Valentine's Day
Valentine's day brings surprises to Severus and Hermione both. Severus wakes up to find a beautifully wrapped box sitting on his desk. When he opens the box he finds a beautiful black spring cape with a silver clasp. The clasp has a snake head on the one side and the body is the chain with the tail wrapping around a S. The clasp is very old you can feel the magic that is storming off of it; he knows that Hermione has spent a lot of time thinking about this present.
Hermione comes out of the bedroom to Severus thanking her for the wonderful gift. Hermione was thrilled that Severus loved her present. She had planned on this since Christmas had even put everyone she knew hunting for an unusual clasp, the jeweler in Hogsmeade had finally found the clasp and she loved it. The jeweler thought that the clasp may have belonged to Salazar Slytherin.
The two headed to the Great Hall for breakfast, Albus had the hall decorator in red, white and pink. Severus felt like he had found hell when he saw the hall. Hermione laughed and wondered what else Albus was going to do; he was worse then most of the students.
Hermione sat at the head table watching the owls fly in, she was surprised when she saw Severus's Raven Owl, and Rocas fly into the hall with a package. Rocas flew straight to Hermione and held out his leg Hermione looked at Severus; "what have you done my husband?"
Severus smiled, "open your gift and you will find out!"
Hermione took the package from Rocas and opened it, inside was a beautiful diamond necklace with a note telling Hermione to be ready at 7:00 that evening in for her to wear her best dress robes. Once again Hermione looked at Severus, "what do you have planned?"
"That my dear wife you will learn tonight."
Albus and Minerva watched the two smile at each other. Albus took Minerva's hand, "Minerva I believe that your daughter has made a very good match, they seem very happy."
Minerva agreed and watched her daughter turn and smile at her. "Hermione it looks like your Valentine's Day has turned into a very good day," Minerva walked over to see the necklace that her daughter had received.
Soon it was time for classes to begin, Hermione had a double potions class with 1st year Gryffindor and Slytherin first thing this morning. She was planning on working with them on a headache potion, since Poppy was running low; if they got 3 or 4 good caldrons it was that much that Hermione and Severus didn't need to brew. The good part of this class was that of the 25 students in the class at least 17 of them were decent brewers; so they might not need to do any brewing.
Hermione's class went well and she knew that at least ½ of the students had completed a perfect potion. The students had bottled a vial for her to grade, in the meantime she took those caldrons that were good and put them in the lab to bottle the potion after it cooled.
The next class was the Slytherin and Gryffindor 7th years; Hermione acted as an apprentice in that class and she dreaded it. Ron even after this time still did not talk to Hermione if he could help it, but Harry had come back as a friend.
Severus knew his wife disliked helping with this class but with Longbottom in the class he needed her help. Yes, Longbottom was a better, but he still had the tendency to occasionally blow up a caldron.
By the time the class was over Severus was ready to kill the Weasley boy, and if Potter hadn't of shut his mouth when he had; he would have probably done so. As it was the boy was to have detention with Filtch for the next 3 weeks; Severus wandered what the boy's wife would think of her husband spending his nights in detention and then gave an evil smile.
Hermione was so happy that the class was done. She left as soon as possible and headed to Runes. She was so thankful that she didn't have to deal with Ron again that day. She had talked to Professor Sprout and took her NEWTS in Herbology at the same time she took her Potions NEWTS. So she had no classes with Ron other then the Potions class she worked in. Runes was a small class that was a combination of all the houses, Hermione worked with Blaisé Zambini when they had to work as partners. He had been true to his word and was nothing but respectful to Hermione. To this day he still only addressed her as either Professor Granger-Snape or Lady McGonagall, he had to be the politest person she had ever met.
Sitting in the class day dreaming a little Hermione got thinking about the start of the school year. This has been an interesting year so far; my life seemed to have changed by the day. One of my best friends no longer talks to me, the two people I didn't think I would ever be able to trust now protect me from my former best friend. I still can't believe that Pansy saved me from Ron right after the first of year; and to Hermione's surprise Blaisé had actually became a friend. Life has a way of giving you all you wanted to handle, but never seemed to give you more then you could handle.
Hermione watched as Blaisé watched the Ravenclaw, Lisa Turpin, hmmmm he will be 18 in a few days and Lisa will be 17 in less then a month. I wonder if he has asked for her hand, she is a ½ blood so would be the perfect match for him. Hermione caught Blaisé's eye and questioned him by raising an eye brow. He nodded his head and Hermione smiled and mouthed congratulations to him.
Hermione eventually tuned back into the class and finished up her translation, when the bell rang she turned in her translations and headed for the Great Hall. She was hungry for some reason, typically she just snacked for lunch, but for the last few weeks she had been hungry constantly.
Just as Hermione was ready to walk through the Professor's entrance to the Head table Severus swept out. "So you have had lunch already?" Hermione inquired.
"Yes, I had the prior period free so I took the time to bottle the headache potion and then ate an early lunch."
Hermione smiled, "thank you for taking care of the headache potion, and I hope you enjoyed your lunch. I'm going to eat lunch and then I have Arthimacy and my 2nd year Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff class. Are you sure you don't want to share with me the plan for tonight?" Hermione laughed watching her husband decide how to get out of telling her what they were doing that night.
