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When the Magic's Gone	By : Avrild Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 4155 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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.

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Chapter Eight - Beggars Would Ride

It all belongs to Rowling, except what you don’t recognize.

The door opened and Snape strode in with a determined step. Hermione was sitting on her bed with a mulish expression on her face and dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief.

Snape sat down next to her, pulled her onto his lap and thoroughly kissed her. After a moment, with much annoyance he stopped and growled, ‘Show’s over Potter, you can wait downstairs.’

‘Right, Professor.’ Harry blushed and headed down.

Snape pulled back from her and cupped her chin. ‘Really Hermione, you need to grow up a bit. We don’t have time for this.’ His voice was even and smooth.

She blew her nose. ‘I don’t know what you mean. Obviously, I was just in the way.’

‘Getting your nose out of joint is wasting our time. And there’s bloody little left, due to ‘wonder boy’ downstairs.’

‘You should talk.’

‘What did you say?’

‘Nothing.’

‘You need to make a decision. I received this in the post yesterday, but only read it this morning. I began to tell you, but -- but I was sidetracked.’ He tried not to smile at the memory of that morning’s diversion.

Hermione unfolded the letter, read it and looked at him. ‘You are to report next week to the new Ministry handling magical affairs to have an identification chip imbedded in your arm?’ Her brown eyes were wide with shock.

‘It’s only for the pure bloods. They won’t come after you.’

‘What if you refused?’

‘I intend to. In my mother’s day, it was the yellow star.’

‘You are—’

‘I am a wizard: ethnic background is unimportant. My mother’s family is a pure blood wizarding family that emigrated from Transylvania to Paris after the Great War. It’s been one damned vampire joke after another ever since I came to Hogwarts over 30 years ago. And no, no member of my family has ever been a vampire. Anyway, wizards don’t care about race or religion.’

Hermione thought that he sounded more than a little sensitive on the matter. Had he been listening in on her conversation with her mum that morning? Wait, he was a Slytherin. Stupid question.

‘My mother was part of a resistance group fighting against Grindelwald. That’s where she met my father, who was working as an aide to Dumbledore. She was eventually captured and sent to Natzweiler-Struthof.

‘Is that why there are numbers on her arm?’

‘Yes, not magical at all, just a reminder of how insane humans, wizards and muggles alike, can be. Although it was more of a slave labor than a death camp, it did have gas chambers and many wound up being part of medical experiments. My mother survived by keeping her captors happy.’ Snape was staring at the ground throughout his recitation, his face impassive and his voice neutral. ‘So you see, my family has been through this before.’

Hermione threw her arms around Snape’s neck. ‘It sounds like your mum is a remarkable woman. I’m sorry for all your family’s been through.’

‘It was a long time ago. I just wonder that it could start up all over again so easily. Yet it has.’ He slowly shook his head.

‘It’s England. They will fight it in the courts.’

‘The records show how Fudge kept covering up for Voldemort and his followers. It doesn’t look good.’

‘You said I had a decision to make.’ She whispered, still holding on to him as if for dear life.

‘If Harry and I should fail in our task, you have to decide if you are willing to leave everything you know to be with me. I’ll be traveling directly to South America. My destination is Chile.’ He handed her a piece of paper with a name and address. ‘Memorize and destroy this, please.’

‘Why Chile?’

‘Because I like llamas?’ Snape tried to get Hermione to look at him, but she just clung tighter to his neck. ‘All right, I have a childhood friend there. She’ll put us up and help us get settled on a new life.’ Snape gently took her arms and unwound her from his neck. ‘We can get married. I’ll even invite Potter to come along if you want, but somehow I get the impression that he’ll probably stay here and continue to fight the good fight.’

‘And you’re not staying here because?’

Snape pointed to his left forearm where Hermione knew the dark mark still lingered. ‘Sooner or later, some official will find the mark and that should be good enough for either a very long prison term or a death sentence.’

‘They don’t have the death sentence here.’

‘Not yet. Hermione, it’s scheduled to be debated this week.’ Snape said gently. ‘Specifically for the handful of Death Eaters that are remaining.’

Hermione’s tears began to fall again and Snape held and slowly rocked her. ‘Think about what you want. I’ll understand if you choose to stay here. Who knows, you and Potter may even make a difference. As for me, I’ve already given 20 years of my life to the cause. I don’t have it in me to give anymore.’ He kissed her gently on the forehead. ‘I have to get to work now on discovering which chemical was the cross-over.’

‘Cross-over?’

‘Certain chemicals used by muggles have properties which can affect magical potions. There’s one in particular that I suspect acted as an accelerant to the toxin I used on Voldemort. I’ll recognize it if I see it. If it’s the one I’m thinking about, then Harry and I will have to get to my laboratory in Hogwarts to obtain some.’

