As Harry returned, he set down a tray with a lunch of cold meats, cheeses, breads, fruits, and a glass of milk for Hermione.
As they both began making a sandwich, Hermione said, "Harry, we really were a train wreck for a while, you know, after we realised that we were more than just colleagues. Severus had problems with so much: my being his former student, our ages, his past... Because of all that, I had to take the initiative. For a very long time, I was the only one to initiate anything. If I had waited for Severus, I'd have been older than Professor Dumbledore before he made a move." Then she cocked her head and added with a bright smile, "We're over all that now, though." Her smile turned wistful. "We were on a sort of overdrive for a while, after the binding; that man has stamina even for a wizard!" Hermione's smile blossomed into a grin. "Although, I don't think we'll ever get enough of each other!" Thoughtfully she added, "But now, we fit in some less tactile pursuits, too," she continued with enthusiasm. "Still, he's incredible! Why just last night we -"
"Hermione!" Harry interrupted. "You know what, Hermione, you and Snape having just been bound to each other explains the odd things about that Sunday dinner when you were announced as Snape's Apprentice. I mean, we had all been wondering where you were. Then you and Snape walked in, and you looked so different. We thought you were a new teacher; we didn't know it was you." Then Harry added with a wicked grin, "But it kind of explains what Snape said at that dinner, Madam Apprentice."
Hermione tossed a sofa pillow at Harry's head.
When their laughter died down, it became clear that she was thinking back to that dinner now. So, Harry tucked into his sandwich while he waited.
"Hmm..." Hermione began, then she paused in thought.
As Potions Apprentice, it was no longer appropriate for Hermione to wear a school uniform and school robes. She fondly remembered Severus's reaction to her appearance the Sunday evening that they were to return to Hogwarts for her to be presented as the newest member of the faculty.
Severus had booked a room for them so they would have a place to dress and a private place to use the Portkey to Hogsmeade. Severus had come out of the bath to find Hermione attired in a new ensemble. When he saw her, he simply froze with a very intense look in his eyes. His gaze alone made Hermione very glad that she had visited the Wizarding Couturier in Paris that morning, while Severus picked up potions supplies and research materials.
Her new robes were of a delicate deep-black fabric, simply cut. Hermione hoped the subtlety of their design would counter the fact that they were obviously haute couture. They made her look much older, clinging to her ample curves modestly, before flaring out spectacularly at the bottom and flowing into a slight train. Completing her look were simple black-onyx hair sticks that Severus had surprised her with when they met up, after shopping. They were adorning her hair, now tamed elegantly into a loose bun on the top of her head, a style that allowed some curly tendrils to fall down her neck.
Later, as she and Severus entered one of the antechambers off the Great Hall, she hid her shaking hands in the sides of her robes.
Obviously noting her nerves, Severus reached out a hand and caressed her cheek. "You are breathtaking. I do not wish to share you with anyone." His intense black gaze made her heart skip a beat. At her slight blush, he asked, "Are you ready?"
"As I'll ever be," Hermione answered with a weak smile.
Severus opened the staff door and waited for Hermione to precede him into the Great Hall. Hermione held herself with a solemn dignity. After she entered, he came up beside her. As they walked together, they could hear Gryffindors wondering where Hermione could be; they also couldn't miss students from all the house tables speculating about who the new teacher with Snape was. Ignoring the attention, Severus and Hermione swept in fluid unison up to the High Table, where the rest of the staff was already seated.
Neither Hermione nor Severus returned any of the curious looks they were receiving from the students and staff. As they reached their places, the students could now see that the woman with Snape was, in fact, Hermione. With this realisation, all talk in the Great Hall ceased. When Severus held out the chair beside his at the High Table and seated Hermione in it, only the Headmaster seemed unfazed. Snape took his seat beside Hermione while they both still held the regard of everyone present.
