Thank you all for reviewing, favorite, and following this story. You all are my inspiration!

Some of you might find what occurs in this chapter somewhat offensive. I apologize in advance if you do, but it's simply a story. It's just a matter of thoughts and the way some fight through insecurities. I'm sure most of you have probably gone through this. Even those with the highest egos tend to be insecure about themselves whether we admit it to ourselves or not.

I do hope you all enjoy, especially you. ;)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything JKR. Review, Review, Review! :)


Chapter 2: Fighting validation

Previously, three days before lust...

It was early morning and Hermione Granger was busy contemplating over a family get together she had planned for later in the day. She stood in front of her closet wondering what to wear for this evening. She wanted to wear something in between conservative and sexy. She needed to prove to her family and herself that even though she's married, that doesn't stop her from still looking desirable.

Hermione took a look over her shoulder at her husband, who happened to be playing a game of World of War craft on his laptop. "Harry, I really need your opinion on this," she said, knowing that his opinion always mattered most. He was so engrossed in the game that he failed to hear her. She turned around and sighed, dissatisfied with the lack of attention.

After picking out an outfit, she set it apart from the others, and prepared herself for work. She knew today was likely to be a long day, so she counted on Harry to execute certain tasks for her while she's away. She looked at the clock and realized she didn't have much time left. Being late for work again, was never unavoidable, something always had to happen.

She walked over to him and taped him on the shoulder, "Harry could you do me a favor, I-"

"Sure, let me just," he was over pressing the keys on the keyboard while biting his lower lip harshly, "I'm almost done ruining him, just one second sweet.

"I don't have much time; I need you to prepare the coffee for me, while I do my makeup. Can you do that for me?"

"Go ahead; I'll make it in a jiffy." She tried to smile, hoping he would have the decency to help her. Harry always seemed to focus more on what mattered most to him. Sometimes, Hermione wondered, why he didn't just marry the game instead. I'm almost sure, if I stand in front of him completely naked, he would still be absorbed in that game. Hermione knew she was a fine-looking woman, but she often wondered if her husband still saw the same person, that he became infatuated with long ago when they met.

She sat in the dining room and wrote a note, instructing him, three things that needed to be done before she returned home.

Harry, please clean up after yourself. You see the condition the house is in; I expect it to remain the same way when I return. If you invite your friends over, you are responsible for the mess they create.

Please go to the supermarket and get vanilla frosting for the muffins.

Please fix the surround sound; you know my mother loves that.

Thanks,

Love Hermione.

She folded the note and left it on top of the table, so Harry could see it. Once she finish applying makeup, she went to the kitchen but found no coffee made and-

"Where's the coffee?" She looked around and knew he just couldn't complete a simple task for her. She heard him quickly get out of bed, "Oh damn it!" He rushed to her, in shock that she managed to finish so soon. "Harry," she spoke softly.

"I'm truly sorry sweet, I-I lost track of time, I didn't expect you to finish so soon. I-" She shook her head in disapproval, and looked down only to see, he held on to the dreaded laptop in one arm. She really didn't feel like having a quarrel but instead she asked, "Why can't I count on you, when I need you most Harry Potter." She paused for a moment looked at the time, and then looked over at the note. She wondered if it was even worth telling him about it.

"Harry you do know if you were running late, and I had nothing else to do, I would go out of my way to help you, right?"

"I know," he looked down for a moment.

"I left you three small tasks on a note that needs to be fulfilled before I come home today. You know, how important this dinner is to me. Can I trust you with completing them?" He looked over at the note and then looked at his wife and said, "of course you can." I hope so. He gave her a kiss goodbye and she was gone for the day.


Hermione got in her car, and was on her way home. She honked the horn in aggravation, looking at the time. She had three hours to get home and prepare everything before her family arrived. "Damn traffic!" This common traffic jam was a result to rush hour. I wish engineers could create flying cars already! This would avoid all the hostility and frustration. The traffic was unavoidable and there was only one thing she could do at a time like this. Maybe I should call Harry, and see if he was able to get that done for me. He didn't answer and already she felt a headache starting to build. The convoluted traffic, along with her husband's lack of taking responsibility, was enough to cause a fender bender at a moment least suitable.

Half an hour passed and as she was entering her house she couldn't believe what she saw. Her eyes widened at the horror that seemed like a tornado just swept through and destroyed everything she had worked so hard on.

"Harry?" She stepped over the pizza box, the clothing, and what appeared to look like debris, "what happened here?"

"Hi sweet, I know, I know what it looks like, I'm cleaning it up now." She set everything in place before taking a look around the rest of the house. He was now running back and forth picking everything up. Her mouth was open, in shock, as she looked around, she couldn't believe the mess and clutter he had made while she was out. "Harry Potter-you care to tell me, what happened here?"

"I was looking for some clothes that do not fit me anymore, to donate to the children's charity. Then my stomach was literally fighting with me, so I ordered some pizza. Some friends came over and-" She looked over at the clock again, she now had two hours to get everything ready.

"Did you fix the surround sound and get the frosting I asked for?"

"Yup! The frosting is on the counter top." She thanked and embraced him. He continued cleaning, and she pre-cooked everything for dinner. She took the frosting and realized it was strawberry. Ugh fuck, now I have to go back and change this. Noooo and look at the time. There's no way I'll have time to do all this. Why can't he get it right the first time? Maybe I should cancel, no, I hate having to cancel, especially when I planned it! This was the time where multitasking definitely came in hand. The oven was on, the house was almost completely cleaned, and the table was ready. All was ready except her and the frosting.


