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And They Didn\'t Live Happily Ever After	By : ElizabethStump Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 90306 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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“And They Didn't Live Happily Ever After”

Chapter Sixty-Six

"Last Tango in London"

Disclaimer: En español – Google translate
Todos los personajes reconocibles pertenecen a JK Rowling y asociados. Ninguna infracción de derechos de autor pretendía. (All recognizable characters belong to JK Rowling and associates. No copyright infringement intended.)

============

Severus had discovered over the past three weeks that he actually enjoyed some of the ordinary mundane aspects of domesticity. The only things the couple didn't have to deal with in that arena were issues like money matters, visiting family or friends, and most chores, since Marf took care of those. It wasn't like he had any family to visit since both his parents had long since passed, and he had no other family that he was in contact with except for some distant cousins that he wasn't even acquainted with. Hermione rarely visited her parents, though he wondered how they would react to their soon-to-be divorced daughter being romantically involved with an ex-Death Eater twenty years her senior.

Severus was almost forty-four, but still could pass for a man in his thirties, though some aspects of working as a spy had aged him a bit, most notably around the eyes. Once in a rare while he had what some Muggles called the “thousand-yard stare.”

Regardless of all the minor details of life they didn't have to deal with together, Severus was regretting the end of their unfettered stretch at playing house.

Since "Delgado" was no longer employed, that first Monday he found himself rising out of habit to only realize half-way through breakfast that he didn't have to rush off to work. He could sit on his arse all day like some bored housewitch, waiting for Hermione to finish her day at her new job and come "home" to tell him about it. It was quite the gender reversal.

Now free to do anything he wanted, he read. There were some old Sanskrit tomes he had been meaning to read once again, first to refresh his memory, and second to practice his Sanskrit since it was a little rusty.

He wondered if he would have the opportunity to employ more use of the foreign languages among the members of his new community. There was much he was uncertain of, but the only thing he was certain of was that this was the last place in the world that truly offered sanctuary.

Greece once used to have a sanctuary for witches and wizards who ran afoul of their wizarding government's laws or were persecuted justly or unjustly, but since it was a popular place and easy to reach for the European wizarding populace, the guardians to Greece’s sanctuary began demanding payment for entrance: a fee to be free. Just as unscrupulous politicians can be bought or pressured, the magic regarding the several millennia-old sanctuary in Greece was changed through some very powerful spellcasting. Now for an even larger fee from a determined government, witches and wizards could be unwillingly extradited back to their homelands to face jail, Dementors, or execution.

Where he, Draco, and Ginny were going was still a place where they did not have to pay to enter; they would truly be safe from any Aurors who might try to capture and take them back. The magic, he was told with great authority, was quite strong and powerful.

Lost in a book and off his usual schedule, Severus suddenly realized he had not done anything to prepare dinner as Hermione knocked upon his door. Upon entering, she greeted him warmly, eager to tell him about her first day with Albert.

Before she could continue, he stopped her and apologized that he hadn't done anything regarding dinner, to which she suggested that she head out and bring back some take-away from a great curry place that she and Ginny had tried recently.

Once again, Hermione was paying for something that he felt obligated to pay for; she insisted that if he felt strongly about it, if they did take-away again, he could always pay for it then, though she would still be the one to fetch it. Hermione told Severus not to worry about him forgetting dinner, as she had upon many occasions forgotten all about dinner with her nose in a book.

After a trip via Floo and a bit of Apparating, Hermione knocked on his door once more with a couple bags of hot food. Severus had forgotten how much he really liked curry, as he hadn't explored Indian cooking on his own, despite having a couple cookbooks. Additionally, Miss Brown didn't care for it and never had the house-elves at Lovely Lavender serve it for lunch. Besides, the strong odors usually interfered with one's ability to properly smell afterwards and required a change of clothes as well to escape the scents.

As they ate basmati rice, naan bread, Rogan Josh, Chicken Tikka Masala, Aloo Gobi, Riata, and Channa Masala with a couple of chutneys on the side, Hermione recounted her first day as Albert Dobmeir's Potions apprentice.

"Why didn't you tell me that the house-elves provide lunch for you every day?" Hermione asked as she put a bit of Riata on her naan to cool the mellow spices from the Rogan Josh warming her tongue.

"I had become so accustomed to it, I had forgotten it was a perk of the position," he admitted with a shrug. "Besides, it's not like Miss Brown wants to have two ex-Death Eaters spotted leaving her headquarters around lunch every day, to re-enter an hour later.”

"Well, it certainly will be easier for the fact I don't have to head out to lunch every day or pack my own, which is what I did many times."

"And did you lunch with Miss Brown?" He gave Hermione a curious glance, his one brow cocked.

"Yes, and it was a little awkward, but we pretended as if there were no bad blood between us. There was no need to embarrass Albert with the salacious details of our personal lives that will hit the papers soon enough once it becomes public knowledge when Ron and I file officially." Hermione used her spoon to push around the curry-soaked rice about her plate, suddenly feeling her appetite wane a little.

There was the question of whether they would file the divorce privately or at the Ministry. Either way, it would magically appear in the Ministry's records for all to see once complete. Hermione hadn’t looked into getting her own Gringotts vault yet, and there was still the issue of buying her own owl. Either action might be viewed as suspicious, if scrutinized too closely by the Eeylops Owl Emporium employees or the Goblins at the bank.