By the inquisitive countenances of the rest of the staff, Hermione could tell that they had not yet been informed of her Apprenticeship. The Headmaster rose and called for silence and attention. This was not really necessary, because all eyes were already riveted on the High Table.
The Headmaster spoke to the assembly. "I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! Before we begin our meal this evening, I have an announcement. However, before I make it, I would like to inform you all that during the holiday, Miss Hermione Granger sat her one of her N.E.W.T.s. It will come as no surprise that she excelled. Indeed, her score tied with the highest N.E.W.T. score for potions ever recorded in our history." The Headmaster nodded to Hermione, and said, "Congratulations!"
Hermione blushed slightly and thanked the Headmaster.
The Headmaster waited for the applause and the loud catcalls coming from the Gryffindor table to abate. He held up his hand and continued. "Now, I would like to announce that over the holiday, Miss Granger was extended, and she accepted, the appointment of Potions Apprentice of Hogwarts."
The faces in the Great Hall all focused on the Potions master in abject surprise. From beside her, Hermione could feel Severus tense, and she knew he was glaring. Surreptitiously, Hermione moved her leg closer to touch his under the table. He seemed to take this gesture to mean that she needed his comfort. In response, he returned the pressure with his own leg. She was glad she was able to distract him from his own unease, even though she knew he would have denied feeling any.
The Headmaster did not acknowledge the ripple of surprise that went through the hall at his announcement. He merely continued. "Our Potions Apprentice, is now the newest member of our faculty, and I am sure you will all welcome her in her new role. Now, I would like to address some of the changes that will occur during this transition. Our Potions Apprentice will be assisting Professor Snape with his classes and teaching some of them on her own, I have no doubt. I expect each and every one of you," the Headmaster's eyes rested a little longer on the Slytherin table, "to treat her with the same respect as your other teachers. She already has a vast wealth of Potions expertise, as I am sure some of you have already noticed." This time, the Headmaster's eyes rested on Neville Longbottom. This earned a laugh from all those assembled except, noticeably, Severus and Hermione. "Professor Snape," the Headmaster asked, "is there anything you would like to add?"
Professor Snape rose effortlessly to stand with his arms crossed. Swathed in his voluminous black robes, he made his customary formidable silhouette. He scowled at students and faculty alike. After a dramatic pause, he spoke in his most quietly derisive tone. "Thank you, Headmaster. I would like to make it absolutely clear that any disrespect shown by anyone towards the new Potions Apprentice will be punished most seriously. She is to be treated with the utmost respect in thought, word, and deed. She is to be addressed only as Madam Apprentice, or simply Ma'am. As long as you are Hogwarts students you will all keep to this respectful mode of address. It does not matter where you are, or what you are doing. In school or out of school." At the sounds from the Gryffindor table, Professor Snape sneered outright. "I am not saying you will not continue in your...friendships, however, you will keep your mode of address and tone respectful at all times. Be perfectly clear on this," he paused to allow his words to be understood, "as a member of this faculty, Madam Apprentice will have the same authority as any other member of the teaching staff." He directed his next comment especially to his Slytherins. In his most sibilant voice, he hissed, "Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff alike will do well to remember that." Professor Snape allowed his gaze to wander over them all, and continued with, "Madam Apprentice may or may not attend a few classes with some of you. If Madam Apprentice does, the same rules apply. You will treat Madam Apprentice as you would any of your other professors sitting in on a class with you. If there is any question as to propriety where Madam Apprentice is concerned, I strongly suggest you err on the side of caution. I will personally discipline anyone who steps out of line in the slightest with regards to Madam Apprentice." He stood for a long minute, looking his most intimidating, allowing time for his words to sink in. "Thank you, Headmaster," he finished and resumed his seat.
"Well, yes, Professor Snape. Once again, welcome Madam Apprentice." The Headmaster chuckled into the strained silence.
Hermione inclined her head and smiled slightly in response.
"Now, I think we should all enjoy our dinner," the Headmaster concluded.
