Hello all! Here's the next chapter for you-hope you enjoy it : ) Also, I am very excited ot announce that the first TWO chapters of the Learning to Live Audiobook are up! They can be found on Youtube on the channel I created just for this project. The channel name is Arabella Faith and the video name is Learning to Live-with Snape, chapters 1 & 2. I will probably post chapter three on Wednesday and catch up to my weekly updates here by next week. Hope you like it! Also, just FYI...I have absolutely no skill with accents, and as I know without a doubt that I will never sound even close to Emma Watson or my gorgeous Alan Rickman, I do not use a British accent for their voices. Sorry all! Go check it out, drop me a line, let me know what you think!
4
Severus swept from the court room quickly and quietly. He didn't say a single word to his new wife. Wife. The word disgusted him. This wasn't a marriage. It was a puppet show engineered by the ministry. Hermione Granger was no more his wife than he was a parakeet. This wasn't a real union. It was a sham. A woman like Hermione would never marry him if there were any way to avoid it. And a man like him would never marry anyone if he had any choice. But you did have a choice,his mind whispered to him. He could have stayed quiet and let her choose to marry Malfoy or loose her wand. But what kind of man would he be if he'd allowed that to happen? Had he really done her any favors by putting himself forward as a candidate? He couldn't be sure. All he knew was that he wanted away from the court, the ministry, the world- as soon as possible.
"Professor Snape!" He heard the voice calling behind him but pretended he didn't. Just when he was sure the crowd had allowed him to escape, a very small, delicate hand closed on his arm, drawing him to a stop. Severus looked back at her. The hallway was almost totally empty now. She was staring up at him with a myriad of emotion on her face. Couldn't she control her emotions better than that? Did she always have to wear her heart on her sleeve? "Professor Snape," she started again, slightly breathless.
"I am no longer a professor, Miss Granger." He stared down his nose at her and she blinked slowly.
"And I'm no longer Miss Granger," she said back. She had quick wit, he had to give her that. Her mind had always been sharp. That would be one plus to this awful situation.
"True, for now," he drawled.
"For now?" There was confusion in her tone and a hint of something else. Hope? Who wouldn't be hopeful at the prospect of not being married to him forever? He scowled.
"That is what I said."
"But...what do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. Now if you'll excuse me," he started to turn away from her and that small hand caught him again.
"Professor- Severus- may I call you by your first name, sir?"
"Under the circumstances, I believe it would be...appropriate." He drawled out the word in what had become a sort of signature for his speech patterns.
"Severus, then. We need to- to talk about this. About what just happened. There are things we need to work out."
"What things need worked out?"
"I don't even know where you're staying," she whispered and dropped her lashes in an utterly feminine gesture of uncertainty.
"Yes, I suppose we must deal with the matter of the residency clause of the blasted law." He quickly conjured a small slip of paper with the address of the flat he'd rented on it. Reluctantly, he handed it to her. "This is where I am staying. You may bring along anything you feel is necessary. Now, Miss Gr- Hermione, if you'll excuse me, I must be on my way." He took a step back so that her hand fell away from his arm. Then he apparated back to his flat.
He paced back and forth across the wooden floor. What the hell was he going to do with a woman? Miss Granger- damn it! Hermione, she wasn't Miss Granger any longer- was a bright witch. Certainly she would have things to do to occupy her time...she wouldn't be underfoot all the time, right? He felt his brow crease with worry and scowled to erase the expression. Married twenty minutes and his emotional control was already slipping. If he wasn't careful, this woman would be the death of him...
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Hermione stared at the blank spot on the hall that had just been vacated by her ex potions professor. When someone walked past and looked at her curiously, she mechanically started making her way back to her office. What the hell had just happened? How in the world had she ended up married to Professor Snape?! And now what? He'd walked out as if nothing unusual had happened. Like he married old students of his every day. What had he meant "bring anything along anything you feel is necessary?" What was necessary in this situation?
