A/N: Thank you all so much for the great reviews! Many thanks go to my beta, debjunk!
Chapter 19
June 26, 1996
As the days went by, Hermione and Severus had fallen into a comfortable routine with one another. He liked to read just as much as she did, she noticed. He liked quiet as well, which was a good thing because she preferred the quiet too, especially when working on homework.
One night while she was preparing dinner, he broached the subject of Occlumency to her.
"Hermione, I think it prudent I teach you Occlumency," he said leaning against the sink.
She nearly burnt herself when her head whipped around to face him, excitement shining in her eyes.
"Yes? Oh, Severus, that would be marvelous," she said, delighted.
"I hate to say it, but I don't know what the Dark Lord has planned where you're concerned, but just in case, you need to learn to block him out," he said.
She nodded her head as she was facing the stove.
"I daresay, I should be a better student then Harry." She smirked.
He snorted.
"I'm sure you will be; you never cease to amaze me," he said softly.
He turned his back to her, busying himself getting two glasses. She looked over at him in surprise, but thought better of bringing it up again.
After dinner they went into the sitting room. The dishes had been magicked clean and put away. Severus stood in front of the fireplace, and Hermione by the couch facing him.
"So, what do I do?" she asked him.
"For now, I want you to block me. Don't let me in. Think you can do that?" he asked her.
She took a deep breath and nodded her head.
"Legilimens," Severus said softly.
Flashes of Hermione flew before him. Hermione walking up to the sorting hat when she was eleven; in a corner of a bathroom with a troll towering before her; lighting black robes on fire…wait, what?!
He quickly pulled out of her mind. He stared at her shocked.
"That was you?" he asked quietly.
Hermione looked at the floor. She wouldn't look at him. He placed a hand under her chin and lifted her head to look at him.
"Hermione," he said.
Her eyes welled up quickly and her bottom lip trembled slightly.
"I'm so sorry Severus. We thought you were cursing Harry's broom at the time."
A few tears slid out the corners of her eyes and down her cheeks.
He laughed and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She looked up at him, confused.
"Hermione, I'm not angry with you. I'm impressed. That spell was nowhere near what a first year should be doing. I actually thought it was Quirrell and told him as such, too," he said with a smile.
She started laughing. "No wonder he was so scared of you," she said.
He smiled smugly. "Everyone should be afraid of me." He looked down at her. "Not you though. Come here."
He took her over to the couch and sat down with her.
"I thought we were going to practice," she said.
He sighed. "There's something I want to say first. I should have said this earlier but I forgot out it until now," he said.
She silently watched him.
Taking a deep breath, he began. "Your mother mentioned I've hurt you throughout the years. I'm sorry, Hermione. I don't mean to come off so cruel. I just hope you can forgive me. Forgive me for being a careless git," he said, his hair fell forward covering his face.
Hermione smiled. She pushed his hair out of the way and left her hands on both sides of his face.
"Severus, there's nothing to apologize for. Well, maybe for that remark about my teeth. But I understand the role you're in and why you must favor Slytherins over everyone else."
He looked up at her surprised she had forgiven him so easy. He ran his thumb over her top lip.
"The only time I've ever lied to you," he whispered.
Her smile only widened, showing her now perfect teeth.
"Now…" She stood up after caressing his face. "Can we continue the lesson?" she asked, her eyes shining.
He stood up, "Yes."
He smiled and chuckled a little to himself. She was more like him then he'd thought.
June 27, 1996
It was about ten when they both roused themselves from bed. After practicing Occlumency for hours, they had gone to bed around midnight. Hermione had been able to block him out completely. Severus had slumped down on the couch after he'd tried with all his might to get into her mind. They had been physically exhausted.
Hermione was in the kitchen cooking breakfast when Severus finally came into the room. She brought over a mug of tea to the table for him. He mumbled his thanks as he sat down.
"I think I made great progress last night," she said from the stove.
He grumbled something in agreement…she hoped it was anyways.
