Here it is folks, the latest chapter, please enjoy! - Phoenix XxX

Chapter 10

News and Friendly Visits

A month after the incident with Harry, Susan and Ginny things seemed to be getting onto a somewhat normal kilter. Hermione and Severus were now in a comfortable pattern of deception and Harry and Susan appeared to now be at least friends, if not quite loving couple terms.

Ginny had been Married off to Oliver wood three weeks prior and appeared to be okay with the situation. Oliver who played for the Irish bloodhounds had even spoken to a few scouts to get them to come and see Ginny play during the house cup. The pair appeared to get on well together which had put Harry's mind at ease and made him feel more comfortable around Susan. Allowing the pair to really get to know each other in a way they hadn't before.

'Hey Guys.' Harry smiled as he sat down. Dean took a whiff of the other boys after shave and blanched scooting away. 'Sorry Dean.' He muttered sheepishly.

'Where's Ron?' looking around for his red haired friend.

'Hospital wing.' Hermione said putting a spoonful of sugar into her tea. And giving it three stirs.

'Is he okay?' Seamus asked round a mouthful of toast making Hermione grimace.

'Mate please.' Dean moaned covering his mouth.

Hermione snorted and tried not to laugh at poor Dean's discomfort. He had just finished telling her that male pregnancies were harder to bare than female ones. To be honest she wished she could have grilled him more about the subject. She found it fascinating that magic allowed for males to even become pregnant in the first place.

'Yes he's fine, he might not be for the next nine months or so but he'll pull through I guess.' She answered.

'Lavender's knocked up?' Neville said with surprise.

Harry smirked. 'She married a Weasley, I'm surprised it took them this long!'

Hermione snorted and spat tea across the table. 'Harry!'

'I pity him, Marni is even worse now that she's pregnant.' Neville said with a shiver as he spoke about his sex crazed wife who worked as a bar maid in the Unicorn's Horn bar in Diagon Ally.

'Mate at least your wife want's it! All Pansy done is moan that her back hurts and she feels sick' Seamus grumbled.

'Well it's not exactly easy!' Dean snapped.

'Dean, I think you fall into the female category in this discussion, if you want sympathy you might want to go talk to Pansy.' Hermione said reaching round Harry to pat his back in sympathy. The dark skinned boy just glared at the rest of his friends.

'I'll just wait for you to join me Hermione,' Dean with a small smile.

Hermione smiled back but internally her mind baulked at the idea. She was definitely not ready to be a mother, hell she wasn't even sure if she was ready to have sex, though if her vivid dreams about her husband were anything to go by she was defiantly getting there.

'We'll guys Lav and I Have some….'Ron said as he and his wife sat down at the table.

'Congrats Lav.' Seamus said with a smile.

'Yes well done Ron.' Harry grinned, clapping his best mate on the back.

Ron glared mockingly at Hermione. 'You had to tell them?'

'Oh please their not that thick, they would have worked it out themselves I just saved them the trouble.'

Lavender giggled lightly and them burst into full on laughter scaring the boys surrounding her.

'Oh my god,' Dean said lightly, as lavender's laughter turned into sobs. 'I think I prefer the morning sickness.'

Hermione shook her head and stood. 'Come one we have potions.'

'Eagar to see your man Hermione?' dean asked waggin his eyebrows.

'Yes.' She said rolling her eyes 'I'm egger to avoid his wrath for being late. He can still give me detention you know.'

'I'd love to sit in on that detention.' Lavender said with a giggle and Hermione blushed, knowing the type of thoughts that were going through the other girl's head.

Hermione entered the classroom and knew immediately Severus wanted to speak to her. She nodded her head and sat down desperately trying to get her mind off of the man's deep, sexy voice as he explained the potion they would be making that afternoon. She really had to get a grip of herself. It was pointless to keep going on like this. She shook her head and tried to concentrate on the lesson at hand. She'd be damned if she let her grade suffer because she was Lusting after her potions professor.

'Her….Madam Snape, please stay behind a moment. Severus said suddenly after class. Her inner battle waged on and she had almost forgotten he had wanted to speak to her.

'Yes sir.' Hermione mumbled lightly and waited till the rest of the class left the room.

'Lucius Malfoy will be coming this evening for a few drinks, I suggest you make yourself scarce unless you wish to be put on display.' Severus said simply and she nodded scurrying out of the classroom she had no desire to be anywhere near Lucius frickin Malfoy if she could avoid it.

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Hermione spent the evening with Susan in the library helping the other girl with their essay for Transfiguration. The pair had become gentle friends since the Hufflepuff had reported Harry for his infidelity.

'So how are things?' she ventured gently. Not wanting to pry too much into the other girls life.