She knew she would be required to move into Severus' house. And her house- his house now, since he had "legal power" over her. What would become of it? And what in Helga Hufflepuff's name had he meant when he'd said "for now?" Did that mean he thought the law would be repealed? Could they work together to get things changed?
Sudden hope flared within her. Severus was a brilliant man, and he wielded considerable influence now that the war was over. Excited to talk to him about what his plan was, Hermione picked up her pace and quickly picked up her things at her desk. Her boss stared at her as if she'd grown antennae when she handed him the note the Minister had given her allowing her to leave early for the day. Then she walked briskly down to the nearest fireplace and flooed back to her house.
But what to bring?
She snatched the small bag she'd enchanted three years ago when she Harry and Ron had been on the run. It had been extremely useful at times. She looked around her home and felt a pang of loss. Even if it wouldn't be forever, she hated to leave. It was such a cozy place. A bright, sunny sitting room, a big kitchen where she could cook meals the old fashioned way, a big staircase that led up to her bedroom and guest room, and best of all, a private bathroom with a large clawfoot bathtub. But she just couldn't see Severus coming to stay here. She tried to imagine his long, black clad limbs against the light colored couch or see him brushing his teeth in her lilac colored bathroom. No, she couldn't see him here.
As she started going through the house and picking things she wanted to take with her, she realized most of what she was bringing were things that would remind her of home, not things she actually needed. She was about to put the photograph book in her hand back down when she changed her mind again. Unless she ran out of room in the bag, she would keep her little momentos with her. She would need the comfort, she was sure. She slowly made her way upstairs and stopped in shock when she opened her bedroom door.
"Crooks!" She exclaimed the cat's name guiltily. How had she forgotten about Crookshanks? He glared at her from his spot on the bed. His reproachful look seemed to demand explanation. She dropped her bag down on the bed next to him and scratched behind his ears coaxingly. "You forgive me, don't you, Crooks? I'm so sorry. We have to go away for a while." Suddenly she hoped that Severus wouldn't throw a fit when she showed up at his house with a cat in her arms. She thought back to Crookshank's first introduction to Ron and shuddered. Surely it couldn't be as bad as that? "Well he'll just have to get used to it if he doesn't like it," she murmured. After adding a bag of Crookshank's food to her mental list of things to pack, she started to the closet and began to pull clothes out of it.
Half an hour later she had packed everything she thought she might need and still had a little room to spare in the bag. She happily filled the remaining place with extra books. When everything was done she looped the bag's small strap over her wrist, grabbed Crookshanks under her arm, and apparated to Diagon Alley. She landed with a small pop on the street Severus had written down. She recognized it from the many times she'd gone shopping here. It brought back fond memories of buying school supplies. There was a bakery she liked just down the street and a bookshop she favored right around the corner from here. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad staying here for a while.
She started scanning the addresses of the shops, looking for one close to the number on the paper Severus had given her. Walking down the street slowly she kept eying the main levels to the shops, looking for a door that might lead to a basement flat. Finally she spotted the one she'd been looking for. It was a small shop that looked like it sold nothing except herbs. Her forehead wrinkled as she tried to find a door. Finally she spotted a narrow flight of stairs. She was mildly shocked. Snape, upstairs? It seemed so...out of character. But to be honest, she was relieved. She needed sunshine to thrive. Being locked in a dreary basement flat hadn't been something she was looking forward to.
At the top of the stairs she tucked Crookshanks tighter under her arm and knocked lightly. Nothing happened. She knocked again, a little louder this time.
Severus stared at the door as if it might jump out and bite him. He knew who was behind the door. Hermione Snape. He grimaced and tried to push that out of his mind. She was just Hermione. The bushy haired girl from Hogwarts. But she was so much more than that. He couldn't deny it. She was the woman who'd played an invaluable part to defeating Voldermort. She had saved his life. And now...she was his wife. Severus squared his shoulders, adopted his most imposing look, and opened the door.