She brought over two plates with eggs over easy, toast, and bacon and set them on the table.
"So, are we going to practice some more today?" she asked him.
He looked up to her. "I thought we could go into Diagon Alley today," he said, slowly eating his breakfast.
Her fork dropped out of her hand and clattered against the plate.
"Together?" she asked.
He gave her an odd look. "Yes, I can't very well have you out on your own." He swallowed his food.
She hid her embarrassment by bringing her mug up to her lips.
"I'm sorry, I just didn't think we were ready to venture out...as a couple."
She took a sip of her tea. He sighed and put his fork down.
"I need to get dress robes for this wedding. I don't know if you want to get something. And...we have dinner tonight...at the Malfoys," he said quietly.
"The Malfoys? Why would we have dinner with them?" she asked, not at all liking the idea.
"After hearing about our marriage, they invited us." He looked up at her now. "I know how you feel about them, but..." he sighed and shook his head.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing. If you don't want to go, I won't force you," he said, turning his attention back to his food.
She placed her hand on his.
"We're a team, remember? If it's important to you, I won't put up a fight," she said with a small smile.
He was surprised, but he didn't show it.
"Thank you," he said simply.
SSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHG
Hermione wasn't sure why she gave in so easily. She despised Lucius Malfoy. Couldn't stand to be in the same room with the man, really. Then there was Narcissa Malfoy. She's never met the woman, but how good of a woman could she be to marry Lucius? Then there's Draco.
Draco was what, though? Harry had said he had apologized before the end of the year. Was he changing, or is he just playing us all?
An hour later, they were dressed and Apparating into The Leaky Cauldron. Hermione had to fast-walk to keep up with Severus, his long legs working their way through the establishment to get to the rear he stopped at the brick wall, she stood behind him catching her breath.
"Could you slow down a little bit, please?" she asked breathlessly.
As he pulled out his wand, he arched an eyebrow at her but didn't say anything. As the bricks slid out of the way, he offered his arm to her. She smiled and hooked her arm through his.
She noticed, not a few, but everyone, staring at them. Some people actually stopped what they were doing and stared point blank at the two of them. A group of four witches saying something about them, she was sure, given that the witches eyes didn't leave the pair of them.
Hermione tried to pull her arm out of the crook of his. He tightened his hold on her and looked down at her.
"Feeling uncomfortable?" he softly asked.
"I'm not, I don't care what other people think. But...you? I don't want to embarrass you." She looking down at her feet.
"You could never embarrass me, Hermione," he said.
"Maybe not here, but...your other friends. Not only am I a Mudblood in their..." She stopped mid-sentence when he suddenly whirled around to face her.
"Don't you ever say that word again! That word is disgusting and vile, and it doesn't need to be dirtying up that beautiful mouth of yours!" he hissed at her.
She bit her lip. "I'm sorry, Severus. I wasn't thinking when I said it," she said softly.
He sighed. "It's all right. Come, before we attract anymore stares then necessary."
Walking with him, she slowed as they came upon Madam Malkin's, but he kept on moving.
"Where are we going?" she asked perplexed.
"Twilfitt and Tatting's," he said shortly.
"Oh, Severus. I can't afford anything in there," she said a little sad.
Chuckling he turned to look at her as they kept walking.
"You're my wife now. What's yours is mine, and what's mine is yours," he said, clearly amused.
She sighed inwardly but bit her tongue. Spending his money just felt wrong to her but she didn't say anything.
I'll just pay him back later.
As they neared a small building, Hermione saw a sign over the door with black shimmering words.
TWILFITT & TATTINGS
Severus pushed the door open and waited for her to enter, before he stepped in behind her and shutting the door.
Like most magical places, the store was a lot bigger inside then it looked on the outside.
The clerk looked up, a scowl resting on his face at seeing Hermione, but whatever he wanted to say, he didn't. He only acknowledged Severus.
Hermione looked around the store. They had so many clothes. It reminded her of the department store she used to go to with her mother. Severus stood beside her and nodded towards the right side of the store.
