Chapter 22: Sweet Sorrow

The Lair of The Slytherin Prince, Hogwarts...

Emotions had been running on high as Sebastian brought a trembling Hermione back to Hogwarts. She had insisted on staying with him over night and refused to have the Med-Witch Poppy have a look at her. She simply clung to him finding comfort in the beat of his heart as he carried her in his arms until they reached the room. He laid her down on the bed and warded the door. His obsidian eyes had been filled with worry and regret. Hermione did her best to appear that everything had been alright. She gave him a weak smile and tried to reassure him with her touch. They both knew things were far from okay.

If it had not been for "Professor Snape" arriving they would all have been killed.

Hermione sat up in the transfigured bed with her back to the wall. Sebastian sat on the edge with his wand dangling loosely in his hand. His heart had been racing despite the appearances he put on for her benefit. He had been scared out of his brilliant mind at the thought of losing her. Everything had happened so fast. McNair had deflected his curse and had nearly taken her from him.

If it had not been for the interruption of "Professor Snape" joining the battle he could have lost her easily.

It was quite the shock to see how much he had truly resembled the dour Potions Master. It was no wonder that everyone said he was his son. He had felt a little bad that he had gone off on the second year Hufflepuff boy...only a little.

"Hermione." said Sebastian not having the words for what he wanted to say to her.

"I'm here, Sebastian." she replied softly. "We're alright."

The raven haired wizard dropped his wand and turned to face the young Gryffindor witch. Obsidian met amber briefly before his pale lips crashed desperately against her soft pink ones. Hermione found herself melting into his kiss. The heat that had risen between them began to take hold and she found herself wanting to get as close to him as possible. Sebastian pulled back for a moment and took in the sight of the beautiful young witch that had been lying in his bed, her amber eyes filled with heat and his name on her lips.

"Sebastian." she said nearly breathless as she softly ran her soft fingers along his lean body.

"Hermione." he replied losing all sense of himself in the wake of her touch.

"Please." she said softly.

Sebastian nodded slowly.

"As you wish." he replied in a husky tone.

The raven haired Slytherin climbed off the sandy brown haired witch and kneeled at the foot of the bed. Hermione had wanted to protest feeling a little cold from the sudden loss of his body but relaxed when she felt him removed her shoes one by one. He took his time, meticulously undressing her and covering her body with soft well placed kisses after an article of clothing had been removed leaving her slender form exposed to the eyes of her lover.

It wasn't long before she lay in bed completely unclothed, utterly vulnerable, and at the mercy of the young Slytherin wizard. Sebastian took off his boots next one by one as his dark eyes drank in the sight of her. She had truly been a beautiful young witch. His heart had been pounding in his chest as he watched hers rise and fall in anticipation.

The pale wizard took off his robes letting them fall to the floor joining the pile of already discarded clothes. He stood in a pair of black trousers with a crisp long sleeve white shirt unbuttoned at the collar. Hermione's heated amber eyes had never left him. She watched him slowly unbutton his shirt with a maddening patience. Sebastian got down to the last button and worked his way out of the shirt. It fell to the floor like the rest of the clothes. His pale scarred torso had been exposed to the eyes of his lover.

There was no shyness or apprehension between them. They had been lovers for quite some time and had been use to each other's bodies. The familiarity had not taken the appeal out of their encounters. It seemed to become renewed whenever they had been in the other's presence. Sebastian finally reached the button of his trousers. Hermione sat up and crawled to the edge of the bed. He walked over to her as she reached for the waistband of his trousers and pulled him closer. His obsidian eyes had been filled with even more heat as he watched the witch that meant so much to him slowly unbutton them.

He stood patient letting her get them loose enough to fall to the floor below and then he stepped out of them. The pale Slytherin had been left only with his worn undershorts, which had been tented quite severely as he looked at the cause of it. Hermione had not been afraid as she pulled back the elastic waistband and worked them down his lean pale legs. He had scars there as and an apparently well healed bite mark on his right calf. She had always suspected that he had an unpleasant run in with a very large dog. He had told her that he had not remembered but it had been more than likely.