‘But Hogwarts has disappeared.’

‘Hopefully, it is under no more than a failsafe spell of Dumbledore’s, and, if so, it should be cued to let Harry and myself in.

Hermione’s brown eyes met his black eyes. She felt so confounded. All she could think to say was, ‘I love you.’

‘I love you, too.’ Snape kissed her, this time nothing more than a swift touching of lips, which left Hermione aching for more. ‘We’ll be fine. I assure you.’ He got up and left.

Hermione had an idea.

&&&

Snape spent the afternoon teaching Harry the basics of apparition. Fortunately, Harry was much better at physical magic than potions. Snape was happily impressed, especially since he’d be relying on Harry’s technique to take them both into the museum. Matt the Bat -- Gods, what a family of muggles I’m marrying into, thought Snape -- would be driving them into the area and waiting to make a quick getaway in case they set off any alarms. Hermione phoned her parents and left a message that her cousin Matt and Snape were going out for a ‘boys night out.’ Liz felt quite relieved when she received the message, as did Rachel who took the message and managed to harbor some hope of a second chance with Russ.

Snape had also gone over the pages of chemical formulas of the probable gasses used against the Death Eaters that day. He wished he had the time to interrogate someone who actually knew what gasses had been used. Instead he’d have to deduce which chemical it was that had crossed over. It came down to two possibilities, one of which he knew he didn’t have at Hogwarts. And there was no time to track it down. He’d have to risk the missing chemical being the one he had on hand. He didn’t tell Hermione or Harry that there was a 50-50 chance that the mission against Voldemort would fail.

Shortly before Hermione’s parents were due back home, Matt drove up in his car and honked the horn. Hermione hugged Harry and slipped a sheaf of papers, including a computer printout, into his pocket.

‘You’ll know what to do with this when the time arrives.’ She whispered into his ear. ‘Stay safe. Oh, and you can sleep in my bed tonight, I’ll be with Severus.’

Harry looked chagrined. ‘Right. I guess I’ll being seeing you around, unless things don’t work out. In which case, have fun in Chile.’ He sighed, gave her a peck on the cheek and headed out he door.

Snape and Hermione looked at each other in an uncomfortable silence. Suddenly there was so much Snape wanted to tell her, so much he wanted to do with her. There was a tight feeling in his chest. Working with Harry all afternoon while Hermione sat in her room had been traumatic for both of them. He stepped closer to her and took her hands in his.

‘I’ll see you tonight.’ He said.

Feeling awkward and shy, she put her arms around him and pulled him close. ‘Things will be fine. I’ll be waiting for you.’ They kissed; again it was a very chaste kiss, which left neither one happy. He turned and headed out the door.

Since it was still quite early, Matt took them over to his flat. The three of them finalized plans for the museum raid, ate frozen pizza and played video games. Snape had never seen a Nintendo before and, after being goaded into one doomed attempt at Mortal Kombat, sincerely hoped that he would never see one again. He headed for the computer and did search after search on the missing chemical. Eventually he had an idea that he hoped might work. Harry was having lots of fun and wished Matt were his cousin instead of Dudley.

After sundown, they left for the museum. Snape and Harry spent an uncomfortable 45 minutes in the backseat of Matt’s car hidden under the invisibility cloak. Harry really wished the pizza hadn’t had all those onions and tried to do a slight of hand air freshener spell. With much relief, they arrived. Harry cast a disguising glamour on both of them and they walked the two blocks to the museum under his cloak. Outside one of the side doors to the building, Harry put his arms around Snape and apparated them inside. After a quick look around, they threw off the cape.

‘That is the last time I ever want to be in such close quarters with you, Potter.’

‘Now, what did I do?’

‘If you are going to use a freshen up spell, use it on yourself first. You were reeking of onions.’

‘Right, well you kept stepping on my feet. So we are even.’

Snape sneered and sincerely hoped to find an excuse to give Harry a week’s detention when and if they ever got back.

Checking the map, they headed up some back stairs to the floor where the cultural artifacts lab was reportedly located. With a quick ‘Alohomora,’ they were in. Snape gasped at the sight of several hundred wands, just lying about. It looked like they were being catalogued by type of wood and size. He saw one that had been opened, displaying a dragon’s heartstring. He felt a pang that some witch or wizard’s wand had been destroyed.

‘Accio Snape’s wand,’ said Harry.

There was silence and then the sound of breaking glass as Snape’s wand came careening out of a showcase. Harry handed it to Snape, who gave a little nod but said nothing. However, though he hid it, when Snape got back his wand, he did feel a moment of pure joy. It was as if a missing bit of him had been returned.