Severus placed his hand atop hers. It was comforting to know that he would still be around when she divorced Ron and would have a shoulder to cry upon, should she deal with any emotional baggage that had yet to be expunged. She had cried enough over this latest development in her marriage, and now she had reached the level of quiet resignation and acceptance.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When Hermione came home Tuesday night, having spent the evening at Severus’ again, Ron's owl, Pigwidgeon, was waiting for her with a postcard in his beak. Once she retrieved it, the little Scops owl dove into the tray of owl treats and began eating nearly the whole bowl down in one go.

Turning over the card, she looked at the date, realizing this was the first postcard Ron sent her. He’d sent it over a week ago.

-------

Hermione,

Thailand and India were amazing. Morocco was too dry and sandy.

South America - mix of good and bad. Home soon.

Ron

-------

Flipping the card back over, she more closely looked at the photograph on the other side. It said, "Greetings from Tahiti", with a picture of a tropical beach, an empty hammock, and palm trees swaying in the breeze. She could see the waves gently lapping at the white sandy beach.

"You came all the way from Tahiti?" Hermione asked the diminutive owl.

Pig hooted at her with his beak full of owl treats that he was still wolfing down.

"I'll get you a nice fresh mouse tomorrow. How does that sound?"

The owl hooted twice and snuggled up against Hermione's hand in appreciation of her offer.

"Fine, two mice. You earned it."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In anticipation of Ron returning home Wednesday, Hermione decided not to visit Severus the day Ron was supposed to come back. She would go back to the old Monday night and Thursday night routines until Ron or she had moved out. More likely, it was Ron who would leave for Lavender's place, preferably the night he returned.

Looking in her cupboard and pantry, she realized she had let her food stores whittle down since she only ever ate breakfast at her flat now. She had come home from work, and there was very little to cook. Ron wasn't home yet, so she made a quick run out to the butcher’s for a couple steaks, and she would cook up some noodles and carrots she still had in her pantry.

As she was putting the groceries away, she heard the Floo roar to life.

"'Mione? 'Mione, you home?" Ron called out.

"In the kitchen," she hollered back.

"Wow, you're home?" he said in surprise, used to her coming home late most nights, even Wednesdays.

Hermione stood in the doorway and looked Ron over. His hair was rumpled, his face tanner, and it looked like he’d gained even more muscle, but his face was thinner, indicating he had really chiseled down his body fat even further.

As much as it would have been natural to run across the room and throw her arms around him in welcome, it was not going to happen.

There was an awkward silence as Ron didn't make any move to run over and embrace her either.

"I started my apprenticeship with Albert Dobmeir this last Monday," she informed him blandly.

"That's amazing!" Ron said, sincerely happy for her.

"Albert Dobmeir is Lavender Brown's new Potions master."

Ron's face fell.

Over all the talk of her apprenticeship with Albert Dobmeir, Hermione had forgotten to mention that Dobmeir and herself would both be working for Lavender. Had Ron been aware of that fact before that moment, he may have confessed himself about the affair before she found it out from Lavender herself.

"I want a divorce," she said flatly without emotion. Before Ron could object, she added, "I am making enough money now, working for Lavender. Between that and my royalties, plus free rent at a block of flats she owns in which I've been offered a place to live, I won't have any money troubles, Ron."

Ron just stared at her. His face was ashen.

When he continued to stand there and do nothing, Hermione turned around and went back into the kitchen to begin cooking dinner.

"You still like your steak rare?" she called out from the kitchen.

Ron finally found his feet and his voice and rushed to the doorway of the kitchen.

"'Mione, I can explain," he blurted out.

Hermione stopped and swiveled on the spot to fix him with a glare that would freeze a phoenix's arse, the cooking knife in her hand and pointed towards his chest. "Shall I recount everything Lavender has told me and then you can add anything she left out, or shall I let you blather on and dig yourself deeper into a hole?"

Ron weighed the possibility between keeping his mouth shut or rambling on. He decided on the latter.

"But if you know all this, why are you working for her if you're this upset?" he asked, wondering how Hermione could work for the woman he was having an affair with.

"Because, Ron, this apprenticeship is something I have wanted for a long time. And when I finally have it, I'm not going to give it up because you couldn't keep your wee willie out of some other witch's fanny." Hermione punctuated the end of that statement with a sharp and forceful chop of her knife, cutting a small carrot in half with precision.

Ron winced at the implication of her subconscious gesture.

"I know you've been fucking her since that first big fight shortly after Harry and Ginny's wedding," Hermione began as she listed off each point as she wielded her knife with precision, focusing her frustration on the phallic vegetable in front of her. "I know when you've been gone and said you've been at a 'friend's' place, you've really been at her place. I know she has begged you to divorce me for years. I know that you only married me because your mother coerced you into it. I know we never really loved each other the way a husband and wife should. I know you're in love with her and she with you. I know that you have not divorced me because you were worried about me having enough money to live on, a problem now resolved with my new job, thanks to your mistress, who is paying me, and that you're too scared shitless of your mother to tell her if we do get a divorce, which we will have." She finished chopping up the carrots and put them in a pot to boil. "Did I leave anything out?"

"Yeah, not only did Mum push me into marrying you, she threatened that if I didn't propose soon, she would kick me out of the house and financially cut me off, job or no job."