"You will see when we get their tonight. In the meantime enjoy your noon meal."
Hermione finished up her classes that day and headed to her quarters. She went straight through to the bathroom and took a long soaking bath using the bath oils that Severus had made her and also the conditioner. She came out of the bath and dressed in her new green lace knickers and bra, smiling as she dressed. She was sure the knickers would be up to Severus's expectations. She put on her Green velvet and satin dress robes and then returned to the bath to put her hair up. She finished up the look with her new necklace.
While looking in the mirror Hermione debated about taking off her Apprentice badge but knew that Severus would be furious with her. So even though it wasn't exactly perfect with her dress robes she left it on. Just as she was ready to walk out of the bathroom for the final time she felt tingling in her binding tattoo, Severus was very pleased with himself about something.
Severus wanted nothing more then to take his wife to bed when he walked into their bedroom; she was the most beautiful woman in the world. "Hermione I would love to ravish you right now, but I must shower and then we will go."
Hermione followed Severus into the bathroom trying to talk him into telling her where they were going. Hermione finally gave up and went into the living room and started reading a new potion book that she had picked up from Prince Manor; Orin crawled up on her lap as she began to read.
Orin had grown so much since Christmas, he was now able to slip through the walls and wondered the castle at will. His favorite place to sit was on Severus's Potion class room desk. Many of the students were afraid of him; they seemed to think the kneazle could read their minds. To be honest Hermione sometimes wondered if he couldn't; he always seemed to know what she needed. And he never let her walk the halls of the castle with out him, he walked her to each class she had. He seemed to know what time she left for her classes and what time they were finished.
Hermione was totally lost in thought when Severus entered the living room; "Hermione? Hermione? Hermione earth to Hermione! Are you ready to go?"
Hermione finally realized that Severus was talking to her, "Yes I'm ready sorry I was just thinking about Orin, he has grown so much."
Severus walked Hermione out to the gate and the apparition point. When they got to the apparition point Severus put a silk scarf around Hermione's eyes and promised her she would love where they were going.
Hermione felt the tug of apparition and just as she was beginning to feel like she was going to pass out she felt them land. Severus took Hermione's hand and led her for a few minutes. Just as she was starting to be slightly spooked he pulled off the scarf, Hermione waited a minute for her eyes to adjust and then looked around. They were standing in front of the Arc de Triomphe, Hermione loved Paris and was so excited.
Severus offered his arm and they walked along the promenade for a few minutes and eventually he led her into a restaurant that Hermione would have never noticed if Severus hadn't led her. It was a very small restaurant that was full of very nicely dressed wizards. Hermione decided that they must be in a very up scale wizard restaurant.
The atmosphere was very quiet and subdued and the food was amazing. Hermione knew that Severus loved her with his whole heart; she didn't know how she had been so lucky to have found the love of her life.
After dinner they took a walk down Avenue des Champs-Élysées and window shopped. Hermione couldn't think a more wonderful day, she was so content.
Severus was thrilled that he had planned the perfect day for Hermione, she seemed happy and when she was happy he was. He watched her relax against him as they strolled, he knew that she had grown up way to fast; and was happy that he could do even something small to make her relax and enjoy herself.
An hour later sitting on a bench people watching Severus noticed that Hermione had yawned for the 3rd time in just a few minutes, "Hermione I think we should get back to the castle."
Hermione hated for the night to end but knew Severus was right, "I hate to end this wonderful night but you are right; we have classes in the morning."
Severus walked Hermione to a dark alley and apparated them back to the gates of Hogwarts. As they started to walk up the lane from the gate they heard voices off to the right. Severus drew Hermione behind him and pulled out his wand at the same time; just as he was ready to attack he realized it was Albus and Minerva.
"Old man you are lucky I didn't hex you, I didn't know who it was and was in attack mode."
"Oh Severus I have no doubt you were but give an old man a break, the war has been over for a while and I'm enjoying the peace. Did the two of you enjoy your evening out?"
Hermione smiled at her mother and Albus walking together, "We had a fabulous time!"
Minerva blushed lightly when she realized that her daughter saw her and Albus holding hands, "I knew you would love a night in Paris."
"It was so beautiful the trees on Avenue des Champs-Élysées were all wrapped in lights and it was just too beautiful for words." Hermione sighed and leaned into her husband.
Severus wanted to escape from the older couple he had other plans for the rest of the evening. "If the two of you will excuse us, Hermione has been yawning for the last ½ hour I'm sure she is more then ready to retire for the night."
Albus eyes started twinkling, which he knew would irritate Severus, "Oh of course my dear boy I'm sure you are both ready to retire for the night. Have a wonderful evening and we shall see you in the morrow."
Severus sneered but nodded his head and told both of them good night then offered his arm to Hermione and led her to the castle.
Albus sighed and pulled Minerva closer to his side, "I seem to have hit a touchy subject with Severus."
Minerva laughed she knew that Albus loved to torment her son-in-law that it was what gave him the most pleasure. Albus you delight in irritating Severus and you know I know that! Give the poor man a break he is happy for the first time in his life."
"Now Minerva you know he would be miserable if at least one thing in his life wasn't perfect. He has to have something to think about to help him get his sneer up for his classes."
They both laughed as they walked back to the castle and into Albus's quarters.