Here is the new chapter! The longest so far.

Big thanks to marajade179 for betaing for me.

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Enjoy!

Chapter 14

The Great Hall was full of its usual sounds of chatter, laughter, rattling dishes and people generally enjoying themselves. Severus Snape however, wasn't among those enjoying the meal. Dinner had started a good twenty minutes ago and his wife still hadn't come. He glanced at the Gryffindor table for the tenth time this minute. He growled under breath and tapped his fingers on the table. Patil, Brown and Longbottom looked worried.

"Is something the mater Severus? You keep staring at the Gryffindor table." asked Flitwick.

"It seems that my wife is dinning in the library."

"Oh don't you worry, as I recall your lovely bride is use to missing her meals in favor of her studies." Snape only glared at the small charms professor.

"If you excuse me I will be going." The slytherin left the head table with a swirl of black robes. 'She is not going to neglect meals if I have anything to say about it.'

His first stop was the library, but madam Pince informed him that Hermione left long before dinner.

The second was his chambers.

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Hermione felt as somebody was covering her with a blanked. She groggily opened her eyes.

"Severus?" Hermione called to the semi darkness of her bedroom. "What time is it?"

"Eight, you missed dinner, lumos." Severus froze with the blanket in his hands and a snide comment on his tongue. He was looking at his wife.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Hermione brought her hands to her face and felt moisture on her fingertips.

"What happened?" Severus tried to keep the anger out of his voice. His anger wasn't directed at the teary eyed woman half covered with the silky covers. No, thought the head of Slytherin as his eyes traveled to her cheek that bore a red handprint and her swollen lips. He suppressed a growl. 'Somebody is going to pay, dearly.' "Who?" Severus's mind went through a list of very slow and painful killing poisons along with a very long list of highly inventive torture methods.

Hermione saw as her husband's expression went from surprised to furious. She could practically see 'I am out for the blood of your offender' written all over his face. She found herself responding. "I fell." 'Damned Gryffindor loyalty, I really should sick Severus on the bitch.' the red heads words stung her more than the slap. She looked away from him, but he took a hold of her chin and Hermione was looking into her husbands eyes.

"You…fell?" the slytherin looked calm now. Hermione gulped. The last time he was this calm they ended up engaged.

Her answer was a meek. "Yes."

"I see, and on whose palm were you so… unfortunate enough to land on?" He slowly traced the red mark with a thumb.

"I…" Hermione could feel tears forming in the corners of her eyes. She hiccupped.

Severus slowly sat down next to her. Hermione closed her eyes and allowed the tears to stream down her cheeks.

The next second she felt something touch her swollen cheek. The Gryffindor opened her teary eyes and she was looking at the dark ones of her husband. He slowly leaned forward and kissed her left cheek gently, then drew back as if expecting her to protest. Hermione was amazed how he could be so gentle and so furious at the same time.

They looked at each other for a minute then he moved towards her again. Severus gently kissed her other cheek. She closed her eyes as he carefully kissed her cheeks. She then felt the tip of his tongue slowly licking her tears away. 'He is kissing my tears away.' Hermione smiled at such a caring gesture. His hands went to her hair and she gasped as his tongue traced her swollen lip. Hermione could feel his hot breath on her lips. He was close but they weren't touching.

Hermione looked into her husbands bottomless eyes. Hermione was amazed how much emotion they were showing. In all the years as his student she had never seen so much feeling in his dark eyes. 'The eyes are windows to man's soul' her mum once told her, now she was being given a glimpse of it.

They were enraged for the one who had harmed her as well as lust mixed with desire. Hermione trembled a little. His gaze dropped to her lips, were they lingered for a minute and than went back to her eyes. She started breathing heavily. Her throat went dry. She remembered his last kiss. Apples and fire whiskey. Hermione didn't bother to lie to herself; she liked the way he kissed her. They sat there just looking at each other for a handful of seconds. Then he kissed her.

The kiss was gentle, he slowly licked her lips and Hermione hesitantly opened them for him. Severus tongue snaked into her mouth. He tasted her like an expensive wine, safely and by a bit. Their tongue touched. They didn't compete they danced a cautious dance.

Severus arm wrapped around her waist and brought her closer to him. He increased the pressure of his kiss. He wanted to feel more of her. Suddenly she gasped and pulled away.

Hermione was holding her hand by the lips. The swollen corner of the lip throbbed painfully.