Hermione almost felt some pity for Ron as he’d proposed shortly after dropping out of Auror training. It was before he landed his position as second-string Keeper and part-time barman.

Ron sounded very bitter at having been strong-armed by his mother. He had expressed recently how he wished he was stronger when dealing with her domineering personality; he hadn’t had the fortitude to push back against her bullying. Hermione realized he had been, in some ways, just a kid at the time and fresh from a war that had damaged everyone's soul it touched. Everyone had been too tired to fight anymore, even Ron.

Still feeling less than generous towards her husband, Hermione threw back in Ron's face, "Why didn't you just go stay at Harry's, then?"

"You know what she's like. Or have you forgotten about her nagging about children already?" he countered, his voice rising in anger.

The emotionally-drained witch slumped against the counter, her hands braced on the chipped tile for support. She knew exactly what Molly Weasley was like. The rancor she felt towards her mother-in-law was near equal to the anger she still felt over Ron's betrayal. It wasn't like Hermione was any more faithful towards the end of their marriage, willingly falling into Severus' bed after writing off her marriage at the end of her anniversary dinner.

Hermione and Lavender both agreed that Ron was to never find out about his wife and Severus being together. Not only about that, but Lavender's side gigolo business as well. Ron would never understand about any of it. Ron was going to have a hard enough time dealing with his little sister running off with Draco, leaving Harry, his best friend, alone and forsaken.

The slow burning rage in the pit of Hermione's stomach made her want to tell Ron about his own mother's visits to see a gentleman named "Eduardo," but that would be hexing her own foot off. Instead she tamped it down and calmed herself enough that she could at least face eating without wanting to throw it up.

The pan was sizzling hot, so Hermione threw the steaks on and told Ron to sit. They were to have one last dinner together as husband and wife, then after dinner he was to pack up his things and get the fuck out of their flat and go stay at Lavender's. He could come back tomorrow while she was at work to pick up the rest of his things.

They would sort out who got what and splitting of the money in their vault later. She would even force him to take that cheeky mirror she had spelled silent for the past three weeks so she did not have to listen to it bitch at her any more, but she wasn't going to share a bed with him any longer.

Ron didn't argue; he only shook his head in agreement, his head hanging down like the guilty dog he was.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Bill Weasley was celebrating his thirty-third birthday. The whole family was going to be there, even Percy, Penelope, and their newest child, Prunella, as well as her older siblings, Parker and Primrose.

Since Hermione was no longer going to be Ron's wife, Lavender got the duty of finding a birthday present for Bill. Hermione gladly handed that chore off to her, having had her fill over the years of buying presents for the various Weasley family members. That one obligation alone that she would no longer have to part Galleons over would probably save her a small fortune. Lavender was rich; she could afford to buy Bill whatever her tastes desired.

Hermione, Ron, and Lavender Apparated together to the path near Bill and Fleur's home. No one held hands as they approached the house.

Knocking on the door, they were greeted by Fred, who asked, "What are you doing here, Lav?" He wondered why his business partner had shown up for a private family function.

Ron rushed inside and masked his nervousness by acting a bit overly cheerful. "Has the party started yet?"

Hermione and Lavender both entered the home behind Ron and waited for the questioning glances and looks to subside as to why Miss Brown was there. Ginny, who already had a glass of Fleur's famous champagne cocktail in her hand, just stared quietly.

Hermione and Ginny had had lunch recently and the older witch updated her friend on the goings on as of late, but it still hadn’t quite prepared Mrs. Potter for what was transpiring before her eyes.

Molly was making noise in the kitchen that, "Ron and Hermione better arrive soon or they'd have trouble to deal with," when she rounded the corner with her hands full with a casserole dish.

A small shriek of fright erupted from Molly, her eyes wide and full of terror. Her hands dropped the casserole; it landed on the floor with a crash, roasted squash splattering all over her brown heeled shoes and stockings.

All eyes in the room swiveled from Lavender, who was like an interloper, to Molly who reacted so violently to seeing her there.

"Oh, my! Why didn't you tell us you'd be bringing a guest to Bill's party?" Molly began nervously, stammering.

Molly pulled her wand out and the casserole was restored, dish and squash intact as if it had never hit the floor. She was forgetting the fact that there was probably lint and hair now contaminating the squash casserole, and it would still need to be chucked in the bin.

As Molly rushed to put the casserole on the table, before dropping it once more, Ron said, "I have an announcement."

He swallowed hard; suddenly surrounded by his entire family, his voice failed him.

"Hermione's pregnant?" Molly blurted out, her face suddenly turning from dread to hope.

Hermione, sensing that Ron was going to lose his nerve stepped up next to Ron and clasped his hand as a sign that though she may be angry with him, she was with him at that moment.

"No," Hermione said defiantly, "Ron and I are getting a divorce."

The room erupted into a cacophony of riotous noise.

Lavender, who had been standing back watched in awe as the room became a flurry of waving hands, mothers clasping hands over their children's ears as if "divorce" was a dirty word, which it sort of was in the wizarding world, and shouts of disbelief.

"How could you do this to me!" Molly shrieked in shrill tones at her youngest son.

"Wow, and I thought Mum finding out about our sex shop was going to be hard," George muttered to Lavender as an aside.

