Chief Medi-wizard Arkwright surveyed the Great Hall with an expert eye. There was a sizeable crowd this year, he surmised. He smiled widely, his teeth glinting. He was already planning how to spend his galleons. It had been sheer genius to start the auctions at Hogwarts and also, he thought, as he puffed his chest out, very lucrative indeed.
Severus stood motionless beside Hermione, his eyes boring into the back of the Chief Medi-wizards' head. He would have hexed him if he thought he could get away with it. He could not believe he had been dragged into this debacle for the fourth year running.
'Just relax, Severus.' Hermione murmured from the corner of her mouth, 'you know we have it covered, there is really no problem.'
Severus gritted his teeth and turned to glance at her. 'This is the last time. I will not be put on this stand like a piece of meat. Although, I notice Narcissa is here again this year,' he smirked.
Hermione held her breath for a moment. She hadn't seen Narcissa, and she scanned the hall quickly until her eyes fell on the long, sleek blonde tresses that almost skimmed the top of her perfect arse. Hermione's eyes narrowed, and she turned to look at Severus.
'What if she outbids me this year?' She whispered, watching his face for a response.
Severus looked at Hermione coolly. 'Then I suppose I will be her slave.'
Hermione's jaw dropped as she looked at him. 'Is that what you want?'
'I will be her slave. What I want doesn't come into it, does it?' He arched his eyebrow and his eyes glinted darkly.
Hermione took a deep breath. 'Okay. A little scenario for you, Professor,' her voice was as thin as a reed as she spoke, and Severus steeled himself. He recognised that tone, and he knew it wasn't good.
'IF Narcissa wins, and IF you are her slave, will you do exactly what she wants? Say, for instance,' Hermione's voice dropped to a low whisper, 'she wants to fuck you?'
'I do not think I put 'fucking' on the list of tasks I am willing to undertake, Hermione,' Severus hissed at her.
'I know that,' Hermione hissed back loudly, 'but I don't trust her, Severus.'
Severus turned and glared at Hermione.
'Nor me, it would seem,' he said softly. His eyes were hard as he looked at her, and his jaw clenched.
'What?' Hermione went pale as she realised the implication of her comments. 'Of course I trust you, Severus.'
Hermione's eyes darted around them. This was turning into a domestic, and they hadn't gone fully public with their relationship yet, waiting until Hermione's divorce from Ron was final. Minerva and Filius were the only people they had confided in, but having a full-scale row in front of the gathered throng would blow everything.
Severus glared at her for a moment, wrapped his robes around himself and turned away from her, walking along the row of Professor's until he reached Hagrid. He spoke slowly to him and Hagrid nodded, shuffling along to where Hermione was standing and taking Severus's place.
'Aright, 'Ermione.' Hagrid smiled down at her.
Hermione's jaw was clenched, and she glanced down the row towards Severus. He kept his face facing front, avoiding her gaze. She sighed deeply. She could tell he was seriously pissed off and there was nothing she could do in front of all of these people.
Chief Medi-wizard Arkwright raised his gavel and the auction began.
Filius was the first wizard to be auctioned this year. He went quickly for five hundred galleons, and smiled warmly at the aging witch who had purchased him. They were old friends and the two hours she had paid for would be spent in Madame Pudifoot's café, along with tea and iced buns.
Then it was Hermione's turn. She took a deep breath as her name was called. Chief Medi-wizard Arkwright was effusive with his comments; they became more complimentary about her looks and less about her skills as a witch each year. So far, this hadn't been an issue because Severus had surreptitiously bid for her each year and won. After their spat, however, Hermione was nervous. She risked a glance in his direction.
Severus saw her look at him, and kept his gaze on the gathered crowd. Hermione's comment had hurt him more deeply than he would have thought, and he was shocked. Did she really trust him? It was ironic in a way, because he had shared her with Ron for quite some time and knew she had been fucking both of them at the start. He had put up with it because he loved her, but he had truly hated it. Even now, there was no understanding between them. They weren't married. They weren't even engaged. Hermione had moved her stuff in, and they lived together as man and wife, but no ceremony had taken place and there was no talk of the future. They were just Hermione and Severus, happy to be together finally.
The bidding for Hermione Granger started in earnest, and Mundungus did his job admirably. Hermione smiled as the gavel went down, and Mundungus won her for almost a thousand galleons. She glanced again at Severus and her face fell as she saw the pulse jumping in his jaw. He wasn't happy.
It was Severus's turn. This year, Hermione had enlisted the services of Ginny Potter, who pushed her way to the front of the crowd and met Hermione's eyes briefly. Hermione nodded a little, and then blanched as she watched the tall, willowy frame of Narcissa Malfoy sashay her way through the crowds and stand directly in front of Severus, looking him up and down suggestively, and running her tongue across her bottom lip. Hermione felt a little queasy and stared at Severus, willing him to look at her. He didn't, he was locking eyes with Narcissa, and Hermione couldn't fathom the look on his face.
Narcissa Malfoy turned to Chief Medi-wizard Arkwright and smiled slowly.
'Five Thousand Galleons,' she called triumphantly, a gleam in her eye.
There was an audible gasp from around the room. No one had ever bid as much on any witch or wizard in previous years. Severus went pale, and his eyes darted towards Hermione quickly. He knew her budget didn't stretch that far.
Ginny looked at her friend in panic and didn't know what to do. Hermione closed her eyes. This was her worst nightmare come true, and as there were no more bids and Arkwright lowered his gavel, he announced that Narcissa Malfoy was the winner of one Severus Snape, and Hermione fainted.