As the Headmaster sat, the food appeared. Soon, there was a low buzz of conversations filling the hall. Each faculty member expressed words of welcome, praise, and encouragement to Hermione.
She smiled and expressed her appreciation to each, in turn. When she was no longer the center of attention, and the High Table had broken out in small conversations, Hermione turned to Severus. "You will personally punish anyone who shows me disrespect? I have the authority to take points and give detentions, even to Slytherins?" she whispered.
"Naturally, you have authority over all the students. You must, or you would have no discipline in the classroom. An undisciplined Potions class is a fatality waiting to happen, as you well know," he answered quietly.
"Hmmm," was her thoughtful response.
"Hermione," the Headmaster leaned around to speak to her, "Severus will bring you to your first staff meeting tomorrow morning before classes begin. Oh yes, and you have been assigned chambers in the dungeons; we can't have faculty sleeping in dormitories, you know. Severus," the Headmaster turned his attention to his Potions Professor, "you should show Hermione to her new rooms after dinner."
Severus growled an incoherent response to the amusement of the teachers within earshot.
"Hermione, dear," the Headmaster said, "I am sure Severus will be only too happy to help you. I am certain he will try to make this transition comfortable for you." Then after a moment, he twinkled madly and added, "Do not hesitate to speak up, I'm confident that Severus will give you anything you need."
'Okay,' Hermione thought, 'A: he knows, B: he's a dirty old man, or C: he's just going senile.'
Apparently thinking something along those same lines, Severus glanced at Hermione. They both hid smiles. They didn't want to give anything away to their blissfully oblivious colleagues.
"Are you finished?" Severus asked, as Hermione set her fork and knife down.
"Yes," she answered, with a hint of stress in her tone.
Severus looked into her eyes, and his fingers brushed her leg under the table, in encouragement. Hermione smiled at him. As she was the main topic in the Great Hall that evening, their eye contact and her smile did not go completely unnoticed. However, no one knew quite what to make of it.
"If you will excuse us?" Severus said to the High Table at large. "There is much to do to make ready for classes tomorrow."
Hermione spoke up. "Thank you, all," she addressed the table. "I only hope I can meet your expectations."
"It's Severus's expectations you need to worry about, now," the Headmaster noted.
Hermione noticed Severus behind her chair, waiting for her to rise. He pulled out her chair and bid the staff a good evening.
Severus and Hermione made their way to the dungeons, in silence. Severus stopped at an empty space of wall near the foot of the stairs. "It is similar to the entrance to Diagon Alley," he explained to Hermione. He took out his wand and tapped a series of specific stones. "From here," he told her, "I have set it to exactly match the wards and passwords to my chambers. As you have known them for some time now, I thought it might simplify things for you. Also, I made some changes in my chambers this afternoon. They are now exactly like your new chambers, in every way," he added.
"Why?" Hermione asked intrigued.
"To simplify matters, in case you might," Severus's derisive tone became quick and quiet but no less derisive, "liketolivewithme." His tone suggested that the very idea was appalling to him.
Fortunately, Hermione knew this was a defence mechanism. He obviously feared rejection.
Looking around and making sure they were entirely alone, she took Severus's hand and gazed into his eyes. "Yes, Anam Cara," she answered in a sincere voice, that only he could hear.
Severus nodded, his voice losing the derisive bite. "With the precaution of identical rooms, if one of us should speak inadvertently, there would be no way for our prying colleagues to realise we referred to shared rooms instead of our own separate rooms," he said sagely.
"How very cunning," Hermione complimented. Then teased. "No more Slytherin silver-chrome furnishings?"
"The sacrifices I make," Severus returned with a pained sneer. "You know that hideous chrome furniture came with my rooms."
"How will you explain your new look?" Hermione asked.
