Chapter Nine: Prompted Explanation
Severus woke the morning following his return from the Dark Lord's clutches extremely early (even for him!) The pressure of his weight on his still tender ribs however did not deter him from keeping his arms wrapped tightly around his wife. He leant up on his elbow as he bent over her sleeping form just watching her. He had never understood until just recently what Lucius had meant when he said he used to love watching Narcissa sleep. Due to the fact that Lucius was neither romantic nor openly loving, this notion perplexed Severus at the time but now he understood.
It scared Severus to a degree he had never experienced before the night previously, when the Dark Lord was excessively using 'Crucio' as a welcome back gift. The thought occurred to him as he lay on the floor, blooded, bruised and gasping for air, that he may not see his family again. That he'd never make love to Hermione, that he'd never teach Sebastian how to brew potions again, or that he'd never get to explain all the things he'd wanted to, to his daughter Septima. All three of these reasons were only a few of many that had ran through his mind without reserve the night before and that had, whilst he lay in the darkness, brought him to tears on several occasions.
Severus was not an excessively emotional man and prior to his relationship with Hermione had only openly cried on a handful of occasions. Now he had his family though, Severus was beginning to understand the perplexity of emotion and just why it caused such a maelstrom for others.
As he continued to watch Hermione she gradually opened her eyes which took a few moments to adjust to the sun light that was peeking in through the otherwise drawn curtains.
"Severus!" she sighed as she cupped his face and brought his lips down onto hers for a hard passionate kiss. "Are you okay? What happened? How are Lucius and Draco?"
Severus smiled down at her, a hundred and one things running through his mind that he wanted to tell her, the main one escaped his lips first…
"I love you," he said seriousness laced firmly in his words.
Hermione reached up to him and brushed his falling hair out of his face so that she could see his face. She did not expect to see his black eyes glistening and his lower lip attempting to stop quivering.
"Oh Severus," she said, pulling down into a hug on her chest.
Severus let her hold him in the cold morning air as he laid his head on her chest, closing his eyes as she ran her fingers through his hair soothingly. She didn't mind his tears falling on her bare chest nor the fact that when they dried they made her skin colder than it already was; all she wanted to do was comfort him and if he didn't want to talk then they wouldn't, she would just hold him until he was ready to be let go.
They lay there in the same position for almost an hour whilst Severus calmed himself down and Hermione rocked him into a more stable state.
He pulled away from her eventually and she smiled at him lovingly.
"I'm sorry," he began in a whisper, wiping his tear-swollen eyes.
"Sorry for crying?" she asked incredulously.
"Yes, not very man like is it?" he said coldly.
"Actually Severus, I think it takes bigger man to openly cry."
Severus smiled back at her but it wasn't very convincing.
"Your still not right Severus," stated Hermione as she observed his expression. "I have classes to teach thus must regrettably leave you, but you don't."
"I'm afraid I do. I have a double period with first year Ravenclaw, Slytherin and then another double period with sixth year Slytherin, Gryffindor."
"What a Gryffindor packed day!" joked Hermione lightly. "But in all seriousness Severus," she continued, "you are in no fit state to work."
"How many times was I not in your lessons Hermione?"
"Well, never, I don't think," she answered honestly.
"Exactly. I've withstood worse than a few broken bones in the past, and so I will teach as planned today."
Hermione sat bolt upright so that she was towering over her husband who was lying flat on his back. "You are not working today Severus Snape and it is not open for negotiation. I will cover your classes and let Minerva cover mine. After all she is a Transfiguration Professor and I would like a change of scenery."
"And what do you propose to tell my classes?"
"That their Professor is otherwise occupied. You're private life is none of their concern Severus and so I will not elaborate further."
Severus patted her on the shoulder. "How very Snape like!"
"I am Mrs Snape am I not?" she asked rhetorically.
"Indeed you are, and I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Settle down!" called Hermione to Severus' first class as they all sat in pairs whispering: presumably about the absence of her husband. Most worried of all looked Sebastian, who sat on the third row beside a young Ravenclaw girl, angst evident on his face.
"Now," began Hermione in an attempt at normality which was directed firmly at Sebastian. "Professor Snape is otherwise engaged for today's lesson and so I will be taking the lesson on this one occasion."
"Where is he Professor?" asked a boy from behind Sebastian.
