Compatibility

Chapter 10: Ain't Nowhere to Fall

The next few days passed quietly, with husband and wife seeing each other only before going to sleep each night. Severus still took his meals at the teacher's table, and during the evenings he withdrew into his potion's lab without a word to Hermione. At night he usually returned after Hermione had gone to bed, and curled up on his side of the bed staring away from her. Hermione could have retained her own chambers for the rest of the year, she'd considered doing so, but she'd been hoping that living closely together would help Severus and herself get accustomed to one another.

No such luck.

"I don't know what to do, Ginny," Hermione said softly as they walked through the halls of Hogwarts. "He doesn't talk to me, doesn't look at me. I'm not sure why but I don't know how to make this work unless he gives a little too."

"Have you tried talking to him about it?" asked Ginny, trying to be cheerful. She'd floo'ed in to Hogwart's a few minutes earlier to visit with her friend. Minerva herself had suggested that maybe Hermione could use the visit.

Hermione raised an eyebrow and looked over at her friend. "This is Snape we are talking about in case you've forgotten. I've never seen anyone 'talk to him' and achieve anything unless it was Dumbledore. And frankly, I doubt he'd stay in the same room once I opened my mouth. Besides, what am I supposed to say? Oh yeah, I know I forced you into this, trapped you like you hate being trapped, but I'm demanding you change your personality for me. I'm sure that would go over well."

Ginny startled giggling then stopped herself and looked over at Hermione apologetically. "I'm sure it'll get better, 'Mione. Maybe he just needs to work this out in his own head. Or maybe you have to take on the role of nagging wife until he gives in. I'm not sure, but it's probably not easy to go from snarky old bastard that no woman would touch to married to a younger student he's always given a hard time."

"Why did I do this to myself?" asked Hermione. "Why? I knew he was a snarky bastard, I knew it the whole time. I didn't expect him to change overnight. Or maybe I did. I don't know, but this has to be the stupidest thing I've ever done. It's hopeless. And we have to have a child together! If I can get him to touch me, that is. Oh Merlin, he'll hate me even more with a crying baby around."

"Come on, 'Mione, you need to have some fun." Ginny grabbed her arm and led her up towards Gryffindor tower. Classes were over for the day and the older students had snuck in a couple bottles of Firewhiskey. And the way things were going, Ginny figured a little alcohol was exactly what Hermione needed to lighten up. The entrance to Neville and Hannah Longbottom's room was a smaller painting of a little boy that hung near the Fat Lady's portrait, and their sitting room was packed with Gryffindors and even a few Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs.

"What is this, Ginny?" asked Hermione, surveying the crowd.

"You aren't the only one who is having to adjust," said Ginny with a wink. "We've all been feeling a little stressed and maybe even nervous, sooo… we are going to lighten up a bit."

Harry stepped out of the crowd and walked over towards Hermione, giving her a hug. "How is it with the greasy git?"

"Not right now, Harry," said Ginny. "We need to get some Firewhiskey in Hermione before you start asking about him."

Hermione chewed on her bottom lip and she glanced between the two. She was glad to see Harry and Ginny, but… Firewhiskey? "I don't suppose Minerva knows about this?"

"We didn't ask for permission," answered Ginny with a shrug, "but she probably knows."

-x-x-x-x-x-

It was eleven o'clock and normally Hermione would be getting ready for bed. Instead she was sitting on the floor at Neville and Hannah's, quite a few shots in and still going. They were all playing 'I Never' and so far it had been an interesting game.

"Never have I ever been married," said one younger Gryffindor that had joined them for their fun. Most of the room half groaned and half giggled as they dutifully took another shot.

The next person to go was Ginny who looked up at Hermione with a smirk. "Never have I ever slept with Severus Snape."

The room started laughing and Hermione had such a good buzz going that she couldn't help but laugh with them. Raising her shot glass in salute, Hermione grinned and swallowed the burning liquid quickly. Not that the burn seemed quite so bad this far in.

Then it was Hermione's turn to have some fun. "Never have I ever slept with Harry Potter."

Ginny groaned then smiled good naturedly and took her shot in return.

Nobody left early, mostly because nobody could stand up straight.

-x-x-x-x-x-

At midnight Severus Snape walked quietly into his bedroom and got ready for bed in the dark so that he didn't wake Hermione. It was mostly cowardice, as Severus didn't want to talk to his wife if he could help it. He didn't know what to say.

Laying in bed he drew the covers up around him then reached behind to run his fingertips along her body as he sometimes did when he knew she was too asleep to notice. But this time he felt nothing. Sitting up he turned and felt the bed beside him, but no one was there.

"Lumos," he said and looked around the room. No sign of her anywhere.

He walked out into their sitting room to see if she'd fallen asleep on the couch, but she wasn't there.

He paced back and forth, checking the bathroom and then rechecking the bed, not sure what to think of his wife's absence. He didn't miss her, no that wasn't it. He would be quite happy to still be living on his own. He didn't need her there. No, it must just be that he was concerned because she was his responsibility. That was it.

Walking over to his fireplace he called Minerva. Her face appeared in the flames and looked irritated at the late call. "What is it, Severus?"

"Does Hermione still have her other quarters here?"

"No," said Minerva tiredly. "She moved all her things in with you. You know that."

"Yes, but could she still go there?"

"No, the password would have already been changed on that room. What is this about, Severus?"

