Hermione and Severus didn't speak to each to each other for the rest of the week, in fact, Hermione made it a point to avoid Severus altogether. He was becoming increasingly annoyed with her, even when he was angry with her he always treated her well in public as to not cause any stories. She didn't give him the same consideration however, and walked out of rooms even in the middle of a conversation just so she wouldn't have to bear his presence. His "conference" was in two days, but he found he wasn't looking forward to it as much as he should. He severely hurt his wife's feelings, and though he wouldn't admit it, was feeling rather guilty about the whole thing. Here he was, a man slighted by his wife, and what does he do? He makes arrangements to have another woman in his bed. Is that the right thing, of course it wasn't, but what else was he to do/ He wasn't even supposed to live this long, how could he be expected to know what to do in this kind of situation. He knew what love was, it was a consuming and dangerous thing, he could never allow himself to feel that kind of pain again. Love for Severus Snape was always the unrequited type. He shouldn't let this woman get under his skin; it would only end in disaster.
"Perhaps I should try and make it up to her before I leave, so at least my conscience is clear," he said to himself, though the entire statement was laced in hypocrisy.
He walked out of his office, hoping to gain some respite from the overwhelming amount of mail that was coming in and dealing with student affairs. He continued walking and decided to head to the library, perhaps Madame Pince updated the Potions selection in the Restricted Section. What he was greeted with however, was a little unsettling. There she was, laughing and talking to Viktor Krum again. Their heads were leaned in towards each other and they were snickering like a couple of students. Perhaps now was the time to figure out if those two were involved. He snuck around the bookshelves hid behind the closest one to their table.
"Oh that's too funny! I can't believe the little blighter fell off," Hermione started giggling again. That incessant giggling, it's the only sound he always hears when she was with Krum.
"Zat little boy, he vas alvays so vain, it's good to see him taken down a notch, vouldn't you agree?"
"Yes, he's always like that in my classes too, but we shouldn't talk about this, it's not nice to gossip about other students, we're on the faculty for Merlin's sake. Why don't we go somewhere else, we're supposed to be quiet in here you know."
"I guess so, so vhat did you 'ave in mind?"
"I don't know, let's just go out, let's go to Hogsmeade, my next class isn't until tomorrow morning," Hermione replied. Viktor paused, as if to think about it for a moment.
"Sure, I 'ave some shopping to do any-vays," he said.
"Great!" Severus peered through the books and saw her flash him a brilliant smile. With that, the two left the library and Severus was still seething behind the bookshelf. They hadn't said anything incriminating, but still! They were going out together, and Severus would bet any amount of money that she wouldn't offer the information to him. Blasted girl! Severus stormed to his quarters, he needed a drink right about now. Hermione only smiled like that to him a handful of times, and she hadn't done so for a long time.
Once he reached his destination, he locked his doors and pulled out his crystal decanter. After pouring himself a heaping amount, he reclined on his chair and pulled off his shoes. It was now five o'clock on a Thursday evening. He was sitting here alone drinking, while his wife was going out with a man much better than him. Pitiful.
"Fine, I hope you're having fun Hermione. Watch how much I don't think of you while I'm away," he said the juvenile words, not realizing how ridiculous it sounded. How had it come to this? How is it, that he had been reduced to this? To be quite honest, he felt like crying, not that he would ever allow himself to do that. He didn't even love the girl, but the prospect of her offering herself to that Krum fellow was making him irrevocably ill. He didn't understand this foreign concept. He didn't understand why it was that he hadn't felt this way ever since… He wouldn't allow his thoughts to go down that route and threw his glass, which shattered on the floor. He laughed at himself.
"Look at yourself, you're so pathetic, you feel nothing for this girl, nothing! So let her continue her dalliance with Krum! Let her whore herself around! If it makes her happy, then," he paused. "If it makes her happy…Perhaps this is where it all comes down to…I cannot and have never made this girl happy." He sighed, magically repaired the pieces to his broken glass and poured himself another drink. She was happy with Krum now, deliriously happy. She hated him and said so. He rubbed his face and sat down. Why shouldn't she be happy? She was young, so full of life, and he was an embittered old man who didn't know how to let go of a grudge. Lost in his own thoughts, Severus kept drinking until he subsequently passed out.
Hermione returned home about nine and fully expected Severus to be in the living room, reading on the sofa when she arrived, he was however, nowhere to be found.
