"Severus...can I ask you something?" Hermione stepped through the bathroom door with her hands in her hair pulling it back into a manageable ponytail for bed. She knew her hair had a mind of its own when she slept and had on occasion woken in the middle of the night to find it trapped in one way or another.

Severus turned out of the closet his nightshirt in hand. Though he stayed partly hidden behind the door. Their return from the cave had left them both more than drained. They'd each managed to eat a few leftovers before deciding to call it a day. Though it was still early for them, neither one had the energy to stay up.

"Of course."

Hermione pulled in her bottom lip, lightly chewing the corner while her eyes traced the lines that ran down over his shoulder and arm. Faded white, they were nearly impossible to see under normal circumstances but the light from overhead was shining at just the proper angle. She let her hands come down to wrap around her waist before she turned her eyes back up to his inquisitive eyebrow.

"If I wanted... something more between us...do you think...that is something you'd want too?"

Severus turned fully to give her his undivided attention his lips growing a bit thin, "Such as?"

Hermione couldn't help but lap up every bit of exposed skin. Despite having lived together for months he had been exceptionally good at keeping her from seeing more than his forearms. Of course, she'd had a fleeting glance when she'd stayed in his rooms at Hogwarts but the memory felt so old now she couldn't have been sure of what she actually saw anymore.

Her heart raced as she took a few steps closer, her own hands coming down to toy with the hem of her shirt. She swallowed nervously before finding her courage hidden under her feet, "Like...maybe...letting me touch you? I mean...your skin...like...perhaps you could forgo the shirt tonight? I-I know you don't normally sleep in one...and I think..." Her words trailed off as he came closer, her eyes struggling to come up from the floor.

"Is that what you want?"

His voice was kind, kinder and gentler than she could even believe. Her head already felt light but when she was able to tilt her head up to meet his eyes she was able to see just how much he cared for her. Her heart fluttered and she was sure her face was growing red, "Yes..."

Severus let his shirt fall to the floor, the hand that had held it taking her wrist. He could feel her pulse racing, her fingers lightly grazing the rough heel of his palm. He wasn't a shy man just a prudent one. He had slowly become comfortable with her being in the same room with him and even found himself able to dress with her nearby. Of course, he'd always been inside their walk-in closet but it was something. He had no doubt that his control would maintain but a part of him was worried that he wouldn't know what his body would do to her touch.

Hermione watched his mind turn, her teeth worrying her lip as she waited for his verdict. While she waited, her fingers lightly traced a deep cut that ran along the heel of his palm.

"I suppose...you shall keep me warm?"

Hermione released her lip to give him a gracious smile. She nodded her head with a small chuckle releasing the tension in her shoulders. When he raised her wrist to lay flat over his heart she felt her own growing warmer. Her eyes marked the path her fingers took as they spread out. His skin was softer than she had thought it would be. His hands were hardened but his chest felt like heated silk. She hadn't even realized she'd moved closer until his hand came up to cradle the back of her head.

"Of course."

Severus' muscles twitched when her heated breath passed over his chest, a sharp jolt thumping into his heart causing it to skip a beat. He couldn't explain the feeling between them at that moment. A cross between new discovery and a deep want for something more. He had no control over the small jerks his chest made when her other hand came up to join the first. Her touch was feather-light, so much so that he was caught between feeling pain and a bit ticklish.

Hermione didn't see the scars that ribbed his flesh, all she could see was the man she was sure she loved. She turned her head closing her eyes to rest her ear over his heart. Her hands glided down his sides and she felt him shiver. Before she could question it his arms came up to run small circles on her back and tease the small hairs on her neck.

Hermione smiled against him and placed the softest of kisses to the flesh beneath her cheek before tilting her head up to offer him a proper kiss. His eyes shined deeply as he leaned down to abide her request and Hermione could feel her heart unlocking like the ticking of a clock. The binds that she had thrown off didn't dare rise again. It was just a kiss, a hug in the moonlight but it was the beginning of so much more.

"Let's go to bed."

"Mmm."

oOOo

"Galia." A warning growl passed Severus' lips as the woman paced through the living room unable to sit down.

"It keeps him calm." Galia rubbed her stomach as she moved.

"He's barely even the size of your hand."

"Be quiet." Galia let out a soft sneeze before sniffling again.

"You need to rest. The potions I've given you won't do what they're supposed to do if you keep stressing yourself." Though his tone was far from caring, bordering on flustered, Galia knew his words were meant to warn her.

"You're right... you're right." Galia sighed softly moving over to the couch that had been offered to her.