"I'm sorry… I shouldn't have…"

"Its ok Severus, just my lip still hurts." Hermione tried to smile but grimaced from a stinging pain in her cheek. His face hardened, but Severus bit his tongue.

"I will get you a heeling salve and you can change and take a shower in the mean time." He helped her to get up from the bed.

"I probably look like a mess." The faint joke didn't impress her husband.

"I will be waiting for you in the sitting room." Hermione could have sworn that she saw him gritting his teeth when he looked at her swollen lip.

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Hermione dragged herself to the bathroom. She took off the wrinkled clothes and jumped into the shower. When she was done she dried off and looked around for her bathrobe. 'Where the hell is it?' she scanned the room but couldn't find it. 'Damn. I gave it to Winky to wash it.' Hermione smiled mentally. The little elf appointed herself Hermione's personal house elf. There was no use protesting, the little thing was about as stubborn as a mule. Hermione smiled, at least she was no longer drinking herself into a stupor every night and had started adjusting to life here at Hogwarts.

She didn't feel like calling Winky right now as it was getting late. Hermione slowly looked around searching for something she could use. 'Hmm…maybe I should use a towel and then get myself some clean clothes.' She didn't feel like facing her husband in just a towel though if he happed to enter their bedroom while she was there. 'Winky took my pajamas too. Why didn't I bring my wand in from the bedroom? I would be able to acio something. My brain seems to have taken the day off.' The brunet sighed but then she spotted something hanging by the shower. She smiled 'well, why not?'

Hermione took a much needed shower and was standing in front of the mirror examining her cheek. The view wasn't pretty. The handprint was ugly shade of red and started turning blue. Her lip was still swollen. 'Just dandy. Severus is going to love it. He is probably pacing the sitting room waiting for me and some explanations. 'Well maybe not pacing' he doesn't seem the type who would. What possessed me to say that I fell? That was the lamest excuse ever.' she looked at herself one more time and took a deep breath. 'It's time to face the devil.' She opened the door.

"I was starting to think that you drowned yourself in the shower." Hermione involuntary jumped from surprise. Severus was standing in front of her with his hands crossed on his chest.

The sour expression from his face vanished and the slytherin was looking amused now. Hermione blushed. He cocked an eyebrow at her and the corners of his mouth twitched.

"Winky has my bathrobe and pajamas…I hope you don't mind." She was babbling and blushing even more.

"Of course I don't mind. Green suits you." He offered her a hand.

Hermione cursed under her breath. 'I should have picked the towel. Damn.'

Hermione Snape was currently wearing her husband's slytherin green bathrobe that was several sizes too big for her. She expected to pick some clothes and get back to the bathroom to change. No such luck.

"I will just quickly change… "

"What for? It's just us here, and I certainly don't mind you dressing like this in our chambers. At least when there is no one else here. Lets go, I have some cream to take care of your cheek." Hermione had to gather the bathrobe in her free hand in order not to trip on it sides. The sleeves were rolled few times in order to fit.

Severus sat her on the couch in front of the fire place and went to bring the salve from his laboratory. Hermione in the mean time got comfortable. She wrapped herself in the green bathrobe like a big warm cocoon and broth her legs under herself..

"I'll have to massage the salve into your cheek. Lean forward a bit." Severus sat besides her.

Hermione did as she was instructed. She knew that the heeling salve works faster if the muscles are relaxed. The Gryffindor took a deep breath and relaxed closing her eyes.

Severus was holding her chin with one hand and slowly massaging the salve into her cheek with his other hand. He took his sweet time to rib in the cream she noticed. His wife looked calm and relaxed in his care. 'When was the last time somebody trusted you like this Severus?' his anger raged within him at the sight of the handprint but he didn't want to scare her so he kept up a calm facade. 'She will tell who did it eventually. First I have to take care of her, and then…' he was startled by a purring sound that started coming from the woman in front of him.

"mmm…. Strawberries…the salve smells nice. In the infirmary all the potions and such smell and taste horrible." She finally looked at him. Severus smirked.

"What do expect? That I will waste my time more than necessary on the potions meant for the infirmary by making them smell nice?"

"But this one smells nice." Hermione raised her hand to touch her cheek.

"Don't touch it. It has to soak in. I will clean it off after a few minutes, when it has had time to absorb in and do its work; the salve by the way, is from my personal stock."