Sebastian stepped out of his undershorts and stood before his witch just as exposed, a touch more vulnerable, and completely at her mercy. To say that the pale Slytherin was well endowed was a bit of an understatement. His exposed organ had been nothing like she had imagined it would be when he kissed her the first time in the library. It was slightly amusing to see that he had been pale all over. The raven haired Slytherin walked over to her unable to contain the depths of his passion any longer.

His pale lips crashed against her soft pink ones with reckless abandon. The heat of the contact had been so intense that a soft moan had passed through Hermione's lips. Taking the lead Sebastian laid her back on the bed, covering her slender fame with his own lean body. The kissing grew intense as they maneuvered in bed until the raven haired wizard positioned himself between the sandy brown haired witch's legs. A groan escaped him as he felt the heat of her desire from the brief contact.

"Hermione..." he said softly in her ear as he kissed her neck.

The Gryffindor witch ran her hands along his back trying to pull him closer as if the intimate contact had not been enough.

"Sebastian." she said breathless.

He continued to kiss her neck driving her crazy with desire.

"You're mine witch." he said in a low tone. "All mine."

Hermione could not respond slowly becoming lost in the heat that had taken over her.

"I love you..." said Sebastian softly in her ear. "Hermione Granger."

Hermione had not had the chance to reply as she felt the familiar sting of Sebastian's entry. His organ stretching her as he gave her all of him. She let out a cry of pleasure feeling him as she had longed to since she found her way back into his arms. Sebastian groaned softly feeling her warmth surround him. She was truly incredible. After taking a few moments to savor the sensations running through them from full contact Sebastian started to thrust sending Hermione into blinding pleasure.

Time had no meaning as the young witch and wizard found themselves wrapped up in their own world. Their hearts beating in nearly the same rhythm and their breath becoming ragged. Hermione's soft moans filled the room accompanied by Sebastian's various grunts and groans. They had been so far from the horrors of the afternoon when they had taken on the death eaters and nearly lost this time together.

The walls of Hogwarts had not been able to hold them as they drifted higher.

"Hermione." said Sebastian in a lust filled tone.

"Sebastian." came her reply in an equally lust filled manner.

Night gave way to day without their notice as they continued to lose themselves in each other. The wall that had been constructed sealing off their emotions gave way. Hermione's amber eyes had been filled with tears as she looked up at Sebastian. The streams caught his attention and he did his best to kiss them dry as he continued to show her with all he could muster physically just how much she meant to him.

As the hours passed Sebastian had finally showed signs of slowing down. Hermione had been nearly over the edge as well and couldn't help but feel a little saddened by it. She had not wanted this night to end but it had been clear that it was going to have to. After a few more well placed thrusts Sebastian groaned as his back arched on it's own and the rush of his release filled the sandy brown haired witch beneath him. His release had pulled Hermione's from her as she arched into him as well.

The raven haired Slytherin lost all sense of himself as his release came to an end and his body weakened. Unable to hold himself up he collapsed on the witch below him trying desperately to catch his breath. Hermione had held on to him not at all inconvenienced by his body lying on top of hers. The Slytherin's raven locks had been blasted with sweat and his body had been soaked as well. Hermione's bushy mane had been equally wet as well as her body.

"I love you too." she managed despite the intense emotion filling her. "Sebastian Prince."

The raven haired Slytherin in question looked up at her through hooded obsidian eyes. She gave him a half smile and they shared another kiss before he found the strength to climb off her and took his place in the bed beside her. Hermione lifted her hand.

"Accio wand." she said in a calm manner.

Sebastian smiled weakly as he heard the next spell come from her lips.

"Scorgify." she said.

After having cleaned the bed and both herself and Sebastian, Hermione laid her head on the pale chest of her Slytherin Git. The two of them drifted off into a contented and peaceful sleep.

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The Headmaster's Office...