Susan shrugged and shook her head. 'We still haven't you know…but we're getting there, he's one hell of a kisser.' She finshed with a giggle.

'I don't want to know that boy is practically my brother!' Hermione said covering her ears.

'Just so long as I don't need to hear about the dungeon bat.' Susan giggle and Hermione blushed.

Hour later when she couldn't keep Susan in the Library any longer she forced herself to head back to the rooms she shared with Severus, praying to every deity she knew that Lucius Malfoy would be long gone.

Though as usual Hermione had no luck and as soon as she stepped through the portrait hole she saw the smirking blonde sitting in her chair.

'Ah speak of the devil and she shall appear.' Lucius smirked. 'How…Lovely to see you Madam Snape.'

'I wish I could say the same but I'm afraid there's a bath calling my name.' She said politely and made her way into the bathroom. She ran the taps and leaned against the door. She wasn't stupid, she seen the look on Severus's face. He was not happy she had come back before Lucius had left. But what could she do now? She thought as she stripped and sunk into the deep bubbly heaven.

She revelled the warm water surrounding her and the sweet scent of her bubble bath sending her into a peaceful place where she was sure neither of the men beyond the door could reach her.

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'You seen displeased to see your young wife Severus.' Lucius commented taking a sip of fire-whiskey and wincing. He had forgotten his old friend couldn't afford the same quality that he and the rest of the inner circle could.

'Not at all, but a man needs time to himself.' Severus lied smoothly, cursing the girl. He'd told her to make herself scarce, this evening why hadn't she listened. Surely Potter or Weasley would have allowed her to sleep on their couch?

'Ahh is the young chit wearing you out old boy?.' Lucius smirked.

Severus gave the other man a pointed look. 'Hardly, but you know what women are like, she's always put those papers away, don't put your shoes on the couch.' Severus said doing his best to imitate Molly Weasley Rather than his own young wife who wouldn't dream of asking him to do something in his own chambers.

'Ah yes.' I see what you mean, 'Though honestly Severus she is below you, you ought to put her in her place.'

Severus rolled his eyes, or course the blondes answer would be to use the back of his hand rather than his sharp tongue.

'Yes because the little Mudblood showing up with brusies and a split lip will do so well for my role as a double agent.' He snapped downing the rest of his whiskey.

When would this insufferable man leave? He wasn't sure how much longer he could go on acting as if he hated the girl. It was almost easier to pretend like he was pretending to love her and not give himself away.

'Severus!' Came a voice from behind the bathroom door and the potions master cursed again.

'Yes my dear.' He said and he saw Lucius smirk and he swore he saw the other man mouth the word Whipped.

'I've left my robe in m…our room.' She said nearly giving the game away.

Severus' eye darted to the door of her own room which he knew would look like a library to Lucius. There would be no reason for her bathrobe to be in the library. He stalked to his own room and grabbed his own robe, shoving it through the small gap in the door.

'Thi…' She began but he gave her a look which dared her to question him and she took the black terry towel robe and closed the door.

Once she had the robe on she stepped outside into the living area and made an automatic beeline for her own door, she closed the door to her room and leaned against the wood, sighing that she was finally in the comfort of her own room, only for her eyes to pop wide open as she remembered that to Lucius Malfoy this room would appear as a library.

'Shit' She muttered looking around the room. She grabbed her copy of Dragonfly In Amber, and returned to the lounge.

Severus let out a mental sigh of relief as Hermione returned from her own room a few minutes later with a book in hand. He had nearly had a heart attack when she had walked into her own room. Lucius' raised eyebrow was enough to send him into mental hyperventilation.

'I left my book in there when I was doing my homework.' She explained holding up the book in question. 'Try not to be too late.' She said to her husband in what she hope was a wifely tone, before she slowly opened the door to his room and shut it quietly behind her.

She looked at the great expanse of the bed before her and sighed nervously before she sat down gently and pulled her husband's robe tighter round her and opened her book. Ready to get lost in the epic love story that was Clare and Jamie.

Nearly three hours and another bottle of whiskey later and Lucius finally left, and Severus was able to allow Hermione freedom from his room. Upon entering though he found the girl lying on one side of the bed, sound asleep the book she had brought with her, lying haphazardly on the floor. He looked at her own bed room door and sighed. It was too late to wake her and he didn't fancy sleeping on the uncomfortable Persian rug, or attempting to sleep on two pushed together chairs.

No there was no other option for it. He would take off his waist coat unbutton the first few buttons of his shirt, remove his shoes and belt and sleep next to her. She surely wouldn't be stupid enough to think he'd tried anything that way. Even though he may want to try something with her most of the time.

He took off his belt and shoes and through his waist coat over the dividing screen and lay gently next to his sleeping wife, hoping she wouldn't be too angry come morning.