"I will say my décor changed because I wanted to allow my Apprentice to feel she is on an even footing. I wouldn't want her to feel slighted. Of course, I will explain that I brought someone in to do this clandestinely, while we were away. Had I known what they would do, well... Fortunately for them, I did not have a chance to see the changes prior to bringing you here today. Upon seeing your rooms, you declared how much you loved them. How could I change them now? I will survive, somehow," he replied evenly.
"I see. How very Slytherin," Hermione said drolly. She stepped down the hall to the door of Severus's rooms and made some complex gestures with her wand, while voicing the passwords. The wards fell, and she opened his door.
"After you, Madam Apprentice," Severus intoned.
Hermione smiled and stepped into his chambers. They walked into his sitting room. In one corner was a newly transfigured, magical miniature waterfall. It flowed into a stone pool in the floor. A shimmering mist rose from the pool in alternating softly lit colours that blended each into the next.
"Severus," she breathed.
"I had hoped you would like it," he whispered silkily into her ear, while putting an arm around her waist from behind.
He put his other arm around her and pulled her tightly back to him; she leaned happily into his embrace, as he nestled his face into her neck. They stood like that for a few minutes. She shut her eyes, drinking in his touch and scent, absorbing his essence into herself, simply revelling in his presence.
Hermione finally opened her eyes and took in the change in his décor. There was a large mahogany desk in one corner, by the fireplace. Instead of facing the wall, it was turned out to face the leather sofa and wing chairs that were clustered by the fire. Mahogany occasional tables were woven into the room, and there was a large, thick, shag rug right in front of the fireplace. The colour scheme had changed, too; it was a dark forest green, accented in...?
"Gold, Severus?" Hermione asked.
"I found the Slytherin silver no longer suited. I thought changing the accents to Gryffindor gold might make for an interesting combination," he replied.
"Slytherin green and Gryffindor gold, they are a perfect combination," Hermione assessed.
"Would you like to see the rest of the changes?" Severus queried.
"Lead on!" she laughed, taking his hand.
The first door opened into a bathing and dressing room, which was done in tranquil watercolours. Hermione could not suppress a delighted gasp. In one corner of the room was an immense tub raised on a dais, in front of a roaring fire. On the wall near it, she saw shelving that held an impressive array of bottles. She inspected them and found gorgeous crystal bottles of all colours and shapes, each with an elaborate H cut into the crystal. 'My initial,' she thought. Every bottle was labelled in Severus's distinct hand. She discovered that they held: bath potions, body oils, soothing herbals, and an array of healing potions.
"Severus," Hermione intoned in appreciation.
In the opposite corner, she noticed a very oversized shower. The third side of the room held a large sit-down vanity with many drawers, and an ornate mirror with candle sconces. The centre top of the vanity disappeared and reappeared, with a word, to expose a sink beneath.
Placed discretely along the last wall were a simple functional sink and some shelves that obviously held Severus's toiletries and medicinals.
On each side of this magnificent room were doors leading into separate loos.
Severus, still holding her hand, led Hermione through a large arched door on this same side, to enter the bedchamber. Hermione stopped breathing momentarily as she took in the room. There was not a single surface: dresser, night tables, trunks... there was nothing that was not covered with lit candles. A huge, raised mahogany bed dominated the room. It's posts held up a canopy and curtains. The bed was replete with pillows of all different sizes and textures: some were satin, some were velvet, some were chiffon, and still others were in fabrics Hermione did not easily recognise. The bed, with its fluffy duvet, was strewn with rose petals.
"Severus," Hermione said, her voice husky with emotion.
"You remembered my name in each room," he commented dryly, trying for a sneer that came out as a shy half-smile instead.
Hermione pulled her hand out of Severus's and sat on the edge of the bed, looking at him. She held out both her hands to him, and he took them. She pulled him to her, and they fell to the bed together. They didn't look in any other rooms that night.
