Chapter 10: What The Dawn Brings
My Thanks to all My Readers and Reviewers Enjoy...- S.S.
The Great Hall, Hogwarts...
Hermione had been thinking about all that had been going on for the passed few days. Snape didn't seem to think that he could control himself from whatever dark magic it was that had a hold of him. The bushy haired Gryffindor witch sat quietly mentally distant as she looked up at the staff table. Her husband had been absent and most likely very distraught from the news she had given him about what he was doing. Filch had reported the strange occurrences to Dumbledore as he said he would but she didn't see what could really be done about it. If Snape had been under some dark magic curse she doubted that anything could stop him.
Harry Potter's green eyes fell on his seemingly distressed friend as he continued to eat his diner.
"Are you alright Mione?" he asked.
The amber eyed witch blinked for a moment and turned her attention to her friend.
"Y-Yes Harry I'm fine." she replied. "I'm just a little tired."
Ron laughed.
"Of course you are." he said cheery. "With all the studying you do, it's a wonder the books haven't fallen asleep."
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Shut up Ronald." she said.
Ginny elbowed her brother in the ribs.
"Ow." said Ron. "What'd you do that for?"
Hermione sighed unable to keep her mind off her husband. What if Voldemort did have control over him?
"Mione?" said Harry again. "Maybe you have been hitting the books a little too hard lately."
Hermione nodded.
"Maybe." she said agreeing with him. "I'm sure I'll be fine after a good night's sleep."
"I sure hope so." replied Harry.
They finished their meal and the student turned in for the night headed to their respective rooms. Hermione sighed and headed towards the Head Girl room. She climbed the tower and ventured passed The Fat Lady and then passed another aloft portrait.
Head Girl Room, Hogwarts...
She got into her night gown after magically removing her school attire and sent it to fold itself neatly into her drawers. Hermione dimmed the lights, and climbed into her plush white four poster bed pulling the covers over her. She had closed her eyes for what seemed like only a moment before the sound of her bedroom window shattering hit her ears. Now that she had known about her husband's late night visits she had been fully awake for this one hoping to prove to him that he wouldn't hurt her no matter what Voldemort asked him to do.
True to form Snape entered the window just as Filch described with his body emitting a black flame with a purple hue. He had been without his robes, as well as his frock coat, and shirtless. Hermione's amber eyes widened when he landed in inside her room. His pale face decorated with a twisted smile. His hair had been wild and his eyes held that eerie dark glow that engulfed his body.
"Severus?." said Hermione in an unsure tone.
"Hermione." he said with a voice almost like it had been in a trance.
He advanced toward her bed the look on his face slipping from arrogance to out right longing. The Gryffindor witch had been amazed that nothing seemed to catch on fire with the dark flame still being projected off his body. She wondered if it had been a true flame to begin with or an illusion.
"Severus what are you doing here?" she asked.
He lept onto the bed crawling as the flame dissipated leaving only a trace of it behind his eyes. He stretched like a big cat across her bed and rested his head in her lap. Before Hermione could utter another word or work up the courage to be afraid the sound of his snoring filled her ears.
"Severus?" she said looking down at him.
There was only snoring.
"Severus?" she tried again.
Apparently, The Potions Master only engaged his wife if she, herself wanted it. Hermione shook her head looking at her sleeping husband. His raven hair in stark contrast to her cream colored comforter. He had looked peaceful despite his usual demeanor. She couldn't help but run her hand across his usually grim face. He let out a soft groan of contentment and stretched reminding her once more of a big cat. She smiled at him in the darkness of her room. He curled up next to her nuzzling his head into her lap as he continued to snore. His lean body sprawled all over her bed. The bushy haired witch lean down and kissed the sleeping wizard on the lips.
"I told you, that you wouldn't hurt me." she said softly.
"Her-mi-on-e." said Snape in his sleep.
Hermione leaned back onto her pillow still smiling to herself as she drifted off to sleep.
Morning...
The sound of Hermione's door bursting open had been what startled her awake. Her amber eyes had barely focused on the alerted forms of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Professor Remus Lupin. Before she could utter a word Dumbledore narrowed his blue eyes on Snape who had barely realized where he had been and flicked his wand.
