Never Piss Off a House-Elf
disclaimer: no, of course I don't own Harry Potter. Are you done with silly questions? Can we get on with the story?
This chapter is dedicated to. . . inmydreamworld!
555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555
Chapter 53: She's So Cute When She's Planning
The school was positively atwitter with the invocation of nuptial privilege for Hermione and Severus. Thanks to Satchel and Miki, Hermione was able to make her way to and from Severus's quarters without too much interference from others. The elves were glad their humans were getting along and getting to see one another again. It was late one Thursday night that the discussion finally happened.
Hermione was helping Severus grade papers, and she had already gotten changed into her nightclothes. She had started using her Head Girl's room as an extended closet, of sorts, and spent most of her down time in Severus's rooms. Severus was noting his thoughts from his last few experiments, occasionally tearing the parchment to shreds and cursing while Hermione tried not to laugh.
"Severus, tearing apart notes of what didn't work won't help you," she smiled, getting up and starting to rub his shoulders. "What haven't you tried?"
"I don't know, Hermione! I've tried every cursed base I have in my inventory, some of which are extremely rare and expensive. I'm not getting anywhere, but the damned oath I took won't let me stop. It's burning more and more intensely, as if it's mocking me!"
Severus was near to screaming in his frustration. He'd thought about using muggle items, but what did he know about them? Lily hadn't been particularly interested in potions, so he couldn't dredge up any information from his experiences with her. He wanted to ask Hermione, but she'd already done so much.
"Severus, would you accept my help if I extended it?" Hermione asked carefully. He turned to look at her. "Oh, stop it. I know you're too stubborn to ask for my help. You're a bad actor, by the way, especially for a spy. I assume all the torn parchment had less to do with notes and more to do with some elaborate scheme to get me to offer to help?"
Severus scowled. Intentional or not, that's what he'd done. And he wasn't going to acknowledge the fact.
"Good thing I'm a sucker for a pretty face in distress," Hermione kissed his cheek. "Let me look over your actual notes tomorrow, along with a thesis on what you're actually trying to do, and I'll see what I can find for you, muggle-wise."
"Thank you, love," Severus said, smiling briefly. He liked how things were changing between the two of them. Hermione seemed t be accepting that he truly would treat her as an equal. She would be a good wife, whether or not she saw it immediately. Which reminded him. . . "Hermione, I think there is something we should discuss, perhaps think on over the night."
"That being?" Hermione's hackles rose. She still became a bit apprehensive when they had to 'talk'.
"When would you like to have the ceremony?" Severus asked. Hermione sagged in relief. "I assume that you'd prefer to have it when your friends can attend? Have you thought about where you'd like to have the ceremony? We could always go down to the Ministry and have a civil ceremony there."
Hermione shook her head. She was at least going to get to wear a nice wedding dress, even if her parents weren't going to be attending. Her stomach turned a bit, though; the last wedding she'd attended had led to her friend's pregnancy. Not that it had been Hermione's fault, but still. . . She chewed her lip for a bit, thinking. Severus watched her carefully.
"I think it would be nice to have it here, but over the Christmas holidays. . . but not on Christmas itself. Nor on New Year's Day," Hermione said thoughtfully. "And after that, it's your birthday soon. What? Albus told me."
"I assumed he would. What about New Year's Eve? Everyone will have had enough of home to want to be back here by then, yet if they want to do something else, they have the rest of the holidays to do so," Severus suggested. "It doesn't mean that you have to get pregnant right away, either, Hermione."
"I know," Hermione replied. "I think New Year's Eve would be lovely, Severus. Give our marriage a truly fresh start."
Severus nodded, getting up and standing over his fiancée. He leered at her, and she giggled. He straightened, arching an eyebrow. Hermione continued to giggle, leaning away from him.
"Hermione what do you is going to happen? Are you afraid of me?" Severus sneered. Hermione's heartbeat quickened, and he could smell her arousal growing. "Hermione, I was merely going to escort you to bed. . . is something the matter?"
