Title: After the Fall
Challenge: “Snape’s Day Off” (Snape100 LiveJournal community)
Word Count: 100
Characters: Severus/Hermione
Author’s Note: Voldemort’s gone; two members of the Order begin their celebration. Written nearly three years ago, but I still thought I’d HBP or DH compliant.

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He swept her through the charmed silence of the ruins, oblivious to shocked and curious stares. His hands were warm; his glinting black eyes studied her face.

“Professor Granger?” The silken voice, familiar yet entirely new.

“I’m sorry.” She flushed beneath his intense gaze. “I didn’t expect—“

Half releasing her, he shook his sleeve back to reveal the fading outline of the Mark, invisible among the shadows of muscle and vein. “I received this at age sixteen.” She stared and suddenly felt his breath, hot and close, murmuring against her hair. “This is my first day off since then.”