Harry Potter had been quite nervous when he arrived at the front door to The Headmaster's office. He had known that the older wizard would not be particularly happy about what he and Sebastian had done concerning the matter of Hermione's kidnapping. The green eyed Gryffindor had been surprised to find that Professor Minerva McGonagall, Med-Witch Poppy Pomfrey, Lady Theodora Hamershal, and even more surprising Governor Lucius Malfoy had been present.

"W-What's going on?" he asked making his way inside.

"Welcome Harry." said Dumbledore in a pleasant tone. "It's so good of you to join us."

Harry sat down in a vacant seat with his green eyes shifting back and forth between those gathered in the office and The Headmaster himself.

"Are you sure Potter has his memories?" asked Lucius eyeing him intently.

"Yes." replied Dumbledore. "We can begin to restore Severus as soon as possible."

"Well, thank Merlin for that." said Professor McGonagall. "You have no idea how hard it is to control him when he behaves like a randy six year."

Lucius smirked.

"Sounds about right." he said.

Professor McGonagall narrowed her eyes at him.

"Severus was anything but a randy sixth year when he attended Hogwarts." she said annoyed. "I've caught him snogging in the halls a time or two since his renewed youth."

"Well, he did learn all he knows from the master...I must say the boy does me proud..." said Lucius approvingly. "It's such a shame he rarely ever utilizes my tutelage these days...most likely your influence Minerva."

Professor McGonagall's glare had been murderous at this point.

Dumbledore chuckled some at the small exchange.

"Harry having his memories happens to be just the break we needed ." said Poppy ignoring them. "He can be fully restored in no time."

Harry suddenly put all the pieces together. The truth of why Lady Hamershal had seemed so familiar to him. It wasn't her resemblance to Sebastian, although it had been a strong one. It had all been from Professor Snape's memories. She had been in a good deal of them up until he reached the age of 16.

It all had made sense.

He glared in the direction of Lady Hamershal who had been quite since his arrival.

"He's going to hate you." said Harry feeling his own rage build at the images that filled his mind. "He's never going to forgive you for what you did to him."

Lady Hamershal did not meet his eyes but nodded in agreement.

"I know." she replied emotionless.

Lucius looked at her puzzled as to what they meant by any of this.

"What's going on here?" he asked not liking to be kept out of the loop.

"Not now Lucius." said Dumbledore. "We have pressing business."

The last thing Harry recalled was the old wizard raising his wand.

"Stupefy!" was the last thing he heard before everything went dark.

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Transfigurations Class, Hogwarts...

Sebastian had been sitting next to Draco Malfoy in Minerva McGonagall's transfiguration class. Harry had been unusually quiet and tried not to meet Sebastian's eyes for much of the class. Ron had been his partner upon his request and Hermione had been with Ginny. Everyone had been puzzled about the green eyed Gryffindor's behavior as of late. They wrote it off as him having issues because of what happened the other day. Harry sighed trying to focus on his work. Professor McGonagall had been watching him intensely.

Hermione stole a glance at Sebastian who had been doing the same thing. Obsidian met amber and they smiled at each other then quickly returned to their work as McGonagall looked up from her desk. It had seemed just like any other morning at Hogwarts until a strange man entered the classroom. He had been draped in official looking robes with a Drumstrag Institute crest on the right side of it. Professor Dumbledore had accompanied him as their eyes scanned the class room. Lady Hamershal had been present as well.

Harry narrowed his eyes at the witch and then returned to his work. He has been the only student to do so as the entire class looked up at the three guests. Hermione had figured out that this had something to do with Sebastian. He had been the only student from Drumstrag Institute to arrive and Lady Hamershal was his blood relative. She had hoped that he wouldn't get into trouble because of his need to rescue her. She wondered if Professor Snape had said anything to Dumbledore.

"Sebastian". she thought as loud as she could hoping that he would hear her.

{Not so loud.} he replied.

Hermione couldn't help but smile.

"Is this all because of the other day?" she asked.