"Women's section is over there; I'm going to the other side for some dress robes. Will you be all right on your own?" he asked.
She nodded her head and made her way over to the racks of dresses.
As she worked her way through the dresses, she noticed Severus talking with the clerk at the men's side of the store. She came across a very beautiful red dress and smiled. She knew Severus would despise it, but she couldn't help think what Lucius Malfoy would say to her.
Now that she thought about it, she wondered if she should just stick with black. She didn't want to be at the Malfoys.
Probably not anymore then they want you there, the voice in the back of her head chimed in.
Muttering to herself as she looked through the dresses, "Silver, no, yellow, no, blue, no…oh!" she exclaimed.
"Do you need any help?" a short lady with grey hair asked her.
Hermione nodded. "Do you tailor here?" she asked, pulling the black dress off the rack.
The lady shook her head. "No, all our clothes magically resize themselves to fit." She looked down at Hermione like she should have known this. "Once you put on the garment, you simply tap you wand to the piece and say 'Aptare Corpori.'" The lady rudely walked away after telling Hermione this.
Hermione bit her tongue to resist sticking it out at the woman's retreating back. She just learned something new, she wondered if the spell would work on other clothes as well. She draped the dress over her arm and continued looking for a dress for the upcoming wedding.
She found a green one she thought would perfect to show Molly and the rest of the naysayers where her choice stands when it comes to Severus. She hid the green dress under the black one, she wanted it to be a surprise to Severus as well.
She walked over to Severus, who was just getting done with his robes. Black of course.
"Is that all you need?" he asked her as he buttoned up his black robe.
She nodded. "Yes. I have shoes to go with both of these," she said with a smile.
"Both?" he asked looking down at the dress in her arms.
She pulled her arms closer to her, "yes, both. I don't want you to see the one for the wedding right now," she said.
He nodded and told her to take them to the clerk to have them rung up.
The clerk roughly took them from her hands but still wouldn't say anything to her. Severus came up behind her, and handed over his robes. She noticed the clerk taking them carefully from Severus.
"Is there a problem?" Severus asked the clerk.
The clerk looked from Severus to Hermione.
"We don't usually serve, her kind," he said nastily.
"Ah, well rest assured…this will be the last time we step in this shop," Severus said calmly.
The clerk looked up surprised, "Oh Mr. Snape, we don't mean you…" he tried to apologize.
Severus snorted and put some coins on the counter.
"If my wife isn't welcome here, neither am I," he hissed at the man, and snatched the bags out of the mans hands.
Severus nearly slammed the door behind him.
SSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHG
Severus watched Hermione under hooded eyes as they walked through Diagon Alley back towards the Leaky Cauldron. When the silence was too much for him, he spoke up.
"Hermione, I'm sorry. I didn't even think about taking you to a store like that. Well, I did. I thought dinner would go better tonight with…" he paused.
She nodded her head. "Clothes from where they shop as well. I get it. I'm just being emotional. It's not a great time of the month, you know." she looked away from him, her face reddening.
"What? Oh!" he pinched the bridge of his nose.
Her menses…
"Do you need anything for that? Pain potion or…" he faltered.
He made the mistake of asking Madam Pomfrey why she needed so much pain potion once. He never questioned her need of any other potions after that conversation.
She smiled and shook her head. "No, Severus. I manage just fine with it. Thank you though, and thank you for the dresses."
On her tip toes she started to kiss him in the lips, when she remembered where she was and kissed his cheek instead, she set her feet back down. She hooked her arm through the crook of his.
"Let's get home. I'm starving,"
She marched along with him at her side. They made their way in and out of The Leaky Cauldron. She went to turn left once they made it out the door when he stopped her.
"What's the matter?" she asked him.
He smiled. "Would you care to join me for lunch?" he asked smoothly.
She smiled and looked around. "Severus I'm fine eating at the cottage. The stares here would be…" She stopped when she saw him shaking his head.