Hermione had turned and was looking back down to the street when the door opened, giving Severus a perfect profile view of her. She truly was a beautiful woman. Small and petite, but strong and full of vigor. She was everything he was not. Her height couldn't be more than five foot five, while he stood over six feet tall. She wore her emotions proudly while he kept his close to the vest. She was light where he was darkness. Then she turned and caught sight of him. Her face looked surprised, then a look of worry crossed her features before that slight shyness took over. Part of him, some long forgotten instinct he'd buried so deeply he'd never thought it would resurface, wanted to tip her face up to his with a gentle touch, and tell her everything would be alright. Of course he didn't.
Instead he moved aside to allow her to come through the door. She only hesitated a moment and then took the single step that brought her into his home. As she started to look around, Severus noticed the large orange ball of fluff clutched protectively under her arm. Hermione noticed him looking and held up one hand to him.
"Look, Severus, I'm sorry I forgot to mention him, but I couldn't just leave him. He goes where I go. I'll try to keep him out of your way as much as I can." She stared up at him with big, guileless eyes.
"He could be...problematic," Severus said slowly.
"If its that you don't like cats-"
"Its not that," he cut in. As if she could tell the commotion had something to do with her, Demons Brew trotted into the front room, tail held high in the air, regal as a queen. She spotted the group of them and froze. Hermione took in a sharp breath and looked from Severus, to the feline, and then back to Severus.
"You have a cat?" she asked incredulously.
"Of course not," he said loftily. "I have a kneazle." Crookshanks stirred under Hermione's arm until she was forced to put him down.
"Kneazle's are orange, not black," Hermione said absently as she watched Crookshanks approach the other animal.
"Brew is a very special sort of kneazle."
"Brew?" Hermione looked up from her cat and raised a brow at Severus.
"Her name is Demons Brew."
"Quite a mouthful," Hermione commented.
"Hence the shorter name," Severus said through clenched teeth. He watched Crookshanks approach Brew out of the corner of his eye. "She may be territorial. She's never had cat around so I'm not sure how well they will get along."
"Crooks is half kneazle," she said slowly. "Maybe they will get along?" Her tone was so hopeful it was almost laughable. Crookshanks and Demons Brew stayed a foot apart from each other, sniffing the air with their little flat noses. Crooks took a step closer and Brew hissed at him. Crooks froze. Brew's tail twitched, then she trotted away as if the cat who'd just infiltrated her domain was of little consequence. Hermione let out a relieved breath and Severus had to stop himself from doing the same. When Crookshanks started into the sitting room and made himself comfortable in a ray of sunshine painting the floor warm amber, Hermoine took another step in and looked around again.
The flat was much bigger inside than out, as was the case with the homes of most wizards. The roof was very tall, vaulted and showed huge wooden beams. The floor was all hardwood and the entry room led into a big sitting room. A tall counter separated off a corner of the large room where the kitchen was. There was a hallway visible to the right that she was sure led to the bathroom and bedroom. It was open, airy, and filled with sunshine. Never in a thousand years would Hermione have expected Severus Snape to live in a place like this. When she turned back to him, clearly surprised, he smirked in a condescending way.
"Were you expecting a dreary dungeon, Hermione?" He said it sarcastically.
"Honestly? Yes. This is beautiful, Severus."
"I'm glad you approve," he said, his dismissive tone making it obvious that he didn't give a damn if she liked the place or not. She continued to stare at the flat and Severus closed the door. Then he stood there, uncomfortable for a moment. "Where are your things?" he finally snapped. He hadn't meant to sound quite so angry, but didn't apologize. She lifted the bag on her wrist for him to see.
"In here," she said. His brows drew together.
"That is all your brought with you?"
"It can hold more than it looks like it can," she said dismissively. "I wasn't really sure what to bring, though. I didn't know..." She looked back at the flat and shrugged. "I have no idea what to do in this situation, Severus."
"Why don't we have a seat," Severus said with a sigh. They walked to the sitting area in silence. Hermione perched on the sofa and Severus sat in a wingback chair that had a small table stacked high with books next to it. He stretched out his long legs and crossed his ankles. Then he tented his fingers under his chin and looked at Hermione. "You may ask me any questions you wish, and I will answer any I deem worthy of response to the best of my ability." Hermione's brows raised when he said 'any that I deem worthy,' but she didn't comment. She looked down at the floor for several long moments, gathering her thoughts. When she looked up again, her face was set.