{If it is, I am prepared to accept my punishment.} he replied dutifully.

"But what if they expel you?" she asked terrified of the prospect of it.

{If that happens then know that you still have my heart.} he replied.

"Sebastian." came Hermione's reply near the edge of tears

{Gryffindor chit.} he said teasing her.

"Slytherin Git." she replied back.

{I love you.} he said wishing to convey so much more in that moment, but had only a limited amount of time.

"I love you too." she replied never knowing how she could have gotten on without him.

{Don't worry so much.} had been the last thing she heard before The Headmaster got his attention.

Sebastian looked over at Draco.

"Do me a favor and take my books back to the room would you, Malfoy." he said with something of a half smile as he looked upon the only son of Lucius Abraxas Malfoy.

"Sure thing." replied Draco thinking nothing of it.

The raven haired Slytherin wizard made his way over to the three guests. Lady Hamershal had not been able to look him in the eye as they exited the classroom. Sebastian had thought this was strange but did not say a word. Dumbledore's blue eyes had that unsettling twinkle behind them. It made the hairs on the back of the young Slytherin's neck stand on end.

Harry watched as the Slytherin student Sebastian S. Prince disappeared behind the large wooden door of Minerva McGonagall's transfiguration classroom. Ron had been puzzled by the whole situation.

He leaned down near Harry Potter, whom was watching the door as well.

"What do you suppose that was about?" he asked with an arched brow.

Harry sighed seemingly exhausted in that moment.

"I don't know Ron." he replied in a testy manner. "Just do your work."

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Later...

Whispers had been all around about Sebastian Prince being expelled by Dumbledore because he did dark magic. Hermione had not wanted to believe that Sebastian had been expelled and made her way to find Draco. He and Sebastian had been inseparable since the raven haired Slytherin had arrived. She had been surprised to find that Draco had been looking for her as well. They met up in the corridors. Hermione had been unsettled by the grim expression on the albino boy's face. It had appeared that his gray eyes had been wet with tears. He tried not to look her directly in the face and focused more on his shiny shoes.

"Draco?" said Hermione feeling her fear set in.

"Hermione." he replied with something of a somber expression filed across his pale face.

The Gryffindor witch had been a little taken aback by the junior Malfoy addressing her by her first name. He held out a small black box similar to the one that she had given Sebastian for his birthday. Hermione had been filled with even more fear as she looked at it. She didn't believe she could take it if it had the ring she had given him inside it.

"T-Take it Granger." said Draco sounding a little like his usual self. "S-Sebastian wanted you to have it."

Hermione steeled herself taking in his words.

"W-Would have?" she asked.

Draco did not meet her eyes.

With her hands trembling as apprehension set in she reached for the black box. She took it into her grasp. Draco watched her more than a little curious as she quickly closed her eyes and flipped it open. Draco's jaw dropped as he found himself looking at a ring.

"Granger..." he said. "Open your eyes."

Hermione opened them and looked down at the ring that Sebastian had given her.

It had been made of solid gold with a wide band and a golden lion's head center piece. The mane had been carved in fine detail but that had not been the only impressive thing about it. Apparently Sebastian had requested that small rubes be inserted into it's eyes and he had it specially engraved by magic.

Hermione couldn't fight back the tears as she took it out of the box and read the inscription.

{"I love you too insufferable Gryffindor."}

Draco had not said a word as he watched the young sandy brown haired Gryffindor witch nearly crumble to the floor. He caught her easing her decent as she looked at the ring. In a moment he had understood what had happened. She had given him a serpent ring on his birthday and he had meant to give her this ring on Valentine's Day.

"I'm sorry, Hermione." said Draco softly as he attempted to soften the blow of what reality had dealt her. "I just thought you should have it."

The saddened Gryffindor witch continued to cry her heart out in the arms of her former Slytherin wizard enemy. Sebastian Prince had indeed been gone from Hogwarts and both of their lives.

Parting is such sweet sorrow indeed.