"She isn't here," he said, lowering his voice as if he didn't quite want to admit it.

"I see," said Minerva. "Well where is she?"

"I don't know."

"I see," she said again. "Well she is probably with her fellow Gryffindors. Harry and Ginny came earlier today to visit and I believe they were planning on staying all night. Didn't she tell you she'd be with them?"

"No," said Severus, "she… well, I haven't talked to her in a few days."

Minerva's eyes widened and then she pursed her lips and glared at him. "Well, there you are. I'm surprised you noticed she was gone then."

The fire-call ended abruptly and Severus was taken aback. What had she meant by that? What business was it of hers if he didn't talk to Hermione? Still, Hermione knew he would always be back every night, and if she wasn't going to be back then she should have said something. It was just common courtesy.

-x-x-x-x-x-

It was one in the morning and Severus was sitting in his chair by the fireplace, staring at the flames angrily. What was the use being married if his wife wasn't going to be there at night? If she left without even a word? He'd have to have a word with her when she got back about her behavior. It just wasn't acceptable. If he was to be a married man he wanted his wife to be there when he came home.

-x-x-x-x-x-

By two in the morning Severus had a glass of Firewhiskey in his hand and was furious with himself. Maybe she would have told him where she'd be if he would have bothered talking to her. What kind of husband did that make him? Not that he'd asked for this. He hadn't wanted to be married, but he knew he wasn't making it any easier on either of them.

-x-x-x-x-x-

At three in the morning Severus realized that he missed having Hermione around. She wasn't as horrible a know-it-all as he'd feared. She was intelligent though, and Lucius had been right when he said that Severus could have done worse for a wife. She was young and pretty, if not generally thought beautiful, and she wanted him. That alone was reason enough to make her special. How many women in his life had really wanted Severus Snape? None. Not even Lily. No matter how much he had loved her he hadn't been loved in return. And sleeping with Hermione was no hardship, not in the slightest. Their wedding night he had enjoyed his release and known he robbed her of hers, but she hadn't complained. And in the nights since when they only slept beside one another, he had found himself enjoying her presence beside him. How had that happened?

-x-x-x-x-x-

The clock struck four and Hermione was making her way down the dungeon corridor towards Severus' chambers. She'd fallen asleep for a few minutes at Neville's but hadn't been able to stay asleep. She wanted to go back to her own bed, and so even though she still had a slight buzz she had gotten up and left the others behind.

Walking into their quarters and closing the door gently behind her, Hermione turned towards the bedroom and found herself face to face with her husband.

"Good morning, Severus," she said politely as she attempted to walk around him. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

"I could ask you the same, wife," he said sternly and she smelt the remnants of Firewhiskey on his breath. "Where were you?"

"Out," she said, in no mood to explain herself to him.

"Why didn't you tell me you wouldn't be here?" he persisted, following her into the bedroom.

She started to change for bed and tried to ignore him, but he didn't go away. Just stood there beside her waiting for an answer. "Because I knew you wouldn't care where I was," she said finally.

"So you decided to just leave without telling your husband?" he asked softly. He was standing close to her, nearly touching.

Hermione paused but couldn't bring herself to look at him. "I'm not sure I have a husband."

Severus was a bit taken aback by her words. It wasn't that the thought hadn't crossed his mind tonight, but more that he hadn't expected her to say them. Did he make her that miserable? He wasn't sure that he was a man that could make someone anything but miserable. Still, he had thought by leaving her alone it would be best. Or was that his cowardice talking?

Hermione's breath caught when she felt Severus' hands on her waist and his lips on her neck. What was going on? She'd already removed her outer robes, shoes, and socks. Severus' hands went to her skirt and gently finished removing it. Then, still standing close behind her, his hands slowly unbuttoned her blouse and pulled it off her. Hermione stood frozen, unsure how to respond to Severus' attentions. What was going on?

He gripped her hips firmly once more and turned her to face him, his lips descending to meet hers and kissed her softly. His hands explored her body, gently caressing, until finally he pulled her over to their bed. Severus knew he'd made things more difficult for her than they needed to be, but he couldn't bring himself to apologize nor did he know what to say. So instead he tried to make up for their wedding night.

After removing the last remnants of clothing, his fingers teased her nipples before moving lower and entering her. His thumb rubbed her clit lightly, making her gasp. As he felt her wetness, Severus wasn't sure which of them he was teasing more.

Hermione finally relaxed fully and her hands began to explore him, her nails raking gentle down his chest and fingers closing around him as she stroked and teased him in return. He groaned and kissed her more firmly.

She was confused by his actions, but wanted to make the most of them. Maybe this could be the chance she'd been waiting for to make things better. Pushing him over on his back, she smiled at his own look of confusion and sat astride him, lowering herself on him until he was deep inside her. She rolled her hips, savoring the feel of him within, and adjusting her pace as she watched his reaction to her.

Severus allowed her to ride him for several minutes, enjoying the hot wetness that engulfed him, before finally taking control once more. Her pace had been deep and slow but was killing him, and he could feel her muscles clenching as though she was close to her own release.

His hands kept teasing her as he quickened the pace. She was writhing beneath him and her moans encouraging him further until he finally felt her release take her as her body clamped down around his and he couldn't hold back anymore.

The rest of the night they slept curled up together, her head on his shoulders and his arms around her. Everything else could be figured out in the morning.