Marriage Therapy
by
BloodyBrilliantRuthie
Summary: Hermione finds herself in a loveless marriage and pursued by another. Sequel to Sex Therapy in the Dungeons. AU
CHAPTER TWOHer shoulders relaxed and a feeling of calm descended upon her as she weaved a path through the purple heather. Ahead of her was the castle, her home. Today had been a nice, crisp, cool day. Hermione always loved September. For her it meant renewal and rebirth. From the beginning of school term to her birthday, she always seemed to be replenishing her spirit. Walking toward the castle, the wind picked up and whipped her hair about her face and she was happy she made the choice to Apparate home instead of taking the Floo. She was not interested in going from a stuffy office to a stuffy home. Not today. Not on her birthday. She could only hope that Remus wouldn't mind going out to dinner with her tonight. She wasn't in the mood to stay home and go through the paces of a typical evening at Hogwarts: eating supper surrounded by strident children, followed by strained congeniality at home. An atmosphere that was sometimes chillier than the Scottish moors. No, today was different; special. Today she turned thirty.
What was she going to do about Remus? She'd been asking herself that question for most of their marriage. She loved him, but love no longer seemed to be enough for them. Of one thing she was certain: she would no longer allow Remus to treat her as if she were irrelevant. Of course, she'd been professing that same declaration all along, as well. So, what would be different now? For one thing, she now knew that he had been jealous of Ron this whole time. After the revelations of their last therapy session she'd done her best to assure him otherwise, but her efforts there, too, were rejected.
Did he not find her desirable? Was she really no longer attractive? Nah. Now, that was just crazy talk.
She was certain that Remus would continue to live like this, regardless. If he loved her, or not, was attracted to her, or not, he seemed content to continue to wallow in his misery. A misery she was certain that he created and coveted. Whether it was self-loathing exclusively for his lycanthropy, or a feeling of unworthiness, perhaps it was jealousy, she didn't know.
Now, she was beginning not to care.
Arriving at the castle much sooner than she expected, or wanted, she felt a sudden desire to flee. Her heart fluttered in anticipation as she considered breaking free of her life and running with the speed of one escaping a Dementor, intent on Kissing her.
Why did that make her think again of Remus? Oh, yes. He was sapping her soul. Someone give that man a shroud.
Where would she go? She considered returning to the Apparition point and traveling somewhere, anywhere, so she could enjoy her birthday and allow the season to wash away her troubles. To revitalize her as it had always done. Even hanging out with Harry and Ron would be preferable than going home to Remus. Maybe she'd snuggle them both! She chuckled to herself, thinking of the absurdity of it all.
Ron…
It was just amazing how Remus could ever be jealous of him. Of course, he was tall, brawny and handsome. Certainly, women threw themselves at him. But, he was her friend. Of course, Harry was her friend, too, and that hadn't prevented them from exploring a sexual relationship. And explore they had. If Remus learned of that he'd go bonkers.
Thinking of Harry and Ron brought about a feeling of melancholy and she wondered what they were up to. She hadn't heard from them all day. And, as dim-witted as they both were, they had never once forgotton her birthday.
Feeling dejected and alone, she ignored her baser instincts to flee and trudged up the castle's stone steps toward her gilded cage. This beautiful castle was once her refuge, her home. Yet now, she despised its very beauty because for her it represented tension, indifference and apathy. She longed for the day when she could set her eyes upon this castle and be filled with wonder and awe for its glory and magnificence. Disappointment took hold as she realized that that day might never return. After all, she wasn't a first year anymore.
Hermione unwarded the door to their chambers and entered. She was confused. It was dark. It was inever/i dark. Remus was as predictable as Dumbledore in a candy shop. He inever/i wavered from his schedule and always sat at his desk with the hearth lit and the curtains open. She wondered where he might be. As she made to light the hearth, a loud roar startled her and she withdrew her wand in defense.
"Surprise!"
Her wand sparked, but, despite the adrenalin fueling her system, she maintained control and didn't fire upon her friends. "You're all lucky I didn't cast the Killing Curse on you!" she jibed, practically collapsing into their embrace.
"Happy Birthday!" she heard the crowd cry in unison. In between embraces, she scanned the room and was emotionally overcome with joy as she saw her friends and family there to celebrate her special day.
She was loved. Not that she ever truly doubted it, but seeing the evidence of their love was especially welcoming. It filled the emptiness in her heart.
On the edge of the crowded room, she saw her husband. Remus almost looked… happy. She wanted to run to him, hug him, and thank him for planning her birthday party. For a moment, he reminded her of her Remus. The Remus he was when they were head-over-heels in love. When he was caring, adorable, passionate and… sane.