Hermione stirred at around two in the morning to find herself held softly in Severus's arms, her head pillowed on his shoulder, their legs securely entwined. They both came to full wakefulness at the same time. As their eyes opened, they realised that they were clothed only in crushed rose petals.
Some time later, they fell back into a similar entangled pose, as they waited to come back to themselves. Hermione absently played with Severus's hair, his hand slowly caressing her hip, and they drifted back to sleep.
Hermione awoke again at around five that same morning; she stretched up and whispered into Severus's ear as he was slowly waking. "Madam Apprentice." When she got no response, she tried again. "Madam Apprentice, what is that about?"
"Mmmmm," he answered, kissing and nipping her neck, completely distracting her.
"Severus," she half admonished, half moaned. She arched her head back to give him better access. Her question was forgotten.
A few minutes later, she gasped, "Stop," pushing him away slightly. "We have a staff meeting."
"Yes, Madam Apprentice, but it is more than two hours from now," he purred into her ear. He then caressed her intimately.
"Oh, oh Se-Severussss," was her breathy response.
As they rushed to ready themselves and dress, in the last thirteen minutes before the staff meeting, Hermione remembered her question.
"Severus, why Madam Apprentice?" she called, as she drew a brush painfully through her hair.
After casting a depilatory charm, he answered, "Less confusion later."
"Oh," she responded, as she twisted her hair. "No, wait, what kind of confusion?" she asked, while she pinned up her hair.
"Eneeegalmaranunape," he garbled through his mouthwash.
"The time!" she exclaimed. He spit; she finished buttoning her robes, and they hurried into the deserted corridor.
Hermione thought no more of his garbled answer.
When they reached the door, they stopped to check their composure. Severus then opened the door, allowing Hermione to enter the staff meeting before him. She and Severus made their way sedately to the table and sat together in the two remaining seats.
"Severus, Hermione, just on time." The Headmaster twinkled.
Severus folded his arms, scowled, and intentionally allowed his hair to fall over his face.
"Welcome, everyone, to the start of the new term. And again, a warm welcome to the newest member of our faculty, Herm-" At Severus's pointed glare, he acceded amiably, "Our new Potions Apprentice."
The meeting then began with an in-depth discussion of proposed new Quidditch policies. Five minutes into the Quidditch discussion, Hermione noticed Severus was tuned out.
From there, the meeting addressed the changing role of the new Potions Apprentice. It was discussed that she might continue to turn in work for all her courses, but that she would meet privately with her teachers once a week, attending classes only if she found it absolutely necessary. No one thought that she would. All the staff was aware that she could have passed all her N.E.W.T.s, with flying colours, at the same time she took her O.W.L.s.
"Severus... Severus," Dumbledore called.
Hermione kicked Severus under the table, returning his attention to the meeting. He made no sound at the impact of Hermione's boot, but he flinched automatically. This alerted the other staff members to the exchange.
"Severus?" the Headmaster inquired, amusement evident in his voice.
"You were saying, Albus?" Severus asked in a darkly sarcastic tone.
"Yes, my boy, I was asking you if Hermione's proposed schedule met with your approval?" The Headmaster chuckled.
"It seems acceptable." Then Severus added snidely, "However, it would be more efficient if all the meetings were scheduled into one morning a week."
'So, he was listening, after all,' Hermione thought.
"Brilliant idea," the Headmaster enthused, "everyone who teaches a course Hermione will continue in, please find a mutually acceptable morning. If all of this works well, and I am sure that it will, we will do the same next year."
As the staff meeting wound down, Hermione and Severus made an early exit. He never stayed to socialise, and they had an Apprentice schedule to work out.
Once in Severus's office, they determined that Hermione would teach the first, second, and sixth year classes. Rather than help a little in all the classes, she would be entirely responsible for those three. This would include not only the preparation, teaching, and clean up, but also the grading, testing, and office hours. She would also set the syllabi for the coming year with the same groups, which would put her in charge of second, third, and seventh years in the autumn. Of course, Severus would be available for anything she might need. He also told her that he planned to be in her classes with her for as long as she needed or wanted him there.