"Why did you save me?"
I can see she's starting with the easy ones, Severus thought to himself. He recrossed his ankles and lifted one brow lazily.
"Because you needed saving."
"Is that really to the best of your ability, Severus?" She continued to look at him with those intelligent brown eyes. He fought the urge to shift in his seat.
"Very well, Miss Gr- Hermione. If you must know, I was...aware of your situation. It had come to my attention that your petition hearing was today and I decided to see how the proceedings progressed. I will admit I was surprised when Lucius put forth his claim. Am I right in my assumption that you weren't aware of his petition?"
"I started burning them without reading the letters after the first few dozen arrived." She blushed slightly but Severus nodded approvingly.
"Smart," he commented before continuing. "When I saw Lucius step forward and deduced his intent with you, I decided that you could not be forced to choose between him and expulsion from the wizarding world and the protection of the law."
"You...you hadn't put in a petition before just then, had you?"
"Certainly not," he snapped. Hermione nodded and gave him a slight smile.
"I'm sure this isn't...ideal for you. But I want you to know that I appreciate what you did for me," she reached across the space between them and laid her hand on his knee. "Very much." Severus' surprised eyes flicked from where her hand was resting on him and then back up to her face. His shock only showed for a moment, though, before he gave her a tight nod. When she withdrew her hand, he stared at the spot where it had touched him. When was the last time a woman had touched him? And now, today, Hermione had put her hand on him three times. Had a woman's hands always been so soft and warm?
"I'm sure you have other questions for me," he prompted. Hermione didn't hesitate this time.
"What did you mean when you said 'for now' earlier? Do you think the law will be repealed?"
"I cannot say for certain what the ministry will do, however," he drew out the word and paused. "I have been working for several months to get this ridiculous law repealed. I have figured out how to do it, but it will take some time." Hermione gaped at him. He'd been working to get the law repealed for months? Was that why he'd come back? And he knew how to do it?
"You mean you- Thats what you- how?" she finally asked.
"Don't get too excited Hermione. It won't be easy. The ministry is convinced the low birthrates and the high number of squib children are the direct result of diluting the magical bloodlines with muggle ones. Which, of course, is utter rubbish. But until it is proven otherwise, the law will stand."
"Then...we just need to find out what is actually causing the problem...and you think that will get the law repealed?"
"That is what the Minister has assured me, yes."
"Have you given any thought to how to go about investigating the trouble?"
"Some," he said simply.
"I don't suppose...Do you think...Is there anything I can do to help?"
"As this matter concerns you quite personally, I will keep you abreast of my results and will inform you if there is anything you can do to facilitate the process."
A long pause stretched between them.
"In the meantime...?" Hermione finally ventured.
"In the meantime, we are stuck in this...situation."
"What are your-" she paused, considered her next word, blushed and then stared resolutely at the floor. "Expectations?"
"I expect," he said with a kind of soft intensity, "for you to stay out of my way as much as possible. We will try to continue on as genially as possible considering the circumstances. If there are things you need that you cannot procure for yourself, let me know and I will try to provide to the best of my abilities. I am sure it will take us some time to adjust to each other's schedules and until then we will have to simply be patient. I will warn you now that I am not a patient man, as I'm sure you are well aware. However, I will attempt to...restrain myself from making this any more difficult than it already is."
"And as-" she cleared her throat and continued to stare at the floor. "As your wife?"
"I thought I just explained what I expected," he said sharply.
"I mean that I'm not- I won't-" she stopped and then looked up at him defiantly. "If you're planning-"
"It is not my intention to force you to my bed," he hissed at her. He shot to his feet and stalked away from her, his long black robes swishing behind him ominously. Severus forced himself to take several long, deep breaths to keep from turning and lashing out at her. How dare she accuse him of such a thing? What kind of man did she think he was? He fumed silently as he paced the floor, refusing to look over at her. He tried to tell himself that she was a scared, confused woman just trying to protect herself. But the fact that she considered, even for a moment, that he was one of those things she would need to protect herself from, especially sexually, made him so choked with anger that he couldn't speak.