Severus let out his own sigh rubbing his brow to mark his frustration. It had been six nights since he and Hermione had laid in each other's arms instead of on their respective sides of the bed. There hadn't been a nightmare between them but he was certain the girl had been having other types of dreams. Twice he had woken to her squirming in his hold and sighing heavily with cheeks as red as her house colors. She hadn't said anything during those nights and had gone still when he would press a small kiss to her brow.

Their position had varied, but her present favorite was laying pressed into his side with her head on his chest. Though it brought dangers to his nether regions when her leg would find its way over his, he was always able to gently push it back down. All in all, he was becoming more comfortable with her touch. The weight of her body against him had woken him more relaxed than he ever believed possible. Thrice he hadn't even wanted to get out of bed because he hadn't wanted to pull away from her warmth.

"Are you going to go to the party?"

"Should I?" Severus turned his eyes from the fire to try and see into the woman's mind but as always found himself blocked. She clicked her tongue at him and he gave her a glare in return.

"Your fear that something may happen is valid, but I must caution you that it needs to happen. If you do decide to go, you mustn't interfere or the results may not be what you expect them to be."

Severus was about to ask more when the front door came open and Hermione's voice rang through the hall. Severus glanced at the clock before coming to his feet to greet her.

"Hey, sorry I'm a little late." Hermione glanced up before reaching down to pull her other boot off, "I stopped by Harry's after work to help him with the decorations for the party tomorrow, ugh I swear he's forgotten nearly every spell we learned at Hogwarts except the defense ones."

Severus smirked and snorted at her comment coming closer to take her coat for her and put it on the hook. "I wasn't worried."

"How was dinner?" Hermione smiled softly and pressed her feet into her house shoes before coming to his side to give him a small kiss, something she'd started making a habit of when he'd come to meet her at the door.

"We waited for you."

"Really? You didn't have to." Hermione smiled at Galia as they came into the living room.

"It was no trouble, my cousin and I busied ourselves." Galia gave her a polite smile, coming to her feet.

"Where's Reglan?"

"Ah, I'm afraid I passed on my cold to him. The poor man has been in bed all day. Thankfully Andros took over the inn duties for the night."

"How is he?"

"Still fancies you a bit, though I think his heart has just discovered another." Galia chuckled softly following Severus' lead to move into the kitchen, "You remember the stone workers daughter?"

"I think so. Blond hair? Tall and thin?"

"Mm, apparently she stopped by his father's shop the other day while he was out and the two of them had a rather pleasant conversation."

"Do you hear wedding bells?"

Galia smirked glancing at Hermione who was taking her seat at the table, "Perhaps."

Severus groaned and rolled his eyes moving over to the stove where he'd put a charm over all the food to keep it warm. He never did understand why people sought to talk about others future nor why it was so much fun to waste breath talking about irrelevant topics. He would have chalked it up to a female disposition if Reglan hadn't been just as bad. The man was basically the eyes and ears of the town. He knew almost everything about everyone and frequently tried to pull Severus into a meaningless conversation.

"This looks delicious, thank you, Severus." Hermione leaned back to catch his eye before leaning forward to fill her plate.

"You're welcome." Severus took his place at the head of the table leaving the two woman across from the other. It was the best place to stay out of any conversation he didn't want to be a part of. He filled his plate and his mouth as soon as he could to cement his unwillingness to join the conversation.

When it was just Hermione and him he found it much easier to engage in more purposeful conversation. Though most of their meals were taken in companionable silence, both of them often bringing books to the table to continue on with whatever they were working on.

oOo

Ron groaned low in his throat as he pushed himself up onto his elbows. Another nightmare had come and gone, always changing, always poking his deepest fears. The demon's voice still echoing in his ears.

I have taken something most precious, something I shall never return even upon my death. Your power to give life is mine forever.

Ron ran a tired hand down his face before rolling onto his side to try and read the clock innocently ticking away his life. He still hadn't understood those words, even though he'd heard them over and over. A sharp pain in his groin reminded him of that fateful day and he let out a small whimper shifting to cradle himself.

He just wanted to be home, safe and warm in a house filled with love. He wanted to forget everything and just move on like everyone else. His mind was beyond broken at this point though the healers had tried and tried to repair him, he feared that he would always be broken. Forever trapped in a hell he could never escape reliving that day over and over until he finally just went completely insane.

Would no one forgive him? Would he ever feel another's caring touch again? Would he ever see Hermione's beautiful smile or hear her gentle laughter again?