Philippe turned to his mother, Fleur, who was equally shocked. He asked, "Mum, what's a divorce?"

Charlie got into Ron's face and started asking him if this was some joke the twins put him up to.

Penelope gave Hermione the stink eye before saying snidely, "I hope this bad news doesn't make my breast milk go sour."

Ginny just continued to sit there while Harry ran over to confront Ron and Hermione about this out-of-the-blue revelation.

Bill sat down in a chair, bewildered and overcome by the news.

Molly continued railing on, "And you couldn't have waited until after dinner and cake to tell us this? You just ruined your brother's birthday dinner!"

"There are more important things than Bill's birthday dinner, like you forcing me to propose to Hermione when I didn't want to!" Ron shouted back at his mother in a booming voice.

The whole room went deadly silent. All eyes once again turned to look at Molly, whose face was starting to turn a lovely shade of cerise.

This time, Arthur was the first to speak, "What do you mean, Ron, when you say she forced you?"

"It's nothing, Arthur," Molly interrupted. "He's just exaggerating. I did no such thing."

Ron had finally found his backbone and stood up even straighter, the full force of his muscular physique dwarfing his mother. He said very clearly, over-enunciating each and every word, "Really? Shall I have someone fetch a Pensieve? I can show everyone my memory of you threatening to cut me off and throw me out of the house if I didn't get around to proposing to Hermione and 'right quick', as you put it!"

Arthur turned to look at his wife, disbelieving his wife had pressured Ron into a marriage he was neither ready for nor wanted.

The room devolved once more into screaming, questions and accusations before Molly shouted, "Well, you can't get a divorce."

"Actually," Hermione interjected, "we did it this afternoon from home, just before we came over. When the Ministry opens on Monday morning, it will appear on their registry that we are no longer married." She let go of Ron's hand to sit down, now feeling quite tired.

"Well, undo it!" Molly insisted.

Harry yelled at Ron, "Why didn't you two tell me and Ginny about this?" He presumed his wife didn't know, and she didn't correct him.

"This still doesn't explain why Lavender's here!" George yelled loud enough for everyone to hear.

Lavender walked up next to Ron to clasp his hand to present a unified front and said, her chin jutting defiantly, "Ron and I are going to get married."

Molly howled with incredulity, "YOU'VE BEEN HAVING AN AFFAIR... WITH HER?!?" in a voice so loud some of the grandchildren cowered and began to cry.

"And just what is wrong with Lavender? I am deeply in love with her and we have been for a long time. Maybe I would have married her and been happier and had children already if you hadn’t forced me to marry Hermione in the first place," Ron shouted back.

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley," Lavender said in a cool voice that denoted a calm attitude and that she was in charge of the conversation. "Just what is wrong with Ron marrying me? We have been in love each other for years."

"You mean you've been committing adultery all along?" Harry asked, ready to hex his friend for cheating on Hermione.

"It makes no difference now, Harry," Hermione said calmly, putting her hand on Harry's wand arm, noticing how it was twitching, itching to cast some jinx at his oldest friend. "We were never in love to begin with, and this marriage has been over for a long time. We just finally both have the sense to finally end it and part ways."

Hermione could have added that she was now working for Lavender, but that would have created a whole new ruckus, so she figured that it would come out later.

Not surprisingly, Fred came over to stand next to Hermione and said very quietly, "You do realize that Albert Dobmeir – the guy you're apprenticing under – is Lav's new Potions master, right?"

Hermione nodded and said somberly, "I already had my first week at my new work. Trust me, I'm well aware."

Fred whistled long and low, shaking his head. "Man, you Muggle-borns have some pretty liberal attitudes. Almost as bad as the Spanish."

Hermione ignored Molly, who was still railing on, and went over to Bill. "I'm sorry I ruined your dinner party, Bill. But this has been coming for a long time, and we had to break it at some point. Happy birthday, Bill."

She shook his hand and went to head to the door.

"And just where do you think you're going?" Molly questioned shrilly, spying Hermione making her exit past Ron.

"I am going home." Hermione exited and walked out the door, closing it gently.

Outside along the path, George ran after her and asked her to stop for a moment.

"I know my mother can be a bit much, but even though you're not married to Ron any more, you'll always be a part of this family, even if you are divorced. If you and Ron were never in love with each other, I don't blame you for ending it. Charlie, Percy, and Mum might be having a fit right now, but some of us are a bit more understanding."

Hermione gave George a hug and thanked him.

"Ginny knew, didn't she?" George asked quietly.

"Do you think I could have gone through all this and not tell my dearest friend?"

"You didn't tell Harry, since he was just as shocked as Mum," George observed.

"Harry has his own issues to deal with, and he doesn't need my troubles heaped on top of his," she said cryptically, without giving details of Harry and Ginny's own crumbling marriage.

"Well, I hope you're still coming to the grand opening of The Sirens' Secrets next week," he said.

"With bells on," she assured him.

Before she Apparated away, George suddenly shouted with inspiration, "Ooh! Bell nipple pasties! Thanks for the idea, Hermione!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Since Severus had his days free now, his madam, Miss Brown, had arranged some daytime visits by some older witches looking for a bit of company. As his client list had whittled down to just Mrs. Paxton on Sunday, appearances had to be kept up that Severus was earning his keep by peddling his companionship. It was just for one more week, but Severus did it in order to help create a believable story that she had no idea he was leaving, by keeping him solidly booked, but the other six nights were still strictly free for Hermione.