She prepared to throw caution to the wind and run into his embrace. Risking rejection, but hoping for acceptance. She wiped her tears, ready to run into her husband's arms, when she was lifted off of her feet in a bear hug that rivaled one from Hagrid. If it wasn't for the two men at either side of her, she thought it could've been the half-giant.
"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed. "Happy Birthday!" She was surprised at his strength as he pulled her away from Harry's arms and twirled her around. It felt wonderful to be held and accepted for exactly who you are. No strings, no conditions, no jealousy.
"Get away from her, you brute," Harry taunted. She spun out of Ron's embrace, back into Harry's.
"How do you like the little party we set up for you?" Harry asked as he took his turn and twirled her around.
"Harry?" she asked, pulling away to look into his emerald eyes. "You planned this for me?"
"Me, too!" Ron was buoyant and he held her again. She felt as if she'd been Confunded; simultaneously exuberant and irritated. Remus, her beloved husband, did not throw her a birthday party. He did nothing. Not one fucking thing!
Oh, she was no longer confused. She possessed sudden clarity, and was one seriously pissed-off witch!
She blamed herself for having expectations that he couldn't, or wouldn't, meet. He'd turned out to be such a disappointment.
...
"So, you see, gentlemen," she said, dramatically. She was sat across from Ron and Harry, in pure storyteller mode. "I had this witch on my couch with a baritone saxophone nestled between her legs. After several awkward moments, I realized she came to see me because she thought I was a Sax Therapist! Forty minutes later, I had to agree that Vivaldi's Four Seasons was indeed a prime example of woodwind over strings just to get rid of her! But I honestly believe that she was in dire need of my services because of the way she caressed her saxophone. It was clear that she had deeper issues than she was aware of!
The boys guffawed as they leaned against each other for support, and effectively sloshing their drinks around.
"Hermione," her husband said as he beckoned her over with a tilt of his head. She looked towards her friends and realized that she had put him off long enough. It was time to be a grown up and face her husband.
"Oh, Hermione, wait. Don't go. Tell us the story again about the one-hundred-and-nine-year-old wizard you called Willy Wanker! Come on, just one more before you and Remus head off into the moonlight to rut!" Ron, the gormless, hollered louder than a bitch in heat.
"Boys," Remus interjected as Hermione approached him. "You laugh now, but what Hermione is doing for our magical gender is groundbreaking work. If I were you I'd be taking notes, because the time will come when you will have need of her services."
The boys went from guffawing to somber in less time than it took Dumbledore to twinkle. "I hope you boys kept that in mind when buying me a birthday present!" She smiled coyly and went to face her mate.
Although most of her guests had long since departed, Remus walked her toward a private area and looked at her solemnly. "Don't you think it's time that all your friends departed?"
"Remus, I can't believe you," she tersely whispered. "These are my friends and they threw this party for me! Not you! Today's my birthday! What did you do for me, Remus?" Her question was valid, yet rhetorical, as she had no intention of allowing him to answer.
"No!" Unable to control her resentment, her whispers increased in volume. "Don't attempt to appease me. I'm in a bad space right now and you put me there!"
"Oh, no, God forbid you get into your bad space."
She just glared at him, unable to respond. Unwilling to respond. He can ignore her, he can leave her unsatisfied, but he will not make fun of her bad space!
"Boys!" she called out as she walked toward them, determined to get away from Remus. "Let's go," she ordered, summoning her cloak.
"Go?" Ron asked, as both he and Harry responded to Hermione's command like Pavlov's dog to his bell. They were instantly ready to depart.
"Hermione, why are you leaving? Where are you going?" Remus asked, apparently astounded at her gall.
Before exiting, Hermione turned in the doorway to address him. "Remus, I'm leaving to get away from you and I'm going to go someplace where you are not." With that, she slammed the door and walked in-between her two stunned friends and away from her bland marriage and monotonous existence.
...
Between the battlements, feigning interest in anything except the clinging lichen, Severus watched the trio ascend the rise to the tree line. Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter, clinging to her, much like lichen. Parasites. The cold wind whipped about the turret. It whistled through the gaps in the doorways and the cracks in the old wooden window frames. Did he detect another sort of aperture? Where cracks were appearing in somebody's marriage? At last.
Severus allowed himself a mere frisson of expectation.
All was not well at the Lupins'. He'd suspected as much. Carefully placed hints and suggestions to Remus concerning what women want; adhering to a stringent routine, not making a fuss on their thirtieth birthday, may have not been for naught, after all.
The frisson became a flood. Severus turned to conceal his smile.
To be continued.
A/N: So, sneaky Severus is pulling some strings in the background! He always takes the hard road to love, doesn't he? That's why we all love him! Thank you to all who have reviewed! You make me so happy! For the others, if you think this story is worthy of "favorite" or "story alert" then please leave me a review, too!