Cruel author warning – this is not a traditional, post-DH Hermione/Snape story although it uses some of the common tropes present in HG/SS stories. And I know I write delusional people.

Thousand Rainy Days Since We First Met

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.

May 2, 2008, a Friday

Hermione was worn out and somewhat damp. Too many people for umbrellas earlier. She had transfigured an umbrella once they were out of the crowd, but the drizzle had already misted her.

And her husband, Ron, liked to brag that he could play quidditch in any sort of weather. Except they weren't playing quidditch. They were returning home from the Tenth Anniversary celebration of the Battle of Hogwarts.

Initially, it was supposed to be held on the school grounds. But it was raining. It rained yesterday. Rained all day today. Continuous rain.

So it was moved inside the school, even though students were still in attendance.

And after that, a stroll to leave the school grounds so they could apparate. The headmaster, Severus Snape, had not allowed anyone to apparate in or out of his school. Which Hermione didn't expect him to do. It was rare any headmaster did, so that is why Hogwarts, A History simply said no one could apparate while on school grounds.

Ginny muttered, "Still looks plenty healthy to me, Harry."

"What?"

"Snape. You named one of our children after him because he's dying. He's been dying for ten Merlin-poxed years."

"Oh, well …" Harry's voice trailed off.

"Yeah weeeellll - just so none of us ever says Al's middle name. It's not like Severus is common."

Hermione said, "Actually in the wizarding world, Latin names are not unusual. Severus was the name of a Roman emperor."

"So was Nero," Ginny quipped.

"He'll probably die soon," Ron suggested. "He didn't look so hot."

"Does he ever?" Ginny said. "That's what we all said five years ago. Ten years ago."

"I didn't name Al after him because I want Snape dead," Harry said.

Ginny grumbled, "Why would anyone want him alive?"

"He has suffered," Hermione reminded them. "Poisoned, tortured under cruciatus till bones broke and tendons snapped, and then almost ten days under muggle medical care that did more harm than good."

"We're not saying he hasn't …" Ron fumbled for words. "But I mean, really McGonagall said she was only acting headmistress because she thought he was almost dead. And he hasn't returned the favor by finding the Grim in his tea."

"Finding the …" Hermione started to repeat. "You sound like you really want him dead."

"He is a Slytherin."

"What's that supposed to mean, Ron?" Harry asked.

"Just that he could be faking or something."

Hermione blurted out, "What?" Prof. Snape could hardly use his left arm, certainly couldn't walk the way he had, and besides scars, and a darkened skin discoloration that crept up to his jawline on that side. Ron had seen Snape after Nagini almost killed him. What did he want, the man confined to an iron lung?

"Oh come on," Ron explained. "Don't you remember the way Draco carried on with his arm in a sling after Buckbeak gave him a love tap?"

"There's a big difference between Prof. Snape and Draco Malfoy," Hermione asserted.

"Not much," Ginny said. "Hey, did some of them get to use the floo? I don't see many people walking to the gate."

"We all didn't leave at the same time."

"And we still have to get the kids," Hermione reminded them. Her mother-in-law didn't approve of anyone other than herself or immediate family, watching Rose and Hugo, or Harry's children either. At times, Hermione got the impression that Molly Weasley didn't approve of Hermione's childrearing ideas, or Hermione's insistence that she work. Outside the home. Full time. Both of Hermione's parents worked and she turned out all right. In fact, better than all right.

But what irked her even more was Molly's self-matryrdom. She had to stay home today to watch all the children because even though she was at the battle, her family needed her to stay home. And Arthur stayed home too to keep her company.

Hermione could understand Molly's point of view, especially since it probably brought back memories of Fred, but Hermione didn't want to be defined by her children's accomplishments alone. Or her husband's, not that Arthur or Ron were climbing a ladder to anywhere. They were both comfortable where they were.

Harry, on the other hand, might become the head of the Auror department at the Ministry. His fame earned him recognition, yet Harry actually worked and worked hard. Unlike Ron.

Hermione's husband, along with herself and Harry, had been each awarded with an Order of Merlin first class, back in 1998. Neither Harry nor Hermione were willing to let that be their peak of their accomplishments at the mere age of 18.

Harry had found his path. But Hermione didn't think her accomplishment regarding house elf welfare at the Ministry was enough. It was the beginning, but of what she didn't know. The Ministry was bureaucratic and an oppressive work environment. Even when achieving the reform she wanted, and fighting to get every line, Hermione did not want to spend the rest of her life working there. She was a talented witch and wanted to accomplish more than mountains of completed requests and forms.

Resuming the topic after silence had fallen among them, Harry said, "He didn't look well."

"Huh?"

"Snape. Came down late. Moved slow and not much. Sat and barely ate anything. And left early."

Ginny said, "And apparently you couldn't take your eyes off of him. So he got the attention he wanted."

"He wasn't seeking attention," Harry replied. "I mean look at how quiet he was. He's the headmaster but it's more like he was just there. Slughorn had way more to say about how important he was during the battle and the whole defeat of Voldemort thing. Like Dumbledore only trusted him with the plan. And we know he didn't trust Slughorn with anything."

"Prof. Slughorn gave you credit, Harry," Ginny said.

"Well yeah, but when you think of how much –"

Ron said, "Give it a break, Harry. Don't go beating yourself up over Snape again. How were we supposed to guess he was still alive. He looked pretty dead to me. And we were awfully busy with winning and all that."

"And even Snape isn't on your back about it," Ginny said. "He knows he can't complain because he should have ended up in Azkaban. If you hadn't put in a good word for him."

After retrieving the children and patiently listening to Molly's report including Rose's flaws that could stand to be corrected (Molly always went easier on Hugo), Hermione was glad to finally call it a day and go to bed.

Her mind had quieted by the time Ron joined her after a shower.

Hermione's nose picked up on it before he even touched her. The cologne Molly gave him for Christmas for the past five years.

"Not tonight, Ron."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm too tired."

"Tired? All you have to do is lie on your back." His fingers were sliding up and down her slit.

"No, Ron."

"I'll be quick."

"You always are," Hermione complained.

"You just said you were tired."

But he didn't stop what he was doing, until he got what he wanted.

"See, all done," he said as he rolled off her.

Hermione pulled the hem of her nightgown from where he left it above her bared breasts to below her knees, where she preferred it.