perks to work with a next to penniless Potions mistress who had next to no notoriety. In fact, she tried to take Severus to task about making such a decision without consulting her or his father.

Tobias Snape didn’t say a word. Severus was old enough to make his own decisions. He must have had his reasons for choosing the Master or Mistress he did. The tall Muggle studied Hermione’s severe, unsmiling demeanor and shapeless robes.

Well, it couldn’t be anything sexual, that was for sure. She looked as warm and inviting as an iceberg.

Hermione studied Severus’ mother with a rather cold regard. She wasn’t about to go into a monologue trying to prove to or convince the woman she was qualified. Severus was already apprenticed to her. She didn’t have to prove anything to anyone. Not even his parents.

Instead Hermione said, “Your son has a non-binding Apprenticeship agreement with me, Mrs. Snape. He can leave anytime he wants. So, if I am not ‘suitable’ he’s free to go. Now, if you will excuse me.”

Hermione billowed off, Eileen frowning after her. She then turned to Severus.

”Are you sure you want to deal with four years of that, Severus? She’s absolutely . . . insufferable. She has no manners, did not try to be friendly in the least, didn't give any of her qualifications and didn’t even mention just how brilliant you are,” Eileen sniffed.

Severus, who had been looking after Hermione turned to his mother.

”Mum, you have no idea how brilliant SHE is. There’s no better mentor, believe me,” he said to his mother. “And no, she’s not very friendly, but she doesn’t have to be as long as she teaches me what I need to know.”

Hermione had taught the young wizard quite a bit in the last few months . . . and a little more about potions too.

“I hope you know what you’re doing. Now come along, let’s get you home,” Eileen said. “Come along, Tobias.”

Severus’ father followed the witch, winking at his son behind her back. Severus gave him a smile. Dad was always supportive, even if he didn’t say it out loud.

Severus was being forced to spend a week at home with his parents before setting out as a full apprentice to Hermione. He really didn’t want to leave, but Eileen coerced him into it using guilt. Before, she could use money to get him to listen since she was the one who issued Severus’ allowance, but now he had plenty of money of his own. Besides, Severus didn’t intend to return home and was going to get his own flat as soon as possible, so he went along with it. A kind of last hurrah.

Hermione stood in a window on the second floor and watched Severus and his parents walk across the Hogwarts grounds. She had become used to his constant presence. She sighed as she realized . . . she was going to miss him.

”I can’t believe myself,” she hissed as she walked toward the stairwell to take to the infirmary, “he’s only going to be gone a week. Gods.”

Hermione told herself to buck up and went to see Poppy and take an inventory of the potions the medi-witch had left so she could start preparing to supply her for the upcoming term. That night, she tossed and turned. For the most part, Severus shared her bed even when they weren’t engaged and she had become used to his body spooned around her, his pale arms wrapped around her possessively as she slept.

She hadn’t had a single nightmare since he started sleeping with her. This was something she had become used to as well. As much as she hated to admit it to herself, Hermione sorely missed Severus.

*************************************

Severus was miserable at his parent’s flat. He didn’t understand why he had to be there. They both still went to work every day. Besides, he wanted to see Hermione.

He had something to give to her.

Eileen didn’t help any.

”Why are you moping about, Severus? Usually, you’re happy to be home,” she said to him sharply at dinner as the Gryffindor picked at his peas.

As usual, his father said nothing.

”Mum, I want to go back to Hogwarts. I have things I need to get started on,” he said to her.

”Oh, you can’t spend a whole week with your parents, eh? That’s gratefulness for you. We paid your tuition for all these years to get you a premiere education and this is the thanks we get? And to think, I was in labor for thirty-five painful hours with you . . .”

Severus tuned Eileen out as she attempted to pile on the guilt. When she finally fell silent, he looked at her calmly.

”I’ll pay you all the tuition back,” he said softly.

Eileen spluttered and his father looked up at him, his brow furrowed.

”Why do you feel you have to do that, son?” he asked Severus.

Severus’ eyes flicked at his mother.

”So I don’t have to listen to mum talk about it for the rest of my life, that’s why,” Severus said sullenly. “I can’t do anything about the hours of labor, but I imagine you wanted to have me, so that’s not my fault.”

Eileen stared at him for a moment, then said, “Severus Tobias Snape! What in the world has gotten into you?”

Severus leveled his eyes on her.

”I’m growing up, mum. I’m a man now,” he said to her in a low voice. “You have to stop talking to me like I’m a child.”

”What? A man? You’re not a man, Severus . . . you’re only eighteen and know nothing about the world!” she said to him, then looked at her husband. “Tobias, tell Severus he knows nothing about life!”

Tobias looked from his angry wife to his son. Severus braced himself. His father never went against what his mother said. Tobias looked at his son, black eyes meeting black eyes.

”If you feel you need to go back to Hogwarts, Severus, then go. You’re right. You’re not a little boy anymore. You have graduated, have a bit of money in the bank, are getting residuals for your work and I believe you are well able to make good decisions based on what you’ve accomplished already,” his father said to him as Eileen swelled up.

”Tobias!” she said to him angrily.

Tobias Snape leveled his eyes on his wife.

”Eileen, cut the apron strings. You knew today would come, and it’s here. Have some dignity,” he said to her softly, returning to his meal.

Eileen’s mouth worked up and down silently, then her eyes filled as she looked at her son.

”Aw, mum,” Severus began as she rose from the table and rushed from the room. He started to follow her, but his father stopped him.

”Let her go, Severus. I’ll talk to her. She’s my wife and to be honest . . . not your problem. You have your own path to follow and have to be free to do that. I just want to let you know I understand and I’m proud of you. Now, if you need to go back to Hogwarts . . . go,” Tobias said.

Severus looked at his father gratefully.

”Thanks dad,” he said, then hurried from the room to pack.

It had only been four days, but it felt like a lifetime since he’d seen Hermione.

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A/N: Wow, this chapter just poured out of me. Eileen’s a piece of work isn’t she? Lol. Thanks for reading.