Even if she had no faith in him as a man, did she really think that Dumbledore would hire wizard to teach girls and young women if he thought, even for a moment, that they could abuse their position or take advantage? And damn it, Dumbledore aside, he was offended that the idea of him actually forcing her would cross her mind. Hadn't he told her that he wasn't a threat to her? She'd accepted him. He thought that meant she had at least a modicum of trust and respect for him.
"Severus?" Hermione had come up behind him. Her voice was soft and hesitant. She didn't touch him this time, but he stopped as if she had. Slowly he turned to her and glared down at her. The little witch was twisting the bag nervously in her hands. "I...apologize. I had no right to assume that you... I know you better than that, sir. I just let my fear get the better of me." Finally she looked up at him. "I'm sorry." Severus searched her face for traces of her earlier accusation. She seemed honestly apologetic for her outburst. Finally, Severus gave a sharp nod.
"See that it doesn't happen again," he said shortly, then walked back to his chair and sat once more. Hermione resumed her position on the couch looking considerably more comfortable. "Do you have any further questions?"
"Well don't take this the wrong way after what I said earlier...but where will I sleep?" There was a small smile playing on her lips and Severus felt the responding smile try to rise up to his own face. He smothered it but was grateful for the break in the tension. He rose from the chair he'd just resumed.
"Follow me," he beckoned. They went down the hall, him in front and her trailing behind him. "That is the bathroom, that is my study, and this door leads to your room." He stopped outside the last door in the hall. Stepping aside, he let her open the door and look inside. It was simply decorated, a full sized bed with a white comforter, a small table with a lamp, a desk and a dark mahogany chest of drawers. She walked to the door on the right and opened it. Inside was the closet. It wasn't huge, but it would accommodate her entire wardrobe if she wanted it to. She glanced over her shoulder at the other door in the room.
"What does that one lead to?" she asked, shutting the closet door and crossing the room.
"That door leads to my bedroom," His voice stopped her before she turned the doorknob. "You are not to use that door or enter my room unless it is a matter of the utmost importance." His tone was sharp and commanding. It was a tone she recognized. She'd heard it many times in her years at Hogwarts. He'd used it when telling students to stay out of his stores of potions, or when telling Neville never to attempt to make a sleeping drought again. Stern and brooking no argument. She smiled a little and looked back at him. "I will afford you the same courtesy. While you are here, this room is yours to do with as you like. Feel free to..." he searched for the words. "Make yourself at home," he finished. "If there are changes you feel necessary to make to anywhere else in the house, let me know and we can discuss them. I ask also that you do not interrupt me in my study when I am working. It is in both of our best interest if I am allowed to work unhindered by constant interruptions."
"Of course," Hermione murmured, letting her fingers touch the soft fabric of the comforter. "Are there any of the books on the shelves in the sitting room that you'd like me to refrain from reading or are they ok to look at?"
"You're an adult, Hermione. Any book in my home is available to you. I trust you know not to do anything stupid with them."
"And what do we do about finances?" There were so many things to figure out- marriage was so complicated! "I'm sure that my account at Gringotts has been converted to your account because of my...situation." She was referring to her status as his legal property and they both knew it. But neither said the awful words out loud.
"I have no interest in whatever wealth you may have accumulated, Hermione. We can find out tomorrow how the vaults have been handled, if you wish. We can keep an accounting of all money spent while we are in this...situation...if you'd like, and make sure we get our finances straightened out when this is over."
"That's not necessary," she interjected. "I just wanted to know how you felt about the whole thing." She shifted uncomfortably.
"Hermione, stop," Severus said softly. It wasn't quite a gentle tone, but coming from him, it was downright soothing. "No matter what this law says, I do not consider you a lesser citizen and certainly not my property. You are the exact same witch that you were this morning. As long as you refrain from accusing me of any further brutality and be the rational, mature witch I know you can be, I hope- I assume that our lives can and will go on much the way they were before this...contract." He stopped and she walked closer to him.
