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January 19, 2013: True To You

In the early days of their marriage, Severus spent a lot of time attempting to be what he thought Hermione expected him to be. He didn't give her the types of gifts usually considered romantic by others, but he went out of his way to do 'things' that would show that he was romantic.

This is why he found himself sitting on a blanket one night with a picnic basket filled with fresh fruit, wine and pumpkin juice, watching the stars with his wife relaxing beside him.

They chatted about nothing and everything together, including the impending birth of their first child. Most of the time, however, they were quiet.

"Severus?" asked Hermione quietly.

"Yes," he responded, almost absentmindedly.

"Why do you do this?"

"Do what?" Severus asked, a bit more alert. He knew that this sort of loaded question could lead to a happy wife or an angry wife.

"Things like this," Hermione said, straightening up. "Sitting out here when I know you don't like it. Taking me to dinner every week, taking me shopping. Leaving sweet notes on my pillow."

"Don't you like me doing those things?"

"Well, yes, but..."

"But, what?"

Hermione bit her lip, clearly unsure how to phrase what she wanted to say. "Severus, those things are not exactly you."

Severus cleared his throat. "Your father said he did those things for your mother after they were married."

Laughing quietly, Hermione said, "Well, yes, he did, but my mother said he was like that while they were dating, too. You were not. Why the sudden change?"

"I wanted to show you that I could be romantic. He looked like he swallowed alum when he said that. "When I asked your father for advice, this is what he told me he had done."

"Have I given you any reason to suspect I am not happy with your, or that I don't find you romantic?"

"No."

Hermione laughed aloud now. "Oh, Severus; you are a dunderhead." She reached up and kissed his cheek. "But, I fell in love with you just the way you are; snarky, irritable, smart, quietly witty, sarcastic. I don't want you to change to something you think you should be to please me. I just want you to be true to yourself and true to me."

"But—"

"There are no buts, Severus. I just want you to be what you have always been for me, and I want you to be that for our child; that's all I ask."

"You are sure? You don't want flowers and chocolates? Romantic dinners?"

"I like this," she waved her hand around. "And I like the occasional dinner, but honestly? I like best when we are sitting together reading or grading. Or in your lab researching."

Severus stood, pulling Hermione up and closer to him. He leant forward and kissed her, and then with a wave of his wand, tidied up the blanket and basket. "Let's go inside then and read, shall we?"

"I'd like that very much,"

With pinky and forefinger hooked, the couple walked to the castle and headed to their quarters.