"The bastard must be off with one of his new girlfriends," she muttered angrily and set her stuff down. She had every right to be angry with him. All of her efforts for the last few months had been for nothing. If she couldn't impress the man she was with then whom exactly was she supposed to impress? Herself? What the hell is the point of that? Her mother said everything you do should be for yourself, but to hell with that! Hermione wanted to be desired, she wanted to get laid! She wanted to know what it would be like to be desired. She sighed and undressed; it was time for a shower. She knew she really shouldn't be focusing on someone else's relationship, but she constantly thought "If only she could be doted on like Viktor doted on his fiancé. She spent nearly the entire evening helping him pick out a gift for her.
She walked to the bathroom and turned the hot water on. She had already packed for her trip and considered extending the weekend trip to something much longer. Maybe the Polynesian islands would be nice. However, she didn't think she could get extended leave from her boss, Severus. Although he did say her absence was welcome, perhaps he would allow it, as she desperately needed to be away from him. Everything he did just disgusted her. The way he sneers at people, the haughty way he spoke, the billowing robes, now that's just over the top!
"I don't know what I ever saw in that bastard," she said to herself. She had done everything she could ever think of. She tried being his friend, a trusted colleague, a lover…none of it worked; he simply did not want her. Who was she to begrudge him of any happiness…it's not like he even chose to marry her. Perhaps when she gets back, she'll discuss the idea of affairs to him, at least she could continue on with a clear conscience and they could come to an understanding…surely it couldn't be as bad as it was now. She ignored him everyday since they spoke of the Venice Conference. She wondered whom he was taking and if she knew her.
Hermione finished washing and stepped out of the shower. Now that she was relaxed, perhaps she would be able to put some of these anxious thoughts to rest. As she stepped out of the shower, Severus was standing before her.
"What are you doing hereee?" he asked slightly slurring his words.
"I live here, remember idiot!" She was a little more than pissed off that he reeked of alcohol.
"You're supposed to be out fucking Krum, what are you doing home so early? Surely he has ability to last more than a few minutes I daresay," he sneered at her and she simply stared at him in shock.
"Fucking Krum? What are you talking about Severus? I haven't done anything of the sort, you, on the other hand," she wagged her finger at him and he grabbed it, using it to pull her close. When their bodies collided, the towel that was covering her body hit the floor.
"I can see why he wants you," he whispered and grabbed the flesh on her bottom. "You're delectable Hermione, and all to easy."
"You've got it all wrong!" she yelled and tried to pull away, but drunk Severus had an iron vice grip on her.
"Do I? Do I really have it all wrong? You wanted Krum hired here so you can fuck him all the easier. Don't think I haven't caught on to your plan, you lost the weight, bought new clothes; you're wearing makeup for God's sake! How could you think that I don't notice these things? You're doing it to attract Krum!"
"Have you ever given it a thought that I just might have been doing it for you!?"
"Don't. Lie. To. Me." He growled and then he pinched her.
"Oww! Severus you're hurting me!"
"You are MY wife! I will do with you as I please, and if I want a little of what Krum's getting, then so be it!" He descended on her mouth, and this sudden movement caused him to lose his balance. He and Hermione fell to the floor with him on top of her.
"Stop this now Severus, you're drunk!"
"You are mine, never forget that!" He kissed her again, this time with a little more force and forced her legs open with his knees while he held her upper body down with his arms.
"Don't you like being taken on the floor you little whore?" he sneered and wandlessly shed the rest of his clothing. Hermione couldn't believe he could still do wandless magic whilst drunk, which spoke of his true skill. She had started crying some time ago, but she had not felt her own tears until they started blurring her vision. She had always wanted Severus to take the initiative and in fact, this had turned her on, but she never wanted it to be like this. She wanted it to be out of desire, not anger, not vengeance. He didn't truly want her. He wanted to enact revenge on something he believed to have happened.
Hermione cried out in protest again, and surprisingly, he stopped. She opened her eyes and felt a dead weight on her body. She sat up and saw that he had passed out in his drunkenness, his head resting on her upper thigh. She wiped her tears and rolled him off of her so she could go back to her bedroom. After she had put some clothes on, she levitated Severus back to his own room. She should've left him passed out on the floor, she really should have, but just didn't have the heart to.
A headache was starting to come on and she was seriously confused with what just transpired. At least the bastard was jealous enough to get angry, she supposed that's a step in the right direction…but it was still not enough. She sat down on her bed and emailed her father, perhaps they would like to go to the States a day early and she could get someone to cover her class tomorrow. She really needed to start her vacation, and now.