If anything, he got to use his masks one last time before getting rid of them. He decided to keep his Casanova mask embellished with a few gold baroque swirls as a reminder of the night he and Hermione met each other. If anything, it symbolized the mask she had stripped away from him and his heart.

Most of the witches were thankfully not interested in anything sexual, though one did get a bit frisky, to which he had to inform her that he wasn't being paid for that type of company, especially the meager sum she had offered for his time through Miss Brown. Marf was happy that he got to make a lot of tea and sandwiches that week.

Now that Ron was gone from her life, Hermione came over every night, since Severus was mostly a Beau du Jour gigolo now.

Time was speeding up faster for the two lovers. Though it seemed his day of departure would never arrive, he wanted each night to last forever so he could be with Hermione just a bit longer before she went home to her own flat each night.

That Monday morning, the Daily Prophet had a headline in bold print that read: "QUIDDITCH STAR DIVORCES WIFE FOR BEAUTY EMPIRE QUEEN!" There was an old photo of Ron and Hermione's wedding that the paper had from when they published the announcement years ago. It was tearing in half with a photo of a sultry-looking Lavender Brown popping up between husband and wife. Lavender was winking, making the photo look as bad as the story implicated.

It was even written by Marietta Edgecombe, the budding reporter at the Daily Prophet who still had the word “SNEAK” written permanently across her face in old acne scars, thanks to Hermione's secret jinx imbued in the Dumbledore Army contract in her fifth year. Marietta's article was almost as scathing as if Rita Skeeter had written it herself, no doubt taking pointers from the prevaricator.

Their divorce was public record, but as for how the hacks at the Daily Prophet discovered that Ron was with Lavender, she wondered if there were a few more unregistered Animagi at the paper than just Rita Skeeter.

Hermione was glad she could Floo directly from her flat to work, as there were reporters who knocked on her door at home at all hours asking for an exclusive, and the house-elves kept the press away at work. Lavender came into work complaining about how Ron was being harangued by the press equally. Hermione felt much less pity for those two.

Bascom Nettleton wasn't too upset over the news and seemed to find perverse joy in it, declaring that every witch would want a calendar featuring the Chudley Cannons’ Keeper, Ron Weasley, since he must have been pretty hot looking for the beauty empire queen to steal him away from his wife. Lavender seemed to also mention Bascom Nettleton's name with a slight shudder. Hermione secretly wondered if Lavender had had an equally smarmy encounter with the older wizard, but didn't ask.

Albert Dobmeir had the decorum to offer a kind ear without judgment. Hermione declined for now, saying she might talk to him later about it, but she just wanted to concentrate on her work instead. He kept her busy by having her work on Greek, the first language she chose to master, when she wasn't working on new beauty Potions with Albert or going to his house to tend his personal Potions garden.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

She could scarcely believe it, but this was the last night she was going to visit Severus. He had become such an integral part of her life, her routine, her heart, that she didn't want to believe it. Their evenings together, first with Severus posing as Calleo, then known for his true self, had become the one bright thing in her life amid the depressing drudgery of being married to Ron and working in a dead-end job she loathed.

Severus had provided a soft shoulder and some tea, becoming her friend before they became lovers. And now he would soon be gone.

Staring at a fresh bowl of lemons she had procured from a recent visit to the Hogsmeade Memorial Cemetery earlier that week, Hermione said to the peculiar fruit, as if she was speaking to her old Headmaster in person, "Why didn't you take care of Severus and Draco? How could you die and leave them without some proof that they should not be persecuted?"

She played with one of the lemons in her hand, noting the leathery quality of it, since she had picked it up off the ground and who knew how long it had been there before she’d grabbed it. There was a temptation to throw it against the wall in anger, but instead she placed it in the pocket of her cloak to give to Severus.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The two lovers tried to pretend as if this was just another evening together, but the portent of what would happen tomorrow loomed over their last night together.

They ate a salad accented with fresh pomegranate seeds and shaved fennel over a bed of spinach and arugula with a light dressing, alongside the main entree of roasted goose glazed with apricot jam Severus had canned in late spring. It was a lovely last dinner to share together.

The salad reminded Hermione of the Greek myth of Persephone eating a few pomegranate seeds. That act had resulted in the origin of winter and how seasons occur, since they were on the cusp of the coldest and darkest of seasons, when Persephone parted from the ones she loved against her will.

As they dined, Hermione practiced a bit of her Greek with Severus, who helped her with her pronunciation and a few mnemonic tricks he knew. After supper, they retired to the settee for a bit to let dinner settle before dancing.

Severus began by playing Hermione's favorite song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” It was by the third song, a slow tango, that they stopped dancing and began making love for the last time.

They took their time, taking it slow. Both wanted to remember it all in perfect detail.

There was an urgency in their kisses. It wasn't like the first time they kissed where they needed to consume one another to fulfill a long denied hunger. This was different. They needed to gorge themselves on each other in order to last the months or years until they would see each other again. Even Severus had silently admitted to himself that when the old fortuneteller said Hermione would see him again, it didn't exactly imply he would still be alive.

He had Hermione undressed first and on her back in his bed. His mouth and fingers probed and delved into her, bringing her to orgasm twice before he would let her up off the bed to reciprocate.