Turning his back to Harry, his first magical act in days was to transform his cotton bikini underwear into silk boxers. His second magical act was to tailor the crotch of his jeans to be an inch looser. He sighed in relief at the extra room. The third act was his personal cleansing spell. With it, he felt really clean, not just the faux clean of soap and water. He deeply inhaled the scent of Bergamot mixed with Cypress. While Snape was surreptitiously doing all this, Harry accio’ed Hermione’s wand, which he handed over to Snape. Snape gave another nod, but also cracked a smile, as if to say, Good job, Potter.

Then, Snape opened the door into the hallway. Both wizards walked out.

‘Accio Dimethylsyliconehexdryl-hydroxide.’

Nothing happened. Harry said, ‘Try the magical name.’

‘Accio Maiden’s Mist.’

There was a distant sound of breaking glass, and then alarms going off, as a small palm-sized container came flying down the stairs at the end of the hall and into Snape’s hand. Harry threw his invisibility cloak over himself and Snape. Snape placed his arms around Harry and the older wizard apparated them back to Matt’s car.

There was a noise in the back of Matt’s car and, when he looked back, there were his two friends from the wizarding world.

‘No one’s ever going to believe this,’ said Matt sadly.

‘No, no one will. Say what we head to a pub?’ Suggested Harry.

‘No thank you, Potter. I’ve had enough of the Muggle world for one night. If you will excuse me, we have an early day tomorrow. Try to keep that in mind, won’t you? Thank you for your assistance, Matt. Your cousin will be receiving a package for you in the mail.’ With that, Snape dis-apparated, much to Matt’s delight.

‘Wizards! I’ll never get tired of magic. Well, I know a real friendly little place to wet our whistle.’ Matt grinned at Harry.

‘Drive on, my friend,’ said Harry crawling into the front seat.

&&&

Snape was pleasantly surprised to find his bed occupied by a sleeping Hermione. He quickly cast a ward on the door so that they would be left alone and no sound could be heard from them.

He found it strange that she was sleeping in one of his used shirts. She couldn’t have liked the he he had smelled, could she? He took off his clothes and headed under the covers. She stirred groggily.

‘Hermione, wake up. I’ve got your wand back.’ He brushed her hair out of her face, thinking how lovely she looked.

‘Hmm. My wand, my magic wand’’ and she reached down between Snape’s legs.

‘Honestly, I was right, you are a silly girl.’ Snape tried to sound stern as she reached up and kissed him.

‘You got back safe.’ She snuggled her nose into his chest. ‘And you’ve used magic to change your smell.’

‘You don’t like it?’

‘I love you any which way you are.’

He kissed her, first softly, and then, using his tongue, he gained access to her mouth. She returned the deep kiss, and then quietly said, ‘Severus, we need to talk.’

His body tensed. ‘You’ve made your decision.’

‘Oh, yes, I’m going with you. But you have to promise me something.’

‘Yes, my love?’ he said cautiously.

‘If things work out -- I will be a part of your life, right?’

‘What do you mean?’ Snape felt his erection droop.

‘If you go back to Hogwarts, and Voldemort is defeated, what happens then?

Snape saw the trap and, like an accident in slow motion, knew there was no way to avoid the oncoming disaster. ‘Then, everything will go back as it should be. Everything will be normal.’ His mouth felt exceedingly dry, as if it had suddenly been filled with ashes.

‘You will tell me about us. You will give us a chance to be more than what we were back then.’

‘No, Hermione. I will not. You will go back to your happy life as Hogwart’s most annoying know-it-all and be friends with the boy that lived and that dreadful Weasley creature. And I will continue to be what-was-it, oh yes, the greasy git.’

‘That’s not good enough.’

‘It will have to do. Hermione, be reasonable. What should I say?

‘Hullo there Miss Granger, do you know that I shagged you through the mattress in an alternate time line and I’d like to do so very much again? I’d be out on my ear in a heartbeat. I can see McGonagall now, running off to Albus with a high pitched squeal, screaming about how that revolting monster was trying to make love to her wonderful Miss Perfect Gryffindor Granger.’ His eyes were devoid of light, and Hermione wanted so much to comfort him in spite of his mockery.

‘What happened between us was from dire circumstances. You wouldn’t have wanted me if you had had a choice.’

‘You don’t know that. I do want you. I love you. You said you loved me.’ Hermione’s eyes flashed fire. ‘What has all this been, some sort of convenience?’

‘I was the lesser of three evils. You need to be with someone closer to your own age. You need to be with someone, well, not tainted.’

‘I don’t care about your past.’