"Thank you," she whispered. Her smile made the muscles in his stomach clench. "I cannot tell you what it means to me that you are being so- so decent about all this."
"If anyone tries to treat you otherwise, Hermione, if anyone attempts to malign you in any way," he stopped and then continued in a much darker tone. "I can legally protect you as if you were mine." Hermoine shivered at his words, but not in fear. It was something altogether different. The way he'd said those last few words, the implication of being his, the unspoken threat to anyone daring to injure her, well...it was sexy. Which was so strange considering the circumstances, but she couldn't deny it. As she looked up at her always sneering, domineering, intimidating ex potions professor, Hermione suddenly realized he was more than that. She'd gotten a glimpse of him as a man when Harry had told his story to the court. But this was the real flesh and blood man before her. Suddenly he seemed so real, so vital and full of life. He'd always been this lofty figure in her life- distant and surreal. Now he was standing before her and looking down at her with eyes that were very human, very intense. This man was her husband. The word itself was so strange, but even stranger when attached to Severus Snape. Before she could give it any more thought, he turned and abruptly left.
Severus stalked down the hallway and slammed the door to his study behind him. What the hell had he been thinking? He could hardly believe what he'd said to her, the way he'd said it. As if she were his? It was a wonder she wasn't running for the hills! He was utterly disgusted with himself. For saying something so stupid and for feeling the need to say it to begin with. She'd just looked so lost, as if she were really starting to believe the bollocks that the Ministry was saying about her blood. The idea of someone treating her like less of a person had him so angry that he wanted to hit something. Was this just his lingering protectiveness from her school days at work? He didn't think so. He was afraid that he was developing a foolish emotional attachment to Hermione. It was dangerous. He needed to guard himself against it. She was a beautiful young woman, brilliant and courageous. It would be easy to do something so stupid as to fall in love with her. He reminded himself that she was half his age but when he tried to picture that bushy haired little know it all that she'd been, he could only see her squaring her shoulders off to the minister, declaring that she wouldn't accept Malfoy. He forced himself to remember that under normal circumstances a woman like her would never even consider being with a man like him. They weren't in a relationship, they were in a contractual arrangement. Nothing more.
To distract himself from any further thoughts of Hermione, he threw himself into his work. A few minutes later he was engrossed in a text about the muggle gestation and birth process. Three hours later he emerged from his study with far too vast a knowledge of a woman's innards for his own liking. He had no desire to know the clinical names of all of a lady's bits. Nor did he want to know what exactly happened to...deposits...left in those places. His general knowledge had served him quite well through his entire life. He could have happily gone the next fifty years without knowing what the term cervical mucus meant. He'd been living a content life without the knowledge that things like lochia existed. As he walked to the living room he tried very very hard to push all thoughts of reproduction from his head. Muggle childbirth was just so messy. They lacked the medical advancements that the wizarding world had because of magic and it made their birthing process extremely...gooey. He shuddered slightly. Humans were nasty things when one really got down to it.
He was greeted at the end of the hallway with a heavenly smell filling the living room. Inhaling deeply, he looked around and saw Hermione curled up asleep on the couch with a book dangling from her hands. There were two pots on the stove which were stirring themselves occasionally. Severus went over and took the book from her lax hands. He glanced at the cover. Advanced Transfiguration and Transmutational Techniques. He should have known she would gravitate to one of the most complex books in the house. When he set the book down on the side table, her eyes fluttered open.
"You do have a room in which to sleep if you are tired, Hermione." He sounded harsh and angry although he'd meant it as a simple statement. She rubbed her eyes and stretched.
"Oh, Severus, you're done." She yawned again and stood up. "I wasn't sure when you'd be finished in your study so I made dinner and left it on the stove. I must have fallen asleep waiting for you to come out." She walked over to the stove and Severus followed behind her, feeling like a heel. Not only had he snapped at her when he hadn't meant to, he'd snapped at her after she'd made him dinner.