At the end, the results were a success. She managed to pull everything together, and her husband helped out, in ways he could. Once everyone was gone, she was glad to finally have some time alone with her husband. She wanted to reward him, for helping her pull through at the end.

As she got out of the shower, she wandered around the house naked. She went into the kitchen, in the refrigerator and grabbed the left over frosting container. She took a spoon in the other hand and walked to the bedroom. She opened the door, the lights were on but to her surprise he was sleeping. Should I wake him? Her needs had to be met, especially after a long, stressful day. Besides he had no reason for being this tired.

She crawled under the covers and made a path of kisses from his abdomen up to his lips. She reached for him and he finally woke. He rubbed his eyes in confusion, "what time is it?" She refused to answer and she started kissing his neck. "Can we just leave this for tomorrow sweet?" She wore new red lingerie, and as she stood from the bed, he glimpsed at her and turned around.

"Well, what do you think?"

"It's nice, come to bed sweet." It's nice?..That's it?

She dressed in her pajamas, went to the refrigerator to get a bottle of wine and walked over to the guest bedroom. She looked out the window and saw the strangest thing. It was a man drinking something from a flask. He appeared to be dancing sluggishly alone. She wondered who the drunken stranger was. She took a sip from the wine and continued to watch him. She giggled and wondered what it would be like to seduce a stranger. Would he find me attractive? Would this stranger find me exquisitely sexy? I want to feel powerful again. I want to know, if I still have what it takes to drive a man crazy over me. I want to feel wanted! Part of her felt it was the alcohol talking her into becoming a promiscuous vixen. She giggled at her own improper thoughts. Now, now Hermione behave! Control your sexual urges. She smiled and secretly and watched the mysterious man collapse on to the bed. She drank her last bit of wine and made it back into her bedroom. As soon as she made herself comfortable in the bed, she fell fast asleep.


Morning came and Harry wasn't around. She wondered where he had gone so early. She got up from her bed, rubbing her temples. Apparently, she had a little too much wine. Harry left a note on the dresser, stating he went to the school of Hogwarts to substitute for a class.

Luckily she had a day off today, but already she had plans to preoccupy herself with, throughout the remainder of the day. Even though she had a headache, she wanted to go jogging.

As she made it out the door, she came across another jogger, on the sidewalk of her house. "Hi there neighbor! What a lovely morning it is." The woman's voice was high-pitched, which drove her headache to extremities. "Good morning and you are?"

"Rexa. I live in the house besides yours. You're new here right?"

"Yes, I'm Hermione, my husband and I moved here a week ago."

"Oh how lovely, I know you'll love the neighborhood, Severus and I moved here about a year ago." Hermione's eyes widened when she heard his name. Severus! That was you, who I saw last night. She briefly smiled to herself. She avoided listening to the woman speak, and for a moment she thought about him. She remembered sitting through the lectures, and day dreaming about him. She always had a crush on professor Snape, but it never went beyond that. She quickly interrupted Rexa, "I have to go, my husband will be getting home soon from working at Hogwarts, and I have to finish this part of my daily routine. I hope you don't mind Rexa."

"Oh of course not, run along dear!" Herimone couldn't stop thinking about him throughout the run. She wondered if all this was just a coincidence, or something more.


The day went on, and sunset was near. Severus finally arrived, and as always Hermione cooked, cleaned, and conversed with her husband. "I met our neighbor today while jogging, she-" he rubbed his eyes and held her hand in his, "not now Hermione, I'm exhausted. Give me an hour and I promise we'll talk about it."

"But Harry, you just got here not too long ago, I missed you throughout the day."

"I missed you too sweet, but we'll have plenty of time to talk later. I just need some rest." She left him in the room that evening. She waited, waited, and waited for him to wake up. He never did, and so she joined him to bed early.

The next day Hermione had spent the morning studying new spells. She wished she could create a spell to entice her husband. She needed to find something fast. After looking through several books in the basement, she found nothing. She remembered leaving one of the books called wizardry love in the guest bedroom. Immediately, she went up to get it, but something caught her eye in the process. It was him, Severus Snape, looking through a pile of papers in a shoe box. Hermione looked away, and grabbed the book again. She sat on the corner of the window at attempted to read it, but her thoughts got in the way. Why has Harry been so distant lately? I try my best to look good for him, but he doesn't even realize the effort I put into my appearance. She touched her face, almost feeling unrecognizable. Am I not the same person he fell madly in love with years ago? I can't even have a meaningful conversation with him. Does he feel that I complain or nag too much? She closed the book and walked around. She felt the strange feeling of eyes following her. She dared not to look back. I bet he's looking at me right now. I wonder what he thinks of me. Even though she could feel the heat radiate from his eyes on her back. She needed to prove to herself, that she still is the same Hermione from before….

A/N: Poor Hermione, and her reason for fighting validation. She will continue to do so throughout a good part of the story, but in different ways. What do you think Snape was looking for in the shoe box?

Q&A: To the guest who asked about, 'magic' and anyone else, I'm open for suggestions. Feel free to PM me. Also, I'm terribly sorry your husband is that way. Men.