"Not here; Muggle London," he said.
"Oh! Um…all right," she said surprised.
She hooked her arm with his again, and they made their way down the street into muggle London. Even here she noticed the stares. Whether it was his choice in robes or their age difference, she didn't know, nor care.
She looked up as they came upon a nice looking spot for lunch. She read:
LUC'S BRASSERIE
The doorman opened the door for them, nodding courteously. Severus nodded back to him politely. They were seated in a booth next to a window.
"It's beautiful." She observed the surroundings.
He looked at her and smirked. "Yes, yes you are."
She caught his eye and blushed.
Their waitress came over and handed them menus while looking over Severus appreciatively. Severus however didn't notice. Both Hermione and he wanted water, and she left to go get it while they gazed at the menu.
He watched her as she looked around and relaxed a little.
"Have you ever been here before?" he asked quietly.
She shook her head. "No, but my Mum and Dad raved about this place," she said as the waitress came back.
The waitress set the glasses on the table and took their orders. He was surprised that they ordered the same thing; Toulouse sausage with lentils, cabbage and caramelized onions.
His eyes followed her wedding band at she lifted her water glass and took a few small sips. She must have saw him looking, because she set her glass down and ran her fingers over the ring.
"You shouldn't have bought such a ring." She then looked up at him. "But I'm glad you did."
He nodded but didn't say anything. She lowered her gaze back to the ring as she continued.
"I've never bothered with material things before, but having this makes me feel…special." She looked up to him again. "Like I matter," she whispered.
He swallowed hard and leaned forward.
"Of course you matter. You matter to your parents, Ashley, Harry, Ron…" He tried but she cut him off.
"No, not to them…I know I'm important to them. I mean to you. This makes me feel like I'm not some burden that was set upon you. You know what I mean?" she asked him.
He simply nodded but before he could reply, their food was there. They ate quietly but both stole glances at one another while the other wasn't looking.
The waitress came back with the bill and she cleared their empty plates away. Severus looked down at the bill and snorted.
"Is it that bad?" she asked. She started to pull out her hand bag.
He shook his head. "No, it's not the price," he said quietly as he took out a few pounds to settle the bill.
She looked up, confused, then she noticed pink writing on the top of the bill. Looking down on it she saw it was a phone number with a small note of asking him to call her, if he so pleased.
Hermione looked shocked, but not as shocked as Severus felt.
"I can't believe the nerve! Right in front of the man's wife at that!" she hissed.
Severus smirked at her.
"What?" she demanded.
"Jealousy does not suit you, Madam Snape," he purred.
Hermione tsked at him, but wouldn't uncross her arms.
He stood up, and offered her his hand. "Come darling, we have a busy night ahead of us." He wrapped his arm around her waist. They walked out of the restaurant like that and didn't give a backward glance as they passed the waitress.
They got back to the cottage around three, so Hermione decided to take a long bath before they had to leave at six. Dinner would be served at six-thirty so it gave them proper time 'mingle'.
Severus took his shower after Hermione had gotten out. He respectfully took his dress robes in the bathroom to give her privacy getting ready in the bedroom.
As he waited for Hermione to get ready, he sat down on the couch with her Advanced Potion Making textbook in his hands. He didn't know she came in until she cleared her throat.
He looked up and sucked in a breath. He slowly stood up, his eyes never leaving her face.
"Hermione, you look stunning," he said, his eyes trailing down her body.
She smiled widely. "Thank you," she said.
He nodded towards the door. "Are you ready?" he asked.
Nodding, she walked over to pick up her cloak off the couch arm and draped it over her shoulders. He held the door open for her. She stepped out and turned to face him as he shut the door behind him. Severus held out his arms to her and she walked into them. A few seconds later he Apparated them away to Malfoy Manor.
A/N: Thanks again for reading and reviewing! Hermione's dinner dress is on my pinterest board if you are following me. Or here…
www . pinterest . com pin / 338473728248530056 /