Disclaimer: The same as the previous chapters.

Chapter 33

Looking rather surprised at his blunt invitation, Hermione gawked at him, then launched on a lengthy speech," Well, Sir, umm Master Snape, I might not be privy to many things, but I keep my eyes, ears and nose open. And, I kind of feel 'everything' has to do with Greyback or Professor Lupin, or Harry or the babies, maybe even Andromeda. I have been doing a lot of reading because apart from eating and sleeping I didn't have much to do. So while reading Red Riding Hood, and thanks Fawkes constant nagging, I decided to stretch things out of proportion. Like for example consider the big bad wolf as a werewolf. By just changing that particular factor, the whole story turns surreal."

When Snape had just arched his eyebrow at her, she bit her lips, but continued," Well, I don't know what came upon me, but when Professor Lupin began teaching here, I remember you were the first person to kind of…"

Severus found it quite amusing how Hermione was able to transcend into a new level of consciousness while sharing her thoughts. It was as if she had shredded her skin and had finally morphed into a beautiful butterfly. Waving her hands to drive home a point, tilting her head slightly to the left, scrunching her nose, biting her bottom lip, even her continuous chattering was pleasant and turned in a piece of melodious music as they reached his tired ears.

He couldn't bring himself up to stop her midway. This was the first time, someone was inside his bathroom speaking to him as if it was the most natural thing to do. And this someone was his wife. She was no longer hostile to him. She did care, or else she wouldn't be bringing those vials of pepper up potions and his own mix of nerve-calming draught. Wanting to get included he had blurted out," you don't need to dance around about it, I confess, I had wanted you, people, to figure it out. Please carry on."

Blushing slightly she started again," Umm, well so I suddenly remembered reading somewhere about a sensational case regarding werewolves and also about a person called Lyall Lupin, who happens to be Professor Lupin's father. In fact, the surname Lupin is an indicator. And I remembered reading somewhere while researching about house-elves and goblins in my first year, magical beings do feature in the theory of evolution, I know I am not making much sense right now...but I am certain everything is linked somehow," dropping her shoulders, Hermione had looked at him in frustration.

Severus wanted to laugh because he might have just solved the problem of Hermione's capacity to quote verbatim from massive texts. His witch was born with a photogenic memory. He would have just grabbed a time turner and gone back into the past to find the two-third of the golden trio and smack them once again. Mocking her was downright a criminal offense in his eyes. Dipping his voice, he dragged his words over his palate," So I am Master Snape, what does that make you, Madam Snape, I presume?" not giving her time to even process the quip, he had drawn over the shower curtain and hiding his grin behind it, he spoke in a neutral tone," As such as I like this domestic setting Madam Snape, I would have to request you to relocate yourself outside the bathroom for a while. I will join you as soon as I am done…"

The poor girl had stammered mercilessly and in no time he heard the door to the bathroom slam shut. Sending a mild silencing spell at it, he could no longer hold it in. The small confinement of the bathroom had echoed with his resonating laughter. What wouldn't he give to simply come back to an intellectual conversation and a blushing wife at the end of a rough day? Though they had had a mute agreement over what they would refer to each other as, but still she simply went too far. Soaping himself, he massaged his head thoroughly, recalling how pleasant it felt to hold her within his arms. Feeling a bit better, he started thinking about what he needed to do next. He had to come clean with Hermione. Well maybe tell her the salient points of the whole situation and given her intuitive capacity, he was sure she would come to the same conclusion they all have been standing on. He did feel tired, but this was not the first time he had been actively working for nearly two long days.

