January 18, 2013: Faithful

Hermione sat on the patio swing at her parent's house, feeling heavy with sadness. The book she was trying to read lay forgotten in her lap. She looked at her mother's garden and let the light breeze wash the scent of lavender and annuals over her.

The patio door slid open and Hermione turned her head to see her mother step outside. "Hello, mum."

"I've brought some tea. I thought we could talk."

"Thanks," she said, sitting more upright.

Jean Granger set the tea tray down on the table and took a seat next to Hermione. "Oh, love," she said, reaching out to stroke her hair. When Hermione slid toward her, Jean lifted an arm and pulled her daughter in for a cuddle. Continuing to stroke her daughter's hair, the pair was silent for a few minutes. "Do you remember when you were little, and we hated having to wash your hair?"

Hermione smiled sadly. "By the time we combed out the snarls and tangles, we were both in tears."

"Is it still hard to wash? It looks tamer and less bushy."

"Yes, it's not as bushy and magic helps." Hermione sighed and leaned more heavily on her mother.

"What happened, love? You and Severus have never fought like this before, have you?"

"No; we've had little rows, usually about the students or some of our research, but never very serious. This was...this was horrible."

"What was the difference?"

Hermione rubbed her face against her mother, sniffling. "Oh, mum. I love him deeply, and he knows it. What I don't understand is how at times, he seems so confident about us and then at others, he doesn't seem to know where we stand. It's like he can't believe he is wanted and can be loved, let alone be married."

"I remember when we first met him," her mother began. "He sat in a corner like a young child; you know, the ones who get invited to the party, but can't quite get over the fact it might all be a joke, and that someone is going to pull the rug out from under them."

"He cares deeply for you and Dad, both. You've treated him with such respect, and he admires you so."

"Yes, but it took awhile to get there, didn't it? But that still doesn't tell me what happened."

"It started six weeks ago. I was asked by the Ministry to help the Unspeakables with an artefact they found in Armenia. It was heavily charmed, and they needed my expertise in finding how to break the charms. I was bound by oath not to reveal what I was doing. I couldn't even tell Severus.

"At first, he was okay with it until I had to take a few days off from teaching to devote to the problem, and then I needed to go to Armenia. When I couldn't tell him what I had done or who I'd been with, he became suspicious and sullen. Things blew up when The Prophet published a picture of me and one of the Unspeakables at lunch one afternoon; you can imagine what happened next given my history with that rag."

"Ah. And of course, regardless of the innocence of the situation, the secrecy you were bound to was too much for Severus?"

"Yes. I have made it a point in our relationship to always be honest and open with Severus so that he'd never have to wonder or worry. But this was not something I could control, no matter how much I tried to explain it to him."

"What about your friends, do you think they could help?"

Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "Well, perhaps. But not Harry or Ron."

"Severus would hex them limb to limb, I fear." Jean was well aware of the animosity between her irascible son-in-law and Hermione's childhood friends.

"Too right," Hermione giggled. "Perhaps I could speak to Kingsley."

The women sat in silence, sipping their tea. A crack in the distance startled them both. Looking to the left, a tall, dark figure was coming through the copse of trees that lined the back of the Granger property.

Jean stood and gathered the tea things. "Should I bring some more tea?"

"Not yet."

"I'll be inside if you need anything."

"Thanks, mum," Hermione said, standing and walking toward Severus.

The two met at the edge of the garden and stood facing each other.

"Hello, Sev," Hermione said, hands her pockets, standing just a few feet away from her husband.

"Hermione." He inclined his head toward her.

"Would you like to have a seat?" She pointed to the swing. "Some tea?"

"Nothing to drink, thank you; but yes, I'd like to sit."

They walked to the patio and sat on either end of the swing. After a moment, Severus grasped Hermione's arm and pulled her close.

"Hermione, I am sorry. I've been a fool. I went to talk to Kingsley today."

"My mother had just suggested that I speak to him as well; get him to talk to you."

"Yes, well. I know you had an oath, Hermione, but you've never had secrets from me since we started our relationship, and then when I saw the picture; well, I am not the most confident of men about relationships."

"But you know that I love you; you know I would never break my vow of faithfulness to you."

"I know. I am sorry for even thinking you would."

"You should be," she said, pulling away from him a bit.

"What?" Severus said, confused.

"I think the thing I am most angry about is that you even suspected that I could be unfaithful to you. I have been open and honest with you in all things. It hurt, Sev. Don't you trust me?"

"I do, Hermione, I do. And coming from me, you know that means something. I just had a moment of stupidity." He looked into her eyes, and in a near pleading voice asked, "Please don't do any more work for the Unspeakables."

"That's not for you to decide. I will always help when I am needed, if I can. But, the chance of it happening again is very slim, so it is really a non-issue."

Severus was visibly relieved. "I said some horrible things to you. Will you forgive me?"

"I will Severus. I am sorry, too. I said some awful things to you last night as well."

"It's all right. I must learn to reign in my temper and to trust you more," he said, pulling her again toward him and holding her tightly.

They sat quietly for a while longer watching the afternoon deepen to dusk.

"Hermione, Severus?" a voice floated out to them from the patio door. "Would you like to stay for supper? I've made some lamb chops and mash."

"I would like that, Jean. Hermione?"

"Yes, mum, that will be lovely. Do you need help?"

"No, you two stay here. I will call you when it's time to eat."

The door closed, and the swing began to creak as the couple continued to sit and watch the sky.

"Severus?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, little witch. Always."

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