She let him guide the pace when it was his turn, wanting to let him do anything he wanted. When her gag reflexes kicked in, he eased up, but her hands guided him to go deep into her mouth and down her throat. He was in awe of the sight of her lost in the rapture of giving him pleasure.

Finally, unable to wait any longer, Severus removed himself from Hermione's mouth and pulled her up onto his lap. She quickly impaled herself on him and rode him, feeling as if she would cry. He grasped her tightly and thrust up from underneath with a desire to keep her there forever in her bed. As much as he needed freedom more than he needed Hermione, he briefly thought about what would happen if he did stay behind to be with her.

His head planted firmly against her chest, his arms tight around his love, Severus came, screaming and howling, no longer holding back his reserve. Hermione angled her hips in such a way that increased the friction against her clit and came as well, as Severus was nearing the end of his orgasm.

They laid together in his bed, both unable to speak for a while, before Hermione rolled over and began to kiss him again. It wasn't long before Severus was ready once again. This time he had Hermione on her back, her legs spread wide and far apart, her knees practically up under her shoulders. He slammed into her, each thrust accented with a fierce grunt, as she watched him. His eyes were shut tight as he was concentrating on the sensation of her warmth tightly wrapped around him. She watched the way his long, straight raven locks swayed with each movement, like the boughs of a tree in a steady summer breeze.

"I love you, Severus," she choked out, her voice thick with emotion and her eyes filling with tears. She didn't want him to go and almost begged for him to stay.

Hearing Hermione declare her love yet again, he came, but this time his face did not screw into an exquisite grimace of furrowed brow and grim set mouth, but that of one in pain, as if surrendering in defeat. His brows lifted and his eyes pleaded with hers, his mouth slack.

Collapsed on top of her, he firmly kissed the whole of her face: Her forehead, her cheeks, her eyes, her brow, her chin and mouth. They were both panting laboriously, Hermione kissing him back similarly, kissing his shoulder and neck as well.

He had to say it one last time.

Draco had taken Severus to task for offering to bring Hermione along recently when – not some months before – Severus had reamed him out at the insistence of taking Ginny. Their plan was set and here he was willing to risk it for a witch, who at the time was still married to Weasley.

"It's not too late," Severus said, still trying to catch his breath, still buried inside of Hermione. "You can still come with us."

He didn't care if this would turn into another fight; he knew he would regret it if he didn't try one last time.

Hermione's heart felt as it would break in two right then. Her resolve was sorely tested, his voice was almost pleading, begging nearly in the same way he had begged to have her when he ground himself up against her in the kitchen when he still wore his mask. His voice had been heavy with desperation for release and need then; his voice held that same expression of his need for her now.

"I will see you again. I know it in my bones, Severus," she whispered with certainty into his hair, her hand gently stroking his back, legs still wrapped around him.

He wanted to believe her, and perhaps he did. It still didn't stop the hole that was opening in his heart, already missing her though she was right there in his arms, beneath him, still locked in a lovers' embrace.

Memory of Draco's insistence that Severus tell Hermione about his wife came once more unbidden to the forefront of his mind. For the fact that he had been battling with the question more and more as the weeks progressed made him think that he did need to unburden his sins upon his lover. Even the ghostly images of Albus and Minerva had been nagging him with increasing urgency that he tell her.

Maybe his story might evoke some pity in her and she might change her mind and still come with him in the end; or she might hate him and end his futile hope that she would come with him. And even if he never did see her again, she would know him for who he truly was and not the man behind the mask who hid his pain and shame. This was his last mask to strip away for her.

"Draco thinks I should tell you some parts of my past. And perhaps he is right. Should you change your mind and come with me, it would be best that you know," Severus began as he crawled off of Hermione to lay next to her, staring at the ceiling, unable to look her in the eye.

Hermione laid next to him and held his hand to let him know that whatever he might confess, she was still there for him, comforting him in his pain as he told his tale.

"I became a Death Eater because of the people who I thought were my friends. I was foolish and young, confusing the seduction of inclusion – and of a false sense of belonging with flattery and praise – with actual friendship. In order to belong, I let my own opinions be swayed by others’, since I had never really fit in before."

Hermione gave Severus' hand a squeeze, remembering how alone she’d felt her first year at Hogwarts and the overwhelming loneliness, unable to find a way to fit in or make friends, until befriended by Ron and Harry.

Severus continued. "It took a while before I realized the mistake I had made. In my seventh year, my father had arranged a marriage for me to a pure-blood witch three years my senior."

Hermione sat up and looked at Severus in surprise, but kept hold of his hand, squeezing it once more.

"We were married shortly after I had taken my N.E.W.T.s and came home from Hogwarts. She had been caught by her father in bed with a Muggle she claimed to be in love with. Being from a pure-blood family, this was unacceptable. The only course was for her to be married off to another pure-blood as soon as possible."

Hermione had no idea Severus was ever married, but given his own cryptic bitter comments about arranged marriages, it shouldn't have surprised her.

Severus only kept going, urged on by the soft reassurance of Hermione's touch in his own hand, encouraging him. "We loathed each other at first. We were both resentful with each other that we were forced into a situation against our own wills. Something I think your ex-husband can relate to, I'm sure."