Getting up and toweling himself dry, he realized he had forgotten to get fresh clothes. Looking back at the mirror, wiping off the damp surface, he checked on his reflection. It was now growing into a necessity. And with Hermione around, he acknowledged these new quakes of needs and desires to turn a better man in her eyes. It anchored him somewhere at least. Tying the larger towel around his waist, inhaling deeply he swung open the door and walked into the bedroom. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Granger, sitting on the bed and also noticed his personal copy of Grimm's Brothers' book protectively held in her arms. Turning his head slightly to look at Fawkes, he arched his brow but continued walking up to the wardrobe. He was certain of her eyes roving over his back as he took out a pair of white shirt and comfortable trousers, and walked back to the bathroom without saying anything to his wife. He was certain she was blushing all by herself, but he reasoned, she needed to get used to him, after all they were married and she might have drawn a line to distance each other but they were not standing miles apart. In addition to that, he had this sudden connection of mind, body and soul to thank for.

Hermione, on the other hand, had honestly ducked her head down and kept looking at the letters, blushing hard, but couldn't stop herself from throwing a nasty glance at Fawkes who took that moment to tease her by speaking in her mind, saying," Aw! My heart! How the wife can't keep her eyes off her husband!"

Snape had come out and called for Pin, ordering the elf to get them some lunch, sparing her just a glance he had he asked Hermione to follow him to the study and to bring along the book. He had noticed her restlessness, as they waited for the meal to arrive. He had in the meantime walked up to his potion closet and leaving the empty vials on the designated rack, he swiftly brought out a small set of vials and walked over to her. The girl had looked up intrigued. Before she could start formulating a question, he had stated, "supplements." leaving no room for further argument.

Apart from that, he had just said another short sentence to her and had left her mulling over it for the rest of their quick and simple meal. "I want to apologize for touching you without your permission. I would make sure such a lapse of judgment on my part does not occur in the future."

Hermione could sense his dueling feelings and in turn, felt guilty of making him go through it. She had good-naturedly offered," it's okay." But then she wasn't prepared for those volley of emotions barging against her mind. Outwardly, Snape had looked slightly astonished but had ignored it the very next moment. But in the confines of his own mind, he was surprised, delighted, and glad for getting acknowledged and accepted.

Once the dishes vanished on their own accord, her husband had yet again surprised her by asking her to join him for a walk. It was surreal to watch him literally stroll through the empty corridors of Hogwarts in just his cashmere midnight blue sweater, and dress pants, with his signature black robe thrown over it. He took her up several stairs and pushed aside a grotesque looking Tibetan tapestry, revealing a trapdoor behind it. Holding the door open, turning at her, he whispered," Go on." To simply say that she found herself inside a glasshouse that to a hanging one was an understatement of the century.

In awe, she had turned back to her husband and exclaimed," from where? How come we never saw this on the map! Does this belong to you?" The man had curled his lips in appreciation and offered," Madam Snape, every map shows what it's makers have seen for themselves, come on, we can sit on that bench over there, beside the gardenia pots and continue our discussion."

Sitting down he stated, "I thought you could enjoy a little bit of fresh air. Since, I cannot allow you to go outside. This is the best option I can provide you with. You don't need to explain to me how you managed to get out of the quarters. It seems the castle recognizes you as a part of me and allows you to access through its wards. But you will have to give me your word you won't leave just like that. Since we are connected, you can mention it to me, if I am not around…"

She nodded and said," I know, it is for my safety."

Snape brought out the jewelry box and gave it to her, explaining," Though according to the traditions of the magical society, the husband should give something to the wife, I would want you to wear it, because…"

"I know...I have read about magical jewelry providing the wearer added protection."

Glancing at the book laying on her lap, he decided the subject, "I think, I shouldn't complain about Fawkes already asking you to read the Grimm brothers. Even your random blabbering sounded quite believable."

"Fawkes hinted that none of the muggle stories are just fairy tales, they are connected to the magical world in some way or the other. I had gone to the library to look further, I did n't dare look through your personal bookshelves…"

"And I should applaud you for that."

When she gasped in disbelief thinking loud enough in her mind, Snape appreciating her of all the people, the man sitting next to her had barked out a hearty laugh, thinking back at how comical her face looks. Aloud, he went ahead and quipped, "I would give Mr. Creevy 50 points if he could snap a picture of you with your hair wild and your mouth hanging."