‘Well, maybe you should. Back there in the Malfoy dungeon, I would have killed you.’

‘What?’

‘I told you I was a murderer, not a rapist. When I was a Death Eater, well, sometimes young female muggles would be kidnapped, for entertainment.’ Snape looked away. ‘Do you understand, what I am saying?’

‘You wouldn’t rape them, you’d kill them instead?’

‘To spare them what they’d normally be put through before being killed anyway, yes.’ Snape looked ill. ‘Of course, I had to be subtle about it, so no one would suspect.’

‘So you were planning to kill me before Malfoy could have his way.’

‘He was a sadist. One of the worst.’ Snape got off the bed and found a pair of trousers to put on.

‘If I hadn’t asked you to help me’’ said Hermione.

Snape was holding himself up at a bookcase. ‘You’d be dead now. That’s the sort of man I am. But you reminded me of the kind of resourceful witch my mother was.’

Hermione shook her head. Freud would have a field day with this one. ‘I showed a desire to survive, no matter what the cost.’

‘And a willingness to risk being alive and perhaps free to fight another day. Not the typical Gryffindor nobility, more the Slytherin way of doing things.’

‘So,’ asked Hermione, ‘do I make the grade? Am I Slytherin enough for you?’

‘I wouldn’t have asked you to go with me to Chile, if I didn’t think so.’

‘If that is the case, then why aren’t I worthy to be a part of your life, no matter what the circumstances?’

‘It’s not about your worth! It’s my lack of worth.’ His bitterness was spat out at her. ‘You deserve better than me.’

‘Someone like Blaise, who has been shagging Arnold Ramsbottom over in Hufflepuff for the last year?’

‘He said they were just good friends.’ Snape rounded on her and was thoroughly astonished.

‘Right.’ Hermione snorted. ‘Get back into bed. Just one tiny promise, that you will let me into your life, and we can get on with things. I’ll show you what Soixante-neuf is,’ Hermione teased.

‘That’s sexual blackmail,’ said Snape unsure how to respond but having a niggling certainty that Hermione was the victor, yet again.

‘You’ve been watching too many chat shows,’ replied Hermione, ‘and yes, I would think that you’d appreciate blackmail, all things considered.’

‘Have you just cast aspersions on my being a Slytherin?’

‘If the shoe fits ‘‘

Snape grabbed her and kissed her. And then he tickled her, ‘Enough insults.’ Finally, he nibbled her neck and she moaned.

‘Promise me,’ she said.

‘I promise.’ And he unbuttoned the shirt she was wearing and began to nuzzle each of her pretty pink nipples.

She reached down and undid his trousers, ‘Thank you.’ He slipped out of them and she stroked his manhood causing it to jump.

‘Gods, what you do to me,’ he gasped. ‘No one else.’ He pulled her close and kissed her again, running his tongue along the backside of her teeth. He pressed one of his legs between hers and felt her slick wetness on his thigh. He wanted her so badly that he could no longer restrain himself. ‘I need you now,’ he said, his voice rough with desire.

She pulled him down on top of her and he entered her quickly. He took his weight on his elbows and slid in and out of her, perhaps too hard, perhaps too fast, but he couldn’t stop himself. He looked down to see if she were all right, and was rewarded by a look of raw passion on her face. He continued to pound into her, circling his hips in an attempt to make her most happy.

All too soon, she was screaming his name and her body arching upwards. He felt her contractions and the additional wetness of her coming. And he then let himself go, even harder and faster, lifting her leg over his elbow, to get even deeper inside of her. He slipped over the edge, spurting hard into her. Whispering her name over and over, he kept himself deep within her.

Eventually, they lay there together, quietly in each other’s arms and covered by a thin sheen of sweat.

‘Promise me, that you won’t forget your promise?’ she murmured.

Snape groaned, ‘You are an impossible witch. Yes, yes, yes. I couldn’t live without you, even if I wanted to, and I don’t.’ He nestled his face into her hair, and his hands meandered down her back. ‘You’re mine now. I won’t give up on us, I do promise.’

A few minutes later, they both slept, tangled up in bed sheets and each other’s arms.

&&&

A little after midnight, Harry apparated back to the Grangers and snuck into Hermione’s room. He remembered to ward the room, just as Snape had asked him to. He used Hermione’s phone to call Annie. She was still awake, happy and relieved to hear from him. She asked him to come back to her and he told her he’d try. After he got off the phone, he thought about her and what he wished he were doing with her -- all the while touching himself. Not too long after that he groaned out her name and fell asleep.

A/N: My special thanks to those who reviewed that last chapter: Giova, Jean Lamb and MoD. You gals are the greatest!!!
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When the Magic's Gone