Turning away from Severus, the tears came, realizing the Ron probably held some resentment towards her all these years after having his own mother pressure him into a marriage he wasn't ready for. She wiped away the tears before regarding Severus once again.

"She was a Ravenclaw, and she saw the logic in trying to make the best of a bad situation. Eventually we established a friendly rapport with each other. I may have even loved her, as you loved your husband. But we were not in love."

This time Severus squeezed Hermione's hand back, indicating silently that he had fallen in love with Hermione as he had not with his wife.

"Eventually, she became pregnant."

He paused, trying to hold back his own tears. Even after all these years, he still had trouble dealing with the fact that he’d almost became a father. The fact that Draco and his unborn child could have even grown up together and possibly been friends had crossed his mind more than once.

"The problem with Ravenclaws is that sometimes they think logic is the cure for all ills of the world. That everyone should see things logically, especially when evidence is provided that can support ideas with facts. What my wife..." He almost could not say her name, but he soldiered on, "… Gabrielle, could not comprehend is that prejudices are not based on facts, but cold hard ignorance that does not wish to be erased. Prejudices can be as zealous as blind faith. And the other Death Eaters and their wives had nothing but that to prove their unwavering faith in the Dark Lord."

He closed his eyes, wincing at the utterance of the wizard who still struck terror in his soul.

"Gabrielle, having dealt with Muggles, and once having one as a lover before marrying me, thought that with intellectual debate she could convince the wives of Death Eaters that Muggles were not to be feared or hated, but embraced and welcomed. Needless to say, she was made an example of."

Hermione gasped in shock of this news. She began softly sobbing in sympathy for Severus loss, even though she had not heard the whole story.

"I was summoned by the Dark Lord..." he trailed off, trying to find the courage to speak his most grievous sins. Severus swallowed thickly, his mouth gone dry and his voice began to tremble as he recounted, "Gabrielle was there, bound on the wet ground, caked in mud. She was five months pregnant with our child. The Dark Lord said that a pure-blood witch who commingled with Muggles and espoused their equality was unfit to live, much less wield a wand and call herself a witch. He even questioned the paternity of the child. Lucius added in the crude joke about possibly being cuckolded by her old Muggle lover. I was ordered to... dispatch her."

She was crying silently, but he could feel the bed shake as she tried to keep quiet as the sobs racked her body.

"I hesitated. How could I kill her?" His voice overwhelmed, almost laughing at the despair that flooded him upon recalling those memories. "When the Dark Lord sensed my wavering obedience, he offered to have Lucius Malfoy do it if I could not.

"I knew that if I did not do it, then not only would she and my child die, but that I would, too. And if I was dead, then I could not avenge her, fight against those who would force me to kill her. I knew I had to do it or else I would have died in vain."

Hermione buried her head into his shoulder, her tears soaking the sheets beneath his skin. Still, she kept as quiet as possible while she cried.

"I summoned all my rage against her that I could. The resentment of having to marry her against my will, the petty battles we’d had, my anger at Lucius who looked like he was enjoying this as he smirked at my pain, my utter hatred that I had ever felt towards anyone, and I cast the Killing Curse."

Hermione finally let her sobs find voice and she cried pitifully. Severus wasn't sure even he could stand the sounds of her cries, as she was not crying for herself this time, but for him.

"Afterwards, I went to her parents' house to offer myself up to whatever punishment they wanted, but I found that they had already been killed. So I went to Dumbledore. I threw myself at his mercy, and even begged him to kill me himself, poison me, even. But he made me promise to fight against the Dark Lord and spy for the Order."

Hermione's sobbing began to subside somewhat.

"After the war, the Headmaster kept the killing of my wife a secret, knowing I lived with the remorse of it every day, even now. My work as a spy was the justification as to why the Wizengamot could not delve into what I had done during the first war. But nothing can excuse me, not even your forgiveness, if you were to give it, of what I've done."

Hermione threw herself across Severus’ chest as her sobs returned anew.

"I'm so sorry, Severus. I had no idea. My God, what could you do?" she wailed into his shoulder.

"I could have died alongside her like I deserved," he replied, emotion drained from his voice in defeat.

"No! No, Severus," she insisted. "If you had died, then the war might have been lost. I wish she hadn't died, I wish your child hadn't either, but there was nothing else to do. It's their fault she died; you were forced to do it, just as Draco was forced to take his Dark Mark against his will as well. You did it to survive, Severus. And until one is put into a life or death situation, no one is ever sure of what they will do, and they may question for the rest of their life what they should have done. But you did what you thought was right for the moment. I cannot judge you, Severus. I can forgive you, but I cannot judge."

Severus rolled away from Hermione, feeling as if he was undeserving of her pity and forgiveness.

"Severus, I did things during the war that I wish I had done differently. But we make the choices as best we can. You chose to live, to fight back and avenge her. For the fact that you did not give up and let them win, I can only assume that you would have done all that you could to save her, but couldn't." Hermione felt her own remorse wash over her as she remembered the second war. "I wonder myself, if I had done something different, if I didn't hesitate, struck for a brief second by fear, if I could have cast the counter-curse and saved Remus or Minerva in time. I wonder who else I could have saved if I wasn't periodically frozen with paralyzing fear and bone-weary fatigue, trying to make my mind work, unable to recall some spell, or aiming wrong because my hand shook too hard. You're not the only one who lives with regrets, Severus. But we move on and do the best we can. That is all we can do. Keep living for those who don't any longer."