It was fun to watch her nearly fall for his bait and start getting worked up. It was so easy to rail up the Gryffindors. But before she could say a word, Snape had brought his palm up and with the other, he had fished out his own set of pendants. He had a reason to show them to her, at least she would remember one of those was identical to the one he had just gifted her.

Dropping it back under his sweater, he stood up abruptly, extending his arm to her and offered," Someone wishes to contact us through my floo call. It has to be urgent."

Hermione had cut in," Then we better held back, we can talk later on. Um, Can I come here and read, I mean the dungeon is a bit…" Instead of replying directly, the potion master had led her to a stone arch, waving his hand over it, he had smirked at her when a solid wooden door appeared with a knocker in the shape of a coiled snake. He had nudged Hermione over and had gone and stood behind her. Bend down a bit, he whispered into her ears," Say your name, your full name Madam Snape, and watch."

If his voice had made her shiver, Hermione didn't want him to see any of it, Squaring her shoulders she had leaned forward and had said," Madam Hermione Snape." The snake had uncoiled and slithered to the corner of the door near the hinges and with the clicking sound, the entire panel had shifted into a gap in between the stone wall. When she had noticed the insides of the man's study, she had to mumble under her breath," Quite Slytherin of you Master Snape."

They had settled in two armchairs as Snape had activated the floo connection and immediately Neville Longbottom's face had appeared. Severus had offered the man a nod and in no time the tall frame of the former Gryfindor had stepped into the position master's study, brushing off the soot of his robes. When he saw Hermione was present, he had swallowed hard and exclaimed," Mione!" The woman had jumped on her feet and hugged her old friend. Patting each other's back, they had let go and as she sat back on her seat, Neville occupied a chair which Severus had brought forward from the corner of the fireplace.

Rubbing his hands over his long face, Longbottom had thanked the man, " Thank you sir, for allowing me to meet her. I was truly worried about her," turning to Hermione he had offered her another of his goofy smiles. Snape huffed," You are among her friends. What brings you here, Longbottom?"

"Um, Sir I wanted to know about the Zabinis."

"They are safe and doing fine."

Watching Hermione from the corner of his eyes, Neville tried to measure his reactions, but Snape interrupted him," This bond enables Madam Snape to read through my mind quite easily. She is mostly aware of all that happened at Blaise Zabini's place. At least for now, I have been assured by both Blaise and Shacklebolt that Greyback has incurred great physical loss and will not strike soon enough. Why do you brief your friend about your exclusive work on wolfsbane potion instead," getting up he had just mentioned before walking into his lab," in the meantime, I will get the research work on the particular case we have at hand."

When Neville had done narrating his part, Hermione had sat back dumbfounded." Serious Neville, you are telling me, you worked with Professor Snape all this while and the man just allowed you into his lab."

Chuckling, Neville had corrected her," not his own lab per se, but we had another one to carry out experiments and work on the first stage of the potion. Till he was captured and Pin had successfully hidden away the cauldrons in his personal lab. As for me, I carried back some of it to my house and continued creating the moonstone, well that is what I am going to call it."

"And Pansy?"

It was rather cute to watch Neville blush, but Hermione was glad for him. "Yeah, I succeeded in healing her of her scars, though Lavender had suffered more. That is what I was worried about how things went with Blaise and her…why did Professor mention you being able to read his thoughts?"

Nodding her head Hermione confirmed," I think since we are 100% compatible, our magical fields agree with each other. I can also sense his emotions, feelings, and read his thoughts, I have a feeling he can do the same as well." When Neville had visibly gulped at that, Hermione had to pat his knee," He is not that scary and I just discovered he had a nasty sense of dry humor."

Snape had been eavesdropping into their conversation and felt quite glad to know her opinion on him, clearing his throat loudly, he had announced his presence and settled over the larger armchair after pushing it closer to the two of them. Placing a fat bunch of parchments and a leather box, over the existing coffee table, the man called for Pin.

He added goodnaturedly," Both of you will be able to leaf through them after I have finished telling you everything I had heard from Andromeda Tonks on the very night the Battle of Hogwarts ended."