"You never 'merely escort' me to bed," Hermione sniffed. Severus leaned down, his nose in her neck, and she leaned away again. "Can I do something for you, Severus?"
He smirked at her as he picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. She shrieked and he gave her bottom a sound pat. She wriggled and struggled for a bit, and Severus felt himself respond. He liked playing little games with her. He kicked the bedroom door open, stepped through, and kicked it shut.
"Severus. Put me down. Now," Hermione tried. Well, it had worked on Grawp, hadn't it? In response, Severus tossed her down on the bed. Well. At least she was down. "What?"
"Just some . . . stress relief. . .and a bit of a reward, in advance for your help," Severus said, standing over her. He removed his outer robe and frock coat, leaving his crisp white shirt. "But you've also worried and distressed me recently. And to add insult to injury, you had the audacity to ride me, Hermione."
Hermione's eyes roved over his sparse form. She could feel her stomach churn. She had grown to like Severus like this. She scooted away from him, but he caught her ankle, dragging her back to the edge of the bed. He worked a hand under her nightgown, skimming along the smooth skin.
Abruptly, the movement stopped. Severus smirked and sat up, away from Hermione, reaching for his discarded robe and coat. Hermione's eyes re-focused, and she stared at him in astonishment.
"What are you doing, Severus?" Hermione demanded, sitting up and gathering the blankets around herself. He continued to re-dress, and Hermione glared at him. "That is so unfair."
He kissed the tip of her nose and the smirked melted into a small smile. He stood and walked out, leaving her a little chilled since his heat was gone.
"Life is unfair," Severus said, settling down at his desk to grade a few last papers before he went to bed. Hermione continued to glare at him, and he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Sighing, he tied his hair back and continued to work. "Hermione, glaring at me won't make me come back to bed."
Snorting, Hermione threw herself back on the bed and rolled over, trying to sleep, though her mind was filled with thoughts about the wedding.
555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555
Truth be told, Severus had actually felt bad about leaving Hermione that night. He'd wanted to spend time with her, but he couldn't neglect his work for his students. His oath was draining his energy whenever he worked o something else, but he'd always been the one instructor to grade and pass things back immediately.
Yes, the grades were low. Yes, he wrote snide comments on the papers. But each low mark, each snide remark, every time he was snarky in class -- it would keep those children safe from their own impatience, keep them on the straight and narrow. If they knew that he was the least of their worries if they did something wrong, than perhaps he could save them from themselves, in a way.
Occasionally, a student made an insight that made Severus stop, and think. Hermione had done that a number of times. Those were the trickiest times. He had to coax the thought into maturity while maintaining his grading personality. If he didn't, he ran the risk of the student running off half-cocked and getting hurt in a brewing, or perhaps telling the other students that he wasn't so bad, really.
It was a tiresome affair, and he wished he could give it up, be more human, relax the standards he'd set for himself and his students. Unfortunately, that wasn't how life worked. He heard Hermione's soft snores, signaling that she'd finally fallen asleep. He graded for a few hours, and as he did it, he felt a great weight on his chest.
The oath burned in him, and Severus clutched his chest, his vision swimming. The fire blurred, and he heard the great ruckus of Pandaemonium's wings as the large bird appeared, cawing and crying. Severus fought the pain, felt it searing up his arm, and he fell from his chair to the floor, vomiting and retching until his stomach was empty.
Pandaemonium gave a great cry and forced a tear to fall on Severus, bathing his chest. The pain decreased a bit, and Severus panted for a moment or two, letting his eyes close. Pan began to sing a mournful song, weaving sleep for Severus, who passed out.
Hermione stirred in the other room, and the song caught her, causing her to pass into deeper sleep, a near dreamless sleep.
555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555
AN: Sorry this took so long. Severus got her, didn't he?
Next chapter soon!
5 reviews, next chapter.