"You like strawberries?"

"Why do you think so?"

"The salve…"

"I made the heeling potions taste and smell like that because of you. I don't think you would appreciate them to taste like they do in the infirmary, would you?"

"God, no! They taste like something crawled into them died and rotted." She shuddered.

"I thought so, are you hungry? " His answer was loud growl from her stomach. "I shall take that as a yes." He stood up. "Dobby!" immediately a loud pop was heard and two house elves appeared.

"Mistress! Is Mistress alright? Winky heard what happened. The Grey Lady told her. Bad, bad, bad Miss Weasley. The house elves don't like her! She hurt Mistress!" Winky started crying as she looked at Hermione's cheek.

"Is Mistress hungry? Dobby will bring Mistress anything Mistress wants!" Dobby looks at Hermione with his big pleading eyes.

The Gryffindor in the mean time was busy looking at her stony faced husband. 'Ginny, you are in for it.'

"Severus? Do you want anything?"

"What? Oh yes, a stake would be nice, with blood please." Hermione gulped.

"And what Mistress want?" the elves were obviously more interested to satisfy the Gryffindor's wishes and practically ignored the man that called them.

"Roast chicken would be nice Dobby and some fruits for desert please."

"Is there anything else Mistress wants?" they were eager to serve her.

"No, that's all." Hermione smiled at them and they were gone with a loud pop.

"So it was Ginevra Weasley." It was a statement not a question.

"We argued a little that's all."

"Oh yes, I can see she had a strong opinion as it's still visible on your cheek." He was hardly controlling his rage.

"She is not worth it Severus."

"You want me to le her get away with what she did to you?"

"I don't want you to give them the pleasure of having a good reason to go to Dumbledore."

"Don't expect me to leave it like this."

"I don't Severus. Just, promise me you won't do anything drastic. Torment them like you usually did before the fall of Voldemort or something. The last thing I need is to be worrying about you getting into trouble or something along these lines." Severus smirked. She had just given him her blessing to make the brats lives a living hell. Not bad for a start.

The food appeared before them on the table with a pop .

"I think the salve has done its job and can be removed now Hermione." With a flick of his wand the salve disappeared prom her cheek.

"Thanks. Let's eat." They ate in silence.

"Do you want some more blueberry pie Severus?" Severus handed her his plate for another piece. He was starting to enjoy their quiet dinner. 'Just me, her, and a good meal. A man could get used to this.'

Suddenly the flames in the fireplace turned green.

"Albus, Minerva what an unpleasant surprise."

And Indeed, Deputy Headmistress with the Headmaster stepped into the room.

Hermione tried to stay calm. 'I am not going to give them the pleasure to see me embarrassed. They are the ones that barged in uninvited.' She continued putting the blueberry pie onto Severus's plate and handed it to him.

"Here is your pie Love." She smiled to him and than turned her attention to the guests. "Oh, good evening Headmaster, Professor McGonagall. Would you like some blueberry pie? It tastes absolutely delicious." She gave them a lazy smile.

"Good evening Severus, Hermione. No, thank you Hermione." The Headmaster was his usual self.

"Your loss. Like I said it does taste good." 'You old goat.' She smiled sweetly at him.

Severus opted to stay silent. He was waiting for Albus to give a reason for their 'visit'.

McGonagall in the mean time was glaring at Hermione. The brunet didn't bother to hide a smirk and wrapped tighter in her husband's bathrobe.

"Mrs. Snape you probably don't know but it is impolite to meet guest in such a dressing." Hermione glared at the older witch.

"I didn't know that it bothers you, professor, how dressed I am in my personal chambers while dinning with my husband at nine thirty in the evening. Please remind me when you informed me that you were going to visit, because I don't remember." The remark hit a nerve, because the transfiguration professor turned scarlet.

"We are very sorry my dears that we flooed in uninvited, but it seems that we have an emergency, Severus."

"And what would that be Albus? Are you out of the lemon drops?" Severus wanted nothing more but to throw those two out.

"Portraits are not letting in the students to the dormitories." Headmaster looked sternly at Severus.a/n thanks to KathrynPersephone-20 for the idea

"And you are coming to me because?"

"Oh please, Severus! I know you had to do something to this! Perhaps you placed a charm on the Fat Lady so she wouldn't recognize the password." McGonagall growled. Hermione hid a smile. 'Oh Ann, what did you do?' she suppressed a giggle at the thought of all the Gryffindors standing in front of the painting fruitlessly trying to convince her to let them in.