"Yeah, Harry, I know what you mean," Hermione answered. "I didn't understand the, 'Madam Apprentice,' thing right away, either. When I asked him about it, he was gargling, and I couldn't understand his answer, then I forgot."
"But now you know what he meant?" Harry asked.
"Yes, I most certainly do," Hermione said, without further explanation.
"So?" Harry prompted.
"So, my first day as Potions Apprentice was a nightmare," Hermione remembered.
That morning was first-year Gryffindor and Slytherin double Potions.
The door of the Potions classroom opened suddenly and unexpectedly, with a bone-jarring bang that would scare the dead. At this, Professor Severus Snape swooped in, his robes billowing menacingly behind him...
His terrifying entrance was met by a peal of feminine laughter.
"We will see," he said in a dangerous tone, "how amusing you find the beginning of the school day, after you have managed to keep your students in line, for one."
"Y-Yes Severus," Hermione answered nervously. She was a bit afraid that an entire class might be difficult to monitor. Just keeping Neville from making a fatal mistake had been nerve-wracking. However, she consoled herself, 'I won't be brewing, myself, nor will I be in fear of being caught helping students. Well, maybe I'll still fear that a little,' she thought, sparing a glance at Severus and chewing her bottom lip.
Severus had settled himself discretely at a newly installed table in a dark corner behind some shelving. Here he would be able to watch the class while being entirely hidden from the students. He began silently working on paperwork, as Hermione prepared for her first class. They would be brewing a Forgetfulness Potion today. The class should have gone on well enough.
All things considered, at least no one ended up in the hospital wing. By the end of class, Hermione was totally frazzled. Only six students had successfully created the potion. Hermione had deducted points from both houses; to her chagrin, Gryffindor lost points first. She had given out one detention with Filch and, in the end, had punished the entire class with a three-foot essay on the Forgetfulness Potion to be turned in at the beginning of their next class.
Hermione was sorely tempted to use the Forgetfulness Potion on herself, to forget the whole debacle.
Severus had not shown himself once during the entire period. Hermione couldn't decide if she was grateful for this or really angry. When she was just about finished clearing up the aftermath, he came out of his niche. He stood with his arms crossed, waiting. He didn't have to wait too long.
"Don't you dare smirk at me, Severus Snape!" Hermione threatened. She got no answer. "I would think you could have at least warned me about those two!" She was referring to the two boys who had, between them, melted a cauldron and exploded a potion. "They added ingredients that weren't even on the list!" Hermione had walked over to Severus and now stood with her hands on her hips, facing him. He glowered back.
It was then that Minerva McGonagall entered the classroom. They knew she was there, but they didn't break their glaring to acknowledge her. She left promptly.
"Hermione," Severus said snidely, "no one gets any prior warning, you just have to wait and see who will be the class disaster."
"Yes but...well I...you could...how... FINE!" she yelled, her voice echoing in the dungeons. Then, after a minute, her posture relaxed and she added resignedly, "I know."
At this, Severus stepped closer, leaned over, and whispered into her ear, "Actually, you did rather well for your first time." He stepped back and smoothed some of the hair that had fallen out of her bun back behind her ears and added, "A fine beginning."
By the end of the day, Hermione was thoroughly discouraged. She and Severus entered his chambers together to drop some things off before dinner. She caught sight of her reflection and squealed in horror. Her face was shiny from bending over steaming cauldrons all day, and her hair! She had always wanted straight, shiny hair. This, although not her usual curly, frizzy mess, was not it. It looked positively lank and greasy. The result of a day spent with a multitude of cauldrons belching and steaming noxious fumes.
"Argh!" she exclaimed. She turned to Severus. "I can't go to the Great Hall looking like this!"
"We have an hour before dinner, surely you can fix it," Severus responded absently.
