The first weekend after term began, Severus and Hermione woke early to head to Draco and Astoria's to update her potion stock, and to check on the blood curse. When they arrived, Hermione quickly engaged in conversation with Astoria as she drew some blood.
Severus was quiet as he restocked the potion supply. Draco approached him, and Snape stiffened. "What?" He drawled.
"How is marriage treating you?" Draco asked. Despite the airy manner in which he asked the question, the older Slytherin knew it was a genuine question.
Still, Severus had no intention of answering, and merely continued restocking the potions and collecting the empty vials.
"That well, eh?" Draco asked.
"Draco," Severus said very lowly. "You have known me your entire life. At any point have I ever given you the impression that I would like to discuss my personal life?"
"You threw me against a wall and nearly choked me out," Draco mused. "I thought small talk would be a nice change of pace."
"I prefer no talk," Severus said dryly as he checked the contains of the older potions making sure they were still active.
"That's no fun," Draco said. "I'm quite good friends with your wife, you know." Severus said nothing, and Draco looked into the bedroom to be sure their wives couldn't hear. "You used to talk to me. You... Used to care."
Severus glared at him. "I never talked to you, or with you. I talked at you. I tried to help you."
"You just disappeared from our lives. My father has no idea why. Nor does my mother," Draco said. "We wanted to help you. You were going through a lot. We could've... We wanted to..."
"Help me?" Severus growled. Then, he calmed himself and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I understand your confusion about my distance since the war, but I assure you I have my reasons."
"And we don't deserve to know them?"
Severus glanced toward the bedroom and then cast a silent Muffliato. "Is it truly so hard to imagine?"
"Because we were Death Eaters, so we remind you of that," Draco looked defeated.
"You are far more sensitive than any Slytherin I have ever met," Severus said and scowled. Draco's face colored in confusion, and Snape rolled his eyes. "I needed time and space," He hissed. "Is it so hard to imagine that I simply wished to be alone, without anyone interfering or pulling me in any other direction?"
"I suppose not," Draco said. "I... We should not have taken it so personally."
"No, you should not have," Severus grumbled.
"But what about now?"
Snape glared at him. "What about now?"
"That was then," Draco said and crossed his thin arms across his chest and leaned against the wall. "What do you want now?"
Severus finished re-organizing the potions and clearing out the empties. He adjusted the satchel on his shoulder. "I would have been content to be left well enough alone for the rest of my life. Now..." Severus glanced into the bedroom and saw Hermione smiling and talking with Astoria. "I imagine my wife has other plans."
Draco smirked dangerously. "Now, you just do whatever she says?"
"Hardly," Severus said in a harsh snort. "Mind yourself, Malfoy."
Draco smiled. He knew Severus well enough to know he wouldn't take kindly to any further teasing. "She is persistent. I'll give her that."
"Indeed," Severus acknowledged.
"For whatever it's worth, I'm glad you are venturing out of the dungeons a bit. It is good to see you again," Draco said sincerely, though his sincerest tone still held a bit of sarcasm.
Severus looked over the pointed features on the younger wizard's pale face, and then grunted dismissively. He cancelled the Muffliato.
Hermione emerged from the bedroom and looked between Draco and Severus. "All set?" She asked Severus, who nodded in return.
"You will have to come for dinner soon," Astoria said as she walked to Draco and took hold of his hand. She looked strong and healthy, which was an improvement. Pregnancy seemed to have made her stronger, which was baffling to Hermione and Severus.
"Of course!" Hermione said. "We'll set something up soon!"
"Lovely!" Astoria said and hugged Hermione goodbye. She moved to Draco, who hugged her. Severus merely inclined his head to both of them, and departed with Hermione.
Severus went immediately to the lab and began to clean the used vials. Hermione leaned against the doorframe. "What could you and Draco have been discussing that led you to use Muffliato, I wonder?"
He stiffened as she studied his back. "Curiosity is a dangerous game, Hermione," He said lowly.
"Oh, don't I know it," She mused. She moved to the microscope and studied the newest blood sample. "It's the same thing we saw last time. Somehow, the pregnancy seems to be boosting her immune response." Severus nodded. He was tense, and quiet. "I was only teasing, Severus. I wasn't seriously trying to pry."
"I know," He replied. Hermione continued writing down her observations about the blood sample, and then cleaned the work station. She moved on the stool to face him fully now. He was always so thorough in cleaning his supplies. He cleaned them magically first, and then by hand. His long fingers were soapy now as he'd moved on to the "by hand" portion of the routine.
He was quiet for about a minute, and then he let out a heavy sigh. "Things in my life are changing rapidly."
"Aside from the obvious, what do you mean?" She asked.
"I intended to spend the rest of my life in relative isolation. Now, I am being invited by extension to meals, and I imagine that will extend to holidays," He said and his black eyes studied the wall.
"Does that bother you?" She asked.
"Yes," He said softly.
"Why?" Her questions were careful and genuine.
"I'm sure it has not escaped your notice that I am not much for people," He said. "It feels... Awkward."
"Awkward?"
"Embarrassing," He amended. "Everyone knows things about me. I never intended to suffer people knowing all of... that," He said and his voice became very tight.
"While I understand the embarrassment, I hope you know that's not what people think when they look at you," She offered. He snorted. "I'm serious, Severus," she added. "It might have been more at the forefront of their minds in the months and even maybe year or two directly after the war, but the people we're seeing have tried to do what you've tried to do... We've all tried to move on."
"You have seen how people react to me in public," He noted. "They have not moved on."
"To be fair, Severus, you make yourself quite scarce. You're a bit of an enigma. It adds to the drama," She said lightly, hoping not to set him off.
"I certainly do not want drama," He said quietly. "I am sure it's not hard to imagine why I make myself scarce." He hadn't so much as bristled at her comment, which surprised her.
"No, of course it's not," She said and walked up behind him. She wrapped her arms around him from behind and rested her cheek against his back. He stood, tense, and then rested his hands on hers.
"I do not like going out into public," He said. "I never have."
"Then you shouldn't let it bother you that they're so interested. You choose to stay away. They're not driving you to do so," She said.
"And your friends? Holidays?" He asked.
"We don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with," She assured him.
"Keeping you away from those moments would be unfair."
"Not always," She said.
He quieted himself. Letting himself relax against her embrace, he closed his eyes and took a few steadying breaths. All of this was still so unbelievably foreign to him. Things that seemed so trivial to other people were completely new and unnatural to him. Hopefully, time would help.