AN: I've been an idle writer of late, RL has jumped in the way of my writing and it doesn't look like it's going to calm down any time soon. I therefore apologise for the lack of consistent updates for the near future. Also I will try to make more of an effort to respond to reviews, however this may be once I get a proper internet connection in about a month.

-With This Ring I Thee Rehabilitate-

-Chapter 10--

I retreat downstairs, and without saying a word I reach him and wrapping my arms around him I gently place a kiss on his lips.

His lips are firm against mine and he is unmoving under me. I pull back and look at him with a small smile.

"Care to enlighten me as to what that was for?" His eyebrow is arched questioningly.

"This house is wonderful. You are wonderful." I can't help but grin at him, even though I can sense his discomfort. "This is so generous and thoughtful, but..."

"But?" he asks frowning. I draw my lip between my teeth and stare at a spot in the centre of his chest. I feel him place a finger under my chin and he tilts my head upwards so I am forced to look into his face. "Hermione?"

I slowly begin to form the words. "But, you haven't considered your own needs, the house is more about me than you."

A bark of a laugh comes from his chest, "So your objection is that I have been too considerate to your needs than to my own desires?"

"I want you to be happy here too Severus." His face flashes through several emotions that I am unable to place.

"I... Hermione, I am serving a penance for my crimes. It is a rather pathetic one considering all that I have done, but I must make sure that you are happy and well cared for whilst subject to this arrangement."

"You're making yourself suffer?" I ask incredulously. "There is absolutely no need for that, you have endured enough."

"This is hardly Azkaban Hermione. A life sentence there would have been suitable, the Kiss wouldn't have been inappropriate." His eyes are hard and cold. "Do you have any idea of my extensive list of offences? Not just those from my more recent trial, but those that I committed whilst you were in nappies?"

"I know what is of public record."

"Then you know nothing." He turns his head away dismissing me.

I watch him for a moment. The slowly and quietly say, "so tell me. Tell me who Severus Snape is, all of what he is."

His eyes snap back to me and narrow. I hope he can see the sincerity in my own gaze. "I have never told anyone everything about myself. So why would I tell you?"

"I have many reasons to give you." An eyebrow raises waiting for me to elaborate. I suck my top lip in between my teeth and hold it there for a moment before answering. "Like it or not, I'm your wife and I fought for that position. I am intellectually capable of understanding your choices, objectively. You can't keep it all bottled up forever and be angry at everyone. I don't want anything from you, I will swear an oath that I will not use anything you tell me against you. It... it'll help prove to the rehabilitation board that you accept your past and that you wouldn't cause harm to those of not of pure blood."

"Do you honestly think that I believe that blood purity is important?" He almost looks offended at this idea.

"Wasn't that the point of the Death Eaters?" He rolls his eyes at me.

"The point of the whole Godforsaken idea, was that magic made us special. If I am to explain this then sit down." I flop into the stool next to his and wait for him to continue. "Magic makes us special, it separates us from Muggles as we can do something innately that they can't. True Muggleborns are rare, most wizards and witches come from parents where at least one has the ability, but some come from squib parentage. The Dark Lord didn't care where the magic came from, but that we have it and Muggles don't. I'm not saying I agree, after all there are many things I can't do that Muggles can."

"So what was the issue? Why did people become Death Eaters?"

"Simply it was fear. Fear that they would discover our way of life and destroy every single one of us. Whilst with our spells and potions we have a great deal of power, they overwhelm us with numbers and technology of mass violence.

"Many purebloods lost whole arms of their families when there were witch trials, it was more by luck than by actual witch hunting ability. That and there were many rivalries, so it was a good way to eradicate any enemies. Finding sponsorship was easy amongst those. Others just wanted power, some revenge for an act a Muggle has committed against them. You can't fight against Muggles using an army that understands their way of life and has strong family ties with them. Therefore, proclaiming that the majority, for there were always exceptions, of Muggleborns and Half-bloods had inferior magic you built a stronger unshakable base for your beliefs. Even if it is a total fallacy."

I process what he has said, it made sense on some level. "Why did you become a Death Eater?"

"I am one of a very small number of my year that is still breathing. Doesn't that say something?"

"You're avoiding the answer." I clasp my hand over my mouth, I didn't mean to sound rude.

He snorts a laugh. "I never said I would tell you my past." Standing he looks down at me. "I will be preparing the garage for the lab should you need me."

Sweeping from the room he leaves me with a list of questions, he had said we would discuss things later, I hope he will still let me in.

-x-

The rest of my day was spent preparing sandwiches for lunch, reading in my study and then preparing dinner.

The
cooking of roast pork, homemade stuffing, apple sauce, Yorkshire puddings, vegetables and gravy was meditative. I carefully arranged all the dishes on the bar so that he could help himself to whatever he decided he wanted before going to the garage/lab to invite him to eat.

"The air purification charms must be working." he announced as he walked into the kitchen. "This smells wonderful."

I grin, a true compliment from him. "Thank you. For everything, I meant it when I said you were wonderful."

I watch him fill his plate and sit down to eat before I begin to select my own meal. I sit opposite him at the table and we eat in silence. My mind is a maelstrom of questions, from wanting to know why he chose this town to learning about his past choices, however I remain silent. It is rare for us to eat together so I am unsure as to his expectations..

He stops eating and lightly rests his cutlery on his plate. "You are a talented cook, I hope you wish to do so again."

I smile at him, "I helped my mum cook the Sunday roast and picked up what to do from watching her really."t

He nods. "Then remind me to thank her for teaching you next time we visit. I suppose you would like to discuss where we are and why?" He picks up his knife and fork and continues to eat.

"I am curious."

"We're in a town on the edge of Pendle, not too close to the hill thankfully as Hallowe'en up there is often rather... interesting," he sneers. "I'm sure you know the mythology as well as the documented truth."

"Most of those tried weren't witches at all, but healers and knowledge seekers." He nods slowly at me.

"There are a considerable number of Purebloods that can find relatives from this area, but most notably are those that stayed close to the area. Longbottom and the Greengrass family for example. My mother was also related to members of that coven, and before you ask I am not related to that disaster on legs." His lip curls nastily at the thought of being related to Neville, I stifle a smile. "My mother was an only child, male heirs are the only ones of value, and after mother was born her parents would only consider allowing a boy to live, needless to say they failed to conceive one. Blood purity lost some prestige in the late fifties, and as such whilst it wasn't the done thing by the men, the some of the women were happy to go off with Muggles."

I chew carefully on a bit of pork considering what he has told me about wizarding heritage. "If your mother was an only child though, wouldn't she have been led into a pureblood marriage?"

"She was supposed to marry one of Black's relatives, Alphard I believe."

I can't help but interrupt. "The one that got disowned after leaving money to Sirius?"

He glowers at me. "Hmm, anyway. She met my Dad at a dance, he was Mill owners son and seemed to have it all."

"It sounds romantic." I smile, it quickly fades as I see the black look he is sending me.

"Does that sate your curiosity for tonight?"

I look at our empty plates and clear them, producing a simple pavlova desert for us. He looks surprised, but takes the offered pudding. I cautiously ask the one question burning in my mind. "But why should you choose for us to live here?"

"I am known here, more positively than elsewhere in the country." With that simple answer he begins to eat and silence descends again.

-x-