"Fix? No way. Start over, you mean. Come on," she bossed. Then she added teasingly, "I'll wash your hair if you wash mine."
"What!" Severus exclaimed backing away.
"This," she held up some of her hair, "calls for washing, now! Maybe we can have a nice bath instead of a shower. Come on!" She pulled Severus into the bathroom.
They did have a bath together, and he washed her hair, massaging some of the tension out of her shoulders and back at the same time. Hermione emerged from the tub feeling much less stressed, yet still rather exhausted.
They entered the Great Hall, their heads bent together, talking of the day. Their progress to the High Table was interrupted by a group of four Gryffindors: Harry, Ron, Neville, and Ginny. As they got Hermione's attention, she stopped by them. To their horror, she put a hand on Severus's arm to stop him, as well.
"Hello, Professor, we wanted to ask Hermione -" Ginny bravely began. At the look Professor Snape gave her, she quickly corrected herself, "Sorry, Professor Snape, I meant Madam Apprentice. We haven't had a chance to speak with her yet, so I'm not used to it. It won't happen again."
They were all surprised by his answer. "See that it doesn't, Miss Weasley." That was it, no punishment. "Next time," at this, he looked at all of them, "I won't be so forgiving."
Hermione hid a smile. She stepped in before anything else could go wrong. "What did you want to ask me?" she addressed them all.
"We were wondering if you wanted to," Ginny faltered at Professor Snape's raised eyebrow. "That is," she started again, "we wanted to invite you to come to Hogsmeade with us on Saturday so we could, you know, catch up."
"I'd love to," Hermione responded, "if my work is done. I don't know if it will be. I assigned a lot of essays today. Check in with me later in the week, and I should have a better idea if I'll be free."
"Sure," Ginny answered for them all. All four mumbled, "See ya later," and they took off to their house table.
Hermione and Severus glided to the High Table together, with many eyes on them. Midway through the meal, Severus broke the silence and spoke so only Hermione could hear, "The Headmaster did warn you that your relationship with your friends," he really had tried to say the word nicely, Hermione noticed, "would change, somewhat."
"That's not it," she responded. "The problem is that I don't think I want to go with them. Not that I don't want to catch up with them, I do."
"You have plenty of time to decide," Severus told her. "Perhaps you should think about it at a time when you have not just had first and second year, double Potions, Gryffindor - Slytherin classes. Perhaps on a Hufflepuff - Ravenclaw day - Although, I will caution you about the overall lack of Potions expertise on the part of Hufflepuffs. The Ravenclaws almost make up for it...almost," he added sarcastically. "Perhaps rather than going with a large boisterous group, you could invite a select friend or two to the dungeons?"
Hermione smiled into his eyes. She finished her dinner with renewed hunger. Halfway through the meal, Hermione stifled her fourth huge yawn.
Professor Dumbledore leaned over and spoke, twinkling merrily, "Severus, my boy, after such a long first day, I think it might make Hermione feel better if you took her to bed."
Hermione remembered that Severus had planned to ignore, as he put it, 'Albus's uncharacteristic and repeated attempts to disconcert him with lewd innuendoes.' He went on to say that, 'This clearly indicates the Headmaster's declining mental health, and he would not encourage him by deigning to respond.'
Madam Hooch, however, interfered with his well-laid plans of ignoring Albus's behaviour by choking loudly on the contents of her goblet at Dumbledore's comments.
At the attention Madam Hooch drew when she inelegantly snorted her drink, Severus turned to Hermione and inquired in his darkest sarcastic tone, "As the Headmaster kindly suggested, may I escort you to your - door - Madam Apprentice?"
They left the hall, moving in sedate synchronisation, to the sounds of Madam Hooch sputtering as Hagrid pounded her on the back.
Once in Severus's rooms, they undressed silently and slipped into bed together. They both fell asleep almost instantly, resting peacefully in each other's arms.