Another sharp pain rolled through his frame as he tried to remember the sound and he curled up tighter, letting his tears wash down his face.

oOo

"Oh, this is amazing Hermione." Galia ran her fingers down her family's tree, "I can't believe you found this..."

"Really? Why do I not believe you?" Hermione smiled softly at Galia's crooked grin. Their dinner finished, they had returned to the living area to enjoy a nice cup of tea and actually talk about something worthwhile. She was more than eager to ask her about all the symbols that stood beside the names and more, it was hard to contain herself. Severus hadn't joined them choosing instead to clean up the kitchen, something Hermione had learned to let him do alone. He became ever so cranky if she didn't stack the plates in just the right order.

"I know you're very curious," Galia let her finger linger over her son's name, her eyes growing sad, "I will answer anything I can..." After all, the girl was sure to be part of the family soon, she should know.

Hermione caught the change in tone and schooled her features to one of extreme concentration, a look often found on her face during lectures, "Can we start with the symbols?"

"Of course," Galia moved her finger beside her own name, pointing to the eye that was the same as the one on the shield, "The seer's eye," She moved her finger up to her mother's name that lacked the symbol but contained one similar, however, the spiral inside was in reverse, "Legilimency," Her finger pointed to the interlocked rings beside it, "Marriage," Her finger moved to a broken cross, "Death."

Hermione curled her lips in moving her eyes over the page, she noted that the seer's symbol had been more common in the higher parts of the tree. Curiously, it appeared that aside from the original four children of the family only two had survived long enough to marry and have a single child each. One line had only legilimens, while the other held a seer every third generation and only to girls. Her eyes turned down to Galia's son to confirm her hypothesis that the seer's power was only passed on to girls when she noticed that there was a broken cross beside his name, no other marks were present and she got a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"We don't earn our power until after our first birthday..." The weight in the room grew heavier as her words finally sunk into the woman beside her. Galia smiled sadly before clearing her throat to speak, "I knew that I would see him again..." Galia turned her eyes towards Hermione's own; the color inside shifting and turning.

Her hand moved gently over her rounded stomach and she gave Hermione the strongest, bravest smile of a mother who would let nothing stand in her way. "That he would come again, to live in a world free of the evils that took him." Galia moved her hand from the book to take Hermione's, a power flowing from her into the young woman, "I also saw you, well before you were a twinkle in your mother's eye. I knew that one day, you would stand and rid the world of the evil that had taken my son. That your path in life would allow me to meet you."

Hermione had nothing to say, nothing she could say. She felt so many things at once, more than she could possibly process. Her mouth dropped open slightly but nothing came forth. Her eyes did turn when Galia's hands rose to cup the sides of her head.

"Let me give you a gift...To thank you for all you've done and to help you, in the darkest of times." Galia pressed her thumbs firmly into the younger's temples and shifted her head until her eyes locked with her own.

Hermione gasped softly as the world spun away. The darkness of evening breaking away to the bright light of dawn. Her eyes turned slowly as though she were looking down a tunnel. White walls started to form and she could feel herself lying in a bed, the distinct smell of a hospital wafting up her nose. Her heart was already racing even though her body was still, it was in the next moment she felt a pressure against her chest and lowered her head down outside of her control. She could feel a smile forming on her face when she looked down at the little bundle of pure grace resting so peacefully in her arms.

A baby, her baby. Their hair was light and fine but their features reminded her of someone she already knew. Hermione could only watch herself bring her hand down, a silver wedding band catching one of the lights overhead. Gingerly, she tucked the blue blanket down under the little chin making the little bundle in her arms wiggle and let out the softest mewling yawn she'd ever heard.

The vision spread out just a little more when the sound of someone coming from her side came closer. Hermione only caught sight of a pale pink blanket wrapped safely white sleeves before the vision spun away.

Hermione snapped back to reality calmly, though the emotion her future-self felt was still welled in her chest. Pure unadulterated happiness spilled from of her chest through her eyes and she looked at Galia with unabashed astonishment.

"Two...?"

"Twins." Galia smiled brightly, the secret knowledge of who they would grow to be hidden in the far corner of her eye.

"The father...?" Hermione thought she knew, but when someone who could give her the sure answer sat right before her, she couldn't help but ask.

Galia merely smiled more leaning back into the couch. When Severus stepped into the living area she looked at him with that all-knowing smirk that she carried so well before looking back down nonchalantly at the book in her lap.

Hermione had followed her eyes and she felt something new growing inside her. She couldn't tell how old she had been in the vision but she knew one thing: No matter what happened between them, she wasn't going to let this man before her, go. She would be beside him, always.

oOo

"Have you thought about what you're going to say to him if he actually comes?" Ginny played lightly with Harry's hair; his head resting in her lap as they enjoyed the evening radio broadcast.