"I don't think that's really any of your concern, is it Mr Resenzart," deliberately repeating something she heard Severus say to Harry in their school days when he inquired about Remus. The boy shied into his bag pretending to pull out his books just like Harry had, and Hermione continued.
"That goes for anybody else who wants to inquire after Professor Snape; his current destination is of no importance to any of you."
Sebastian scowled his mother just like his Father would have in his situation, but Hermione continued with her lesson.
After an hour of contemplation and building of tension, Sebastian approached Hermione at Severus' desk and sat down on the chair opposite her.
"Can I help you, Mr Snape?" she asked, barely looking up from her papers.
"Well yes, Professor," he said snarkily, "you can."
"How so Mr Snape? I have work to do, thus have no time for idle conversation."
"Make time," he demanded forcefully his nostrils flaring in anger.
Hermione placed her quill atop of her papers and leant back in her chair observing her son. His nose was prominent like Severus' but he wore it well, it gave him a sort of chiselled appearance and his hair (which was also very like Severus' except looked far less greasy), framed his thin face complimentary.
Sebastian stared menacingly at Hermione with his bright green eyes until she was forced to finally speak.
"There is a time and a place for this conversation Mr Snape," began Hermione in a hush so that nobody else could overhear. "And this, is not it!"
"Oh yes sorry, I forgot," he snapped sarcastically, "during school hours I'm an orphan, with no parents to turn to and only my emotionally retarded Professors for company!"
"Don't be so bloody melodramatic Sebastian!" Hermione reprimanded more loudly than she would have liked and several nosy faces glanced up from their potions to investigate the commotion.
"Get on with your work, otherwise I will ensure to inform Professor Snape that you all have detention!" she snapped before turning back to her son.
"Sebastian," she said in a harassed tone, "your Father's arm is hurting and has decided to take it easy today."
"Oh yes," started Sebastian sarcasm never leaving his voice, "I forgot…his Quidditch injury!"
"Yes it is."
"Dad hasn't got a Quidditch injury Mum. I'm not an idiot."
"No you are not-"
"Well then don't treat me like one!"
"Sebastian he is in bed with a sore arm," she lied desperately seeking an end to his questioning.
"Whatever," snapped Sebastian finally as he scraped his chair back across the stone floor and turned back to his seat. "I'll find out Mum, I promise."
"I hope not," sighed Hermione to herself in a suppressed tone that she was sure nobody could hear.
Hermione went to check on Severus during her lunch hour and was pleased to find him fast asleep with a book askew on his lap. After she had tucked the covers tightly around him and gave him a swift kiss on the forehead, Hermione left for her second and final lesson of the day.
As the sixth years strolled into the dungeon classroom, Hermione noticed Septima who when she saw her mother, sported a similar expression to what Sebastian had. Unlike Sebastian however, she remained professional, or rather student like, and stayed quiet for the rest of the lesson without once questioning Hermione, who was thankful for her daughters rational behaviour.
"Are you okay Septima?" asked Albus half way through the lesson as he placed a loving hand on her lap underneath the desk; this did not go unnoticed by Hermione who smiled to herself, making a mental note to owl Harry about their children's relationship. Oh how she longed to see his reaction!
"Not really," answered Sepima grimly. "I'm worried about Dad."
"Worried, why?" answered Albus, his voice was far too unconvincing for Septima's liking.
"You know something don't you?" she accused.
"No."
"Albus Severus Potter," she berated, hoping her use of his full title would reflect her anger, "don't lie to me!"
"Septima, it's not for me to say. Ask your Mother."
"Ask her what? Hey Mum, is it true that Dad has some murky past that has come back to haunt him now and that's why he's not here today!"
"Well," relied Albus with a smile, "I wouldn't be that blunt, but yes, ask her."
"It's not Mum's secret to tell is it. It's Dad's."
"Septima, you are the biggest Daddy's girl I now, even more so than Lily. Severus will answer you if you ask him."
"You think so."
"I know so."
"Thanks Albus," smiled Septima whose mood was much lighter now.
As the lesson drew to a steady close, Hermione sat in anticipation, waiting for the inevitable: Septima to ask her where Severus was and Hermione knew that Septima would see straight through her.
To Hermione's delight however, Septima left her classroom without confrontation with Albus who turned and winked almost unnoticeably at Hermione. 'The sneaky little-!' thought Hermione with a smile.
Reviews are falling...as is my "get up and write"...oh no! Help!
- Does it need more sexy scenes? (let me know what makes you guys happy and I'll write it!)