Hermione was sitting up in bed by this point, her knees drawn up to her chest, her face red and tear-streaked, eyes puffy.

That sat in silence for a long while. He had spoken enough.

Eventually, Hermione said, her breath hitching as she came down from a good cry, "I still love you, Severus. And I still think you should be free, which is why I should stay. Had you no remorse over your actions, that would be one thing, but I know you do. And it is because of that that I can forgive you and still love you as much as I did before."

They fell into each other's arms, holding on to each other as if clinging to a raft, trying to save each other from drowning in the depths of their sorrows.

Severus’ heart did not feel lighter nor did he feel any less shame than before. The only thing different was that Hermione knew, which seemed to change nothing in her mind about coming with him or her intent to clear his and Draco's name. He wondered if it was truly worth it.

In time, they rose to shower. As they soaped each other, it was more like an act of absolution than the rinsing of sweat, like the symbolic washing of one's soul after confession. Severus' contrition would never diminish, but Hermione's tender ministrations as she lathered his hair and washed his back felt as if she gave him the peace that he needed to look her in the eye once again and finally accept her affections once more.

After their shower, they returned to the settee for tea and dessert.

It was fitting that the last time they were together that they should once again share a cup of tea, just like the first night they met each other.

As their night drew to a close, Severus placed Hermione's cloak about her shoulders, his hands deliberately slow as he brushed her shoulders, sensual and tender. It was much like when he was trying to seduce her during their first meetings, when he would try to arouse her with a gentle caress of her skin.

Hermione turned around as she reached into the pocket of her cloak. Pulling the lemon out, she carefully placed it into Severus' hand, placing her hand on top.

"Take this as a symbol of my promise that one day I will see that you and Draco are truly free."

He looked at it and studied it for a moment. This was one of the lemons from the famous tree that grew at Dumbledore's graveside. He had heard about them, even read about them. Severus even knew the epitaph upon the headmaster's grave was, "The answer to all your questions can be found in a Lemon Drop."

The former spy almost laughed at the irony that this lemon seemed to hold no answer except a broken promise. At least the old Headmaster told Severus how to reach sanctuary before he passed, should he require it.

Hermione placed her hand upon his cheek, her love was full of grace. "Never doubt my love for you, Severus. And though you may never forgive yourself, I hope one day you can find peace."

They kissed one last time before Hermione turned to head out the door, tears falling as she descended the steps, her shoulders slumped.

Severus closed the door only after he could no longer see her from his doorway.

The sound of the door clicking shut echoed with finality about the empty atrium of the block of flats of the Red Ginseng.

============

A/N: Fan art: “A Promise” done jointly with line work by k6034 and mywitch, in which Hermione gives Severus a lemon and her promise.

Fan art is viewable here: http://atdlhea-betz.tumblr.com/post/143020945970/a-promise-hermione-severus-fan-art-a-dual

k6034's DeviantArt page: http://k6034.deviantart.com/

mywiLiveJournal page: http://mywitch.livejournal.com/

I'm posting this chapter a bit earlier in the week than usual as I'll be away to Las Vegas this weekend for the final staff site visit before Leviosa, the Harry Potter conference where I am Hotel & Logistics Director. Oh, didn't know there was a Harry Potter conference happening this summer, July 7-10? Wanna come for four days of fandom fun? Hurry, registration deadline is May 31st: http://leviosa.org/

A round of thanks to my betas, the fabulous JuneW and the wonderful Cytherea. Without them, you would be bothered by my many errors they catch and correct.

Yes, I know Severus is half-blood, but when I began this story back in 2004 before Half-Blood Prince, this was not known yet, so I am keeping true to the originally perceived canon at the time.

And yes, this is exactly how I envisioned Severus killing his wife way back in 2004 when I introduced Gabrielle into the story, and going to Dumbledore afterwards. You can imagine the shock of reading Severus in the books and his memories, and how I felt a little thrill that I got sort of close to the actual canon before it was published.

Belle du Nuit is the French euphemism for "lady of the night." “Belle du Jour” is the name of a French movie about a women who prostitutes herself, but only during the day, a play on the phrase. Beau du Jour refers to him being a man of the day in the same euphemistic manner.

And here is Fleur's champagne cocktail recipe, that Ginny was sipping; I developed the recipe for Leviosa. The variation of this is the Beauxbaton Bracer with no Elderflower Liqueur and 4.5 oz of champagne instead, which will be served at Leviosa.

The Fleur Delacour

Ingredients:

4 oz. champagne or sparkling white wine

1/2 oz. Blue Curaçao

1/2 oz. Elderflower liqueur

1 sugar cube

Lemon for zest

Directions:

1. Zest lemon rind to create a 2″-3″ piece of zest.

2. Place sugar cube in bottom of champagne flute.

3. Pour 1/2 oz. of Blue Curaçao and 1/2 oz. of Elderflower Liqueur over sugar cube.

4. Tilt the champagne flute at 45-degree angle and pour in one to two ounces of champagne into flute along the side of the glass, allowing the champagne to froth up without spilling over. Once the froth has subsided, keeping the flute tilted, pour the rest of champagne into the glass.

5. Add lemon zest and serve.
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And They Didn\'t Live Happily Ever After