Upon returning to Hogwarts, Severus was able to establish a level of distance with Hermione. She became heavily involved in planning and modifying the Charms curriculum. Much of it would stay the same as Filius had always taught it, but there were things she wanted to change and make her own.

Severus, on the other hand, after having taught for so many years, had little to do in the way of prepping. Instead, he spent much of his time visiting Draco and Astoria and monitoring the latter's strength and health. When he was back in their quarters, he spent much of his time brewing stock for Hospital Wing for the upcoming school year.

Hermione, for her part, had noticed Severus' distance over the four weeks, but hadn't had time to really press him about it. The morning of the day before the start of term, she poured herself a cup of tea and sat quietly while he read on the other end of the couch.

After a couple minutes, she asked, "Are you okay?" He looked up from his book toward her with narrowed eyes. "You've been... Kind of distant since we got back from Paris. I know I've been quite busy. I didn't know if I'd unintentionally upset you."

"I am not upset," He said. There was something strange and clipped in his tone.

"But you're something," She noted.

He looked away from her toward a bookshelf, and stared at it. "I find myself feeling overwhelmed."

"By me?"

"Yes," He said.

"I'm sorry," She said softly. She hadn't realized she'd been overwhelming, but she knew she could be overbearing.

"There is no need to apologize. It's nothing that you are doing," He said plainly.

"Then..." She looked confused.

He looked at her with unguarded eyes and she could see an affection there, and also a heavy conflict. "I find it difficult to talk about emotions." He looked away from her. There was a pained look on his face.

"You're wonderful at talking," She said and moved a bit closer to him on the couch after she set her tea on the end table. "You've talked to me about loads of things."

"The things I have discussed with you felt much more factual," He said quietly. His words sounded tense and strained. "I told you about things in my past, but it felt more like historical recitation, not emotional confession."

"I can see how it might have felt that way, but surely some of it was emotional," She said. "You've talked about quite a lot."

"Perhaps," He said.

"But this is different...?" She asked curiously.

"Yes," He said in a tight voice.

"Okay," She said.

He was quiet for a very long time. She moved back to the other end of the couch and finished her tea. Only when she had emptied her cup and moved to pour another did he speak again. "This is difficult," He said.

She sat back down and looked at him. He met her eyes. He looked panicked and stressed. "I'm not going to push you, Severus. I can deduce enough, I'm sure."

He frowned. "Deduce?"

"You like me," She said. "It scares you."

His breath hitched in his chest. At first, he looked angry, and then he looked away from her as his face fell. "It is complicated for me."

"That's okay," She assured him. "I know you're not hiding from me, or omitting anything. I understand this is difficult. You have had..."

"Don't," He growled. Now, he sounded angry. She studied him for a moment. "I don't want your pity."

"Pity isn't what I was giving you," She snapped back.

"You said I've had... What? A difficult life? People manipulate me? Use me? Lie to me? Betray me? Or, the most nauseatingly romantic of them yet... I've had my heart broken? How sentimental," He snarled. "That sounds like pity."

"It's not me pitying you if all of those things are true," She defended. "Sounds like historical recitation to me. Not pity." Her voice grew cold.

He glared at her. "I do not need you to feel badly for me. I am not a bloody project," He sneered.

She recoiled momentarily, and then her face hardened. "There's a difference between sympathy and empathy. You'll do well to learn the difference."

She avoided his blazing glare, stood and moved to the kitchen. Cleaning her teacup and the kettle, she put them back in their rightful places. She grabbed a pile of lesson plans off the kitchen table and headed toward the door.

"I know the difference," He said lowly.

"Clearly not, Severus," She said. She was frustrated with him, but she could hardly really blame him for how defensive he was. Truly, she was lucky he hadn't been more prickly throughout their time together.

He stood, and turned to her slightly. There was anger in his face, and pain in his eyes. "Where are you going?"

"I have some last minute things to get ready for class tomorrow, and then Minerva wants to meet to talk about what name I'll be using as a professor - Granger or Snape."

He paled and his eyes widened. "There is a question?"

"Of course there's a bloody question!" She said angrily and pinched the bridge of her nose. "We're married, but I have not legally changed my name yet. You and I have never discussed it, but it's rather important that students know what to call me, so I've got to make a decision about that." She sighed. "I was rather hoping to discuss it with you this morning, but here we are."

He looked down at the floor. "My name is not one you should take."

"Fine," She snapped. "If that's all?"

He didn't say anything. He stood there stiffly, reeling in his own sour mood and confusion. She shook her head, sighed, and left their quarters.