In seconds, Severus Snape went flying across the room and found himself pinned against a nearby wall. His obsidian eyes had been wide with alarm as Dumbledore advanced on him with his wand drawn. Hermione had never seen Dumbledore so upset before, the man had always been so pleasant and cheerful as far as she had known even when things seemed to be at their darkest.
"Professor Dumbledore." said Hermione trying her hand at diplomacy.
"Stay back Miss Granger." warned Dumbledore.
He walked over to Snape who had been struggling against the body bind that held him. Lupin aimed his wand as well stepping in front of Hermione to block whatever counter Snape had sent her way. His dark eyes focused on the pale wizard eager to act upon any twitch that indicated battle. Snape glared at Lupin, his nostrils flaring as he took in the presence of the werewolf being in such a close proximity to his young wife.
"Who are you?" asked Dumbledore averting his attention.
Snape glared at The Headmaster snarling as the man pressed his wand against his throat.
"Severus Snape, Potions Master." replied Snape very much annoyed.
"What is your middle name?" asked Dumbledore still with his eyes narrowed and his wand trained on Snape.
"Sebastian." replied Snape rolling his eyes.
"Mother's Maiden name?" asked Dumbledore.
Snape narrowed his eyes at The Headmaster.
"Prince." he replied.
"Wife's middle name?" asked Dumbledore.
"Jean." replied Snape.
"What is the name of your child hood friend?" asked Dumbledore.
Snape looked over at Hermione then back at The Headmaster.
"If you are going to kill me, then I suggest you do it old man." he said.
Dumbledore sighed.
"Severus." he said.
"Obviously." replied Snape.
"Would you care to explain your being in Miss Granger's Head Girl room?" asked Dumbledore.
Snape suddenly looked around in confusion as the binding spell receded.
"I-I spent the night here?" he asked.
"Yes." replied Hermione. "But it wasn't how you think."
Snape looked at her with an arched eyebrow.
"Care to explain Miss Granger?" asked Dumbledore turning his attention to her.
"I don't know how to explain it except to show you." she said.
She stepped passed Lupin who did not take his eyes off Snape and over to The Headmaster. The older wizard studied her for a few moments before he entered her mind taking in the images of the previous night. An amused smile filed across his face as he saw Severus stretched across her bed like a big cat asleep.
He pulled back and looked over at his Potions Master then back at the young Gryffindor witch.
"Mrs. Snape from now on you will be staying down in the dungeons...with your husband." said Dumbledore.
Snape had been annoyed by this.
"I beg your pardon." he said.
"Oh come now Severus." said Dumbledore. "It's a little late to be acting as if this is inappropriate, you two have shared a bed after all."
Snape opened his mouth to protest but the stern look on his employers face made him keep silent.
"Whatever." he grumbled. "Mrs. Snape, I shall see you later tonight."
Hermione tried to fight back a smile as she watched him climb out of the window in a bid to keep from traveling through Gryffindor tower. Dumbledore looked down at her for a moment. She felt small under the seemingly disappointed gaze of The Headmaster. It was clear that the old man had seen a lot more than just Severus being in her bed the previous night.
"Take care of him Mrs. Snape." said Dumbledore. "He must care a great deal for you if his subconscious seeks you out so often."
Hermione nodded as if dutifully.
"I will Headmaster." she said.
Dumbledore gave her a small smile.
"When you leave here all of your things will be transferred to your new quarters." he said.
"Um Professor." said Hermione. "How will we explain me being in Severus' rooms at night?"
"Very simple Mrs. Snape." said Dumbledore. "You are under his protection."
Lupin sighed and looked over the room. He waved his wand and fixed it back to it's rightful status and gave Hermione a small smile.
"Good day, Mrs. Snape." he said in parting.
"Good day, Professor Lupin." she replied returning his smile.
Dumbledore shook his head.
"Good day Mrs. Snape." he said. "Do remember to mind yourselves, need I remind you that your marriage is suppose to be a secret."
"We will." said Hermione. "Thank you, Headmaster."
With that Dumbledore took his leave of her.
Hermione sighed falling back onto her bed. Images of Severus crawling into bed the night before came to her and she smiled. He really does act like a big cat.