"I don't know...I guess I was just going to speak from my heart, you know?"

"Do you really think he wants to hear some mushy story about how much you admire him for everything he's done? I bet he wouldn't even let you get past the second syllable if you started to get all teary-eyed." Ginny giggled slightly at the mental image her mind produced.

"Yeah, I know but it's got to be said right? I mean, he lived his whole life with no one ever knowing all the sacrifices he made. No one ever thanked him for risking his life, Ginny."

"True, but I don't think any amount of words are going to change years of repressed pain like that."

"You're right...you're always right... What should I do?"

"Perhaps its best to give him something that would mean something to him."

"Like what?"

"What about one of your mom's letters, didn't you say there was one she hadn't sent?"

"Yeah, you're right!" Harry pushed himself off Ginny's lap to go and try and find the box that Sirius had kept of all the letters between Snape and his mother.

oOo

"Severus?"

"Mm?"

"Will you rub my back?"

"Mm." Severus shifted setting aside the book he'd been reading to let her move closer and to see her better. As he was laying on his back with her curled up to his side. He pulled his hand from her waist when she shifted more over his chest. A grunt left his chest when her leg looped over his knee and her head nuzzled into his throat.

"Mm... You're so warm, like a furnace..." Hermione curled herself further, letting her hand run over the plane of his chest. The soft, nearly invisible dewy hairs that rested over his sternum catching her attention. She let her fingers open and close over them, just enjoying the feeling of his skin beneath her fingertips. When his hand came up over her shirt to do what she'd asked, she squirmed making a soft noise of discontent until he got the message that she wanted to feel his hand on her skin. When he finally understood she let out a deep purring sigh and nearly melted down.

"What do you think you'll find when you get into the castle?" Hermione's voice was soft, bordering on a whisper as her body relaxed to his touch. Their dinner had gone very well and Galia had been so excited to see the Prince Family's historical records. After her gift, they had turned to the topic of the castle.

Hermione had been more excited to learn that the very castle which shadowed the town was, in fact, the long lost home of the first seer in their family. Though Galia had been a bit evasive when Hermione had innocently asked about how Severus —and not she—was the one who was marked in the lineage as being the true heir.

"Dirt...? Dust?" Severus really had no desire to enter the castle; having grown up away from all other members of his family had left him rather apathetic to inheriting anything from them. He set the book he had been trying to begin reading again on the side table, giving the woman in his arms his full attention.

"What if there's a library?" Hermione's eyes went wide and she lifted herself up to look into his face with barely contained excitement. "Surely they would have protected it."

"We shan't know until spring." Severus had no desire to go trudging through ruins in the bitter cold.

Hermione pouted and made a soft noise akin to a whine before his hand came from behind his head to tuck some hair that had fallen from her braid behind her ear. Her pout transformed into a genial smile and she kissed the scar on his palm before resting her head back down. Deciding to let it go, for now, her mind turned to a safer topic.

"What do you think I should wear to the party tomorrow?"

"I believe Galia has taken care of that for you." Severus let his hand run through the side of her hair before pulling it back behind his head; the hand on her back continuing its gentle soothing rhythm. He could tell by her lowered tone that she was starting to fall victim to his ministrations.

"Really?" Hermione yawned through her word nuzzling her head closer. "Is that what that box was beside the fireplace?"

"Indeed."

Hermione let out another heavy sigh and let her hand run across his chest to rest at his side, "Are you really going to come with me?"

"I did give my word." Severus kissed the top of her head and raised his hand between her shoulders lightly scratching the one place that would be her complete undoing.

"You always know just the right spot..." Hermione wiggled just a little when he dragged his nails lightly between her shoulder blades. "Ah, yes a little harder..." Hermione had no control over the soft moan she let out when he found the perfect spot.

Severus smirked, watching her face twist in the most amusing ways, "You're worse than a cat."

"Mm..." Hermione barely heard his words as all the tension from the day drained away. Another deep mewling noise left her throat followed by a soft sigh. The hand that had been tracing nondescript patterns over his side growing still.

Severus let his hand come to a stop a few moments later. The soft purring noise indicative of her deep sleep reaching his ears. He let out his own deeply relaxed groan pass his lips. After a more moments, he pulled down the back of her shirt letting his hand rest over her waist and let out a deep yawn. His eyes turned towards the window and he took a moment to just appreciate what his life had come to. Snow fell silently down through the pane and he found himself lost in its hypnotic fall.