"It smells good," he ventured gruffly. She turned back to him and looked shocked.
"Is that a compliment, Severus?" She laughed. He raised a brow at her.
"Take it how you will, Hermione." He kept his voice neutral and she laughed again.
"Well wait till you try it before you decide to compliment me or not." She looked into the pans and took over stirring them by hand. One had what appeared to be some kind of shredded pork and the other a strange mixture of cooked greens. Severus pulled down two plates from the cupboard and handed one to her. She took it and started rummaging through his cabinets.
"Hermione, it might speed up the process if you ask the man who lives here instead of just rifling through my entire kitchen. What are you looking for?"
"Bread."
"To your left. The silver box." He pointed and she opened the container holding bread. Taking two slices, she put them next to each other on his plate and did the same to hers. Then she served the spicy smelling pork onto the bread open-faced. He put a smallish amount of the greens on his plate and they walked to the table together. Hermione asked him what he'd been looking at in his study but Severus couldn't go into details without loosing his appetite so he only gave basic descriptions. She laughed at his obvious discomfort and he growled at her in response. Four years ago that sound would have given her nightmares. That night it just made her laugh harder. Without him knowing it, a very slight smile twisted his lips. Hermione noticed it though.
The rest of dinner was uneventful until Severus asked where she'd gotten the meat from. He'd only meant the question conversationally but when she shifted and color rose to her cheeks he was instantly suspicious. What could she possibly be hiding?
"It's..uh...not meat."
"Excuse me?"
"Its not meat. It just looks like pork."
"What the hell is it then?" He looked at the mostly gone food on his plate with new found suspicion. Hermione coughed and mumbled something. Severus only stared at her.
"Jackfruit," she finally repeated.
"Fruit," Severus said slowly, as if he might have heard wrong again. "This," he moved the food around with his fork, "is fruit?!" She swallowed and nodded, still looking just to the side of his face instead of in his eyes. He speared a small chunk on his fork and brought it to his mouth. It hovered there momentarily, and then he put it hesitantly in his mouth. He chewed slowly, perceiving for the first time the subtle differences between this and the texture he expected from real meat. There were only slight variations. Ones he'd never have picked up on if she hadn't told him. Finally he swallowed. "It's good," he said nonchalantly, as if he'd known all along.
Hermione let out the breath she'd been holding and couldn't help the smile that stole over her face. That could have gone much, much worse. She tried to imagine what it would be like if she'd made a revelation like that to Ron or even Harry. It wouldn't have gone nearly so smoothly. There was more to the man before her than she had initially thought.
Severus tried to remember her ever eating meat in all the times he'd watched her have her lunch in the common area. He couldn't recall a single instance. When he'd cleared his plate he took his and hers over to the sink and put a cleaning charm on them. As they rinsed themselves, he turned back to her with what he hoped was a casual stance.
"You're a vegetarian," he said. It wasn't exactly a question, but it wasn't a statement either. Hermione finished her drink and stood. She nodded and then walked over to add the cup to the pile of dishes. She glanced at him as if expecting him to say something more on the subject. Was this a sore spot? He wasn't surprised, now that he thought about it. She was always trying to save the flubberworms or some such rabble. It wasn't that hard to believe she wouldn't be willing to eat an animal. "I'll make sure there is always appropriate food in the house. If there is anything specific you need, let me know." Then he walked out of the kitchen and into his room.
Hermione stood at the sink, speechless. That had gone...rather well, over all. It could have gone much worse, certainly. Severus was a strange, abrupt man, but maybe...maybe this wouldn't be as bad as she'd feared. She jumped when Severus' bedroom door banged open and he stepped a foot out into the hall.
"Thank you for dinner," he said formally. Hermione blinked at him.
"You're welcome," she said reflexively. He gave her one of his curt nods and then went back into his room, slamming the door behind him.
Yes, strange and abrupt.
Super long chapter, but I hope you liked it. BTW, the whole jackfruit cooked like pork thing is real, and one of my favorite recipes! Drop me a line if you want the recipe! Go check out the Audio book, and don't forget to review!