"So you don't know anything about this Severus?" Albus looked worried.

"Give me a brake Albus, use your headmaster's password and let us dine in peace." Severus draped a hand on Hermione's shoulders and she snuggled closer to him. Minerva McGonagall bristled at the sight before her.

"Why I never…"

"We all already figured that you have never, Minerva. There is no need to announce it."

The Gryffindor head of the house went even brighter shade of scarlet and started sputtering. 'She almost matches her house colors' thought Hermione as she giggled into Severus chest and took his hand in her own. The old witch looked outraged and turned to the headmaster for support.

"Albus look what they are doing!"

"And what are we doing that outrages you so much, my dear Minerva?" the slytherin wrapped his both hands around his wife's waist and pulled her onto his lap. "Jealous that others gets some and you don't?" Severus was simply enjoying it. He felt Hermione shaking with suppressed laughter in his embrace.

"Miss Granger would you be so kind and get from your Professor's lap?" Severus grip on Hermione's waist tightened the brunet could feel him tense.

The slytherin's voice was icy. "That would be Lady Snape to you two, and I fail to see what gives you the right to command my wife in her own quarters especially since you were the one's that barged in unannounced. I would like to remind you that I don't live alone anymore and I don't look kindly upon an invasion to my family's life. My wife can parade naked in our chambers and you wouldn't have a right to complain."

There was an uncomfortable silence. The old wizard cleared his throat. "Well… so I take Severus that you don't know what is up with the Fat Lady?"

"I just got married Albus, I there is other activities I am more interested in right now, and it definitely does not include baby sitting pink portraits that have a bad case of PMS. Maybe she finally took offense to always being called fat. That reminds me, Minerva, don't forget to clean the ashes on your way out, I don't want my wife to be forced to up clean after you. Good night."

"Your manner's Severus Snape went from bad to worse." She glared at Hermione that was happily sitting on her husband's lap.

"What ever gets you the hell out before I curse you for mistreating my wife and disturbing our evening in such fashion, Minerva. Now like I said Good night, and if you two can't read between the lines I will be more than glad to explain."

The headmaster sighed. "There is no need to be rude Severus, we were just leaving. Have a nice dinner Hermione."

The transfiguration professor only huffed. They flooed away.

Hermione couldn't contain her laugher. She laughed so hard that was crying now. Severus cocked an eyebrow.

"Care to share the joke?"

Hermione continued to laugh and hid her face in the crook of his neck. "I never thought she was going to do it. Oh Ann…" The Gryffindor finally calmed. She shifted her position and now was face to face with Severus. He frowned.

"Who is Ann? Did she curse the Pink Lady?"

"No Severus. Ann is the Pink Lady and she happens to be a good friend with the Grey Lady."

"What the ghost of the Ravenclaw dormitory has to do with this?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Elizabeth told Ann what happened between me and GinGin."

"Elizabeth?"

"Honestly Severus. Don't tell me you don't know the Grey Lady's name."

"Since when are you on the first name basis with ghost and portraits?"

"Since my third year if you so want to know." Hermione smiled to him and ran her fingers through his hair. "You have a nice hair, when you take care of it. By the way I liked the way you dealt with McGonagall." 'I think can get used to be protected by you. It feels good.'

"What can I say? Many long years of practice my dear wife." He caressed her cheek. Hermione yawned.

"Tired?"

"Mm mm." she put her head on his shoulder and yawned one more time. Hermione's eyes turned heavy. She felt safe in his hands.

"Not that I want to help or anything but…what about the Pink Lady?"

"I'll mmm tjk tmm…" she snuggled into him.

"I'm afraid I didn't catch that."

Hermione sat in his embrace. "I said I'll talk to her. Can Alfred call her to the painting that hangs in your study?"

"Alfred?"

"The Bloody Baron, Severus."

"His name is Alfred?" she looked at him with sleepy eyes.

"You don't know the name of the ghost that haunts your dungeons?"

"Well…I…"

"Well now you know. Can you get him?" Hermione slid from his lap.

"I'll be back in a minute." Severus stood up and looked at Hermione. She looked cute in his bathrobe and hairs pulled in a messy ponytail at the top of her head.

'Where the hell is the Baron now?'

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