CHAPTER FORTY-NINE—Possessive

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The staff gathered for the first meeting of the term. Albus was late, but no one could blame him. Filius had tried to talk him into having the meeting up in his office, but Albus said the staff room was more than adequate. Severus rather thought Albus didn't want the Carrows in his office.

So everyone was gathered and waiting when Amycus decided to raise his voice. He had a habit of dressing like a cross between Dung Fletcher and Horace Slughorn and it pissed Severus off to no end.

"I have a little announcement," Amycus said, smirk as oily as his voice as he stood.

Severus rolled his eyes. He had zero idea what the dolt was about to say.

"I think we all knew our Head Girl was in a spot of trouble, what with this marriage law," he said, hamming up the concern. "Worry not—for she told me she is married to Harry Potter."

A series of really? and gasps of surprise followed the announcement.

"I suppose we should be callin' her Mrs Potter now," Amycus sniggered.

Minerva smoothed down her skirt. "I asked Miss Granger after the ceremony, and she said she would like to remain as such."

Severus did not know Minerva could lie with such ease, or such little notice.

The Carrow twins rounded on her.

"Why did you not tell us the joyous news, Minerva?" Amycus said, threat not at all veiled.

She didn't flinch under his frigid glare. "As you can imagine, Amycus," she replied, "it's very dangerous to be a Potter at the moment."

"Miss Granger is afraid of heights," Rolanda said near the tea service. "As long as she doesn't pass that on to their kids, I'll be happy."

Pomona sighed. "I do wish she had married Neville, I'll admit it."

"If this is all we'll discuss today, I will happily go back to marking," Severus said.

Rolanda said, quick as a hex, "Albus isn't even here, yet, calm your nifflers."

"Perhaps she'll change her name after she graduates," Irma said.

Sybill stared at Severus over the rim of her teacup. He didn't like it.

"We all know she'll hyphenate," Aurora chimed in. "Though I don't really like the ring of Granger-Potter."

"Hermione Potter is an adorable name," Alecto agreed.

As if either Carrow would let Potter or Hermione live past this term if they could help it.

Hagrid was uncharacteristically silent. He frowned at his knees through the exchange.

Severus ground his teeth. They went on and on about the happy news, how they were perfect for one another, James and Lily would be proud to count her in the family, how their children would terrorize the school, how they knew it, didn't you Minerva?

Minerva spared Severus only one glance. She did say that she thought Hermione was leaning more towards Weasley. At this point, Severus would prefer she end up with Weasley, too.

Blasted Potters.

Albus arrived and ended the twattle. But of course this wouldn't be the last Severus heard Hermione Potter's name float about the school.

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Hermione went about her Tuesday as normal. Until she and Harry sat down in DADA.

Carrow looked up from his attendance book right before he called Hermione's name. "Ah. Looks like we have a misspelling in here."

"What in the world is he on about?" Ron grumbled to Lavender.

"Would you prefer Mrs Potter?" Carrow asked. "Potter is, after all, a noble house—perhaps Madam Potter would be best?" His jagged smirk cut across the room.

Hermione's entire face turned red. As did Harry's.

The class gasped in unison.

It took two class periods before the entire school knew. At dinner, Lavender begged for details—did you wear white? Did you wear a Muggle dress? Where was the ceremony, how long, did you exchange vows or was it a punctual, wizarding affair?

Neville suggested they have a party in the Room of Requirement, "Nothing big, of course."

Draco sneered at them across the hall until Astoria bounded to the table. She threw her arms around his shoulders.

At least someone's happy, Hermione thought with an eye roll.

The next day, everyone from Rita Skeeter to Xenophilius Lovegood had sent owl after owl, begging either one of them for an interview. Both aforementioned reporters' letters had an air of 'what good timing for a spot of good news!' Harry threw them all in the trash. Hermione burned them.

Alecto went on as normal but referred to her as Mrs Potter as if that had always been her name and wasn't any cause for concern. Professors Sprout, Flitwick, and Sinistra gave them huge smiles. And Severus…didn't say anything about it at all.

In fact, he ignored her entirely (which, honestly, was a relief after all the attention the other professors lavished upon them, Dumbledore and McGonagall excluded) but waylaid into Harry more than usual in Potion's class, demanding answers to questions that gave even Hermione pause. Oh, and poor Hagrid—they had to break their teeth on several rock cakes to console him and promise a 'proper' ceremony later.

Hermione went to the only witch she could trust with her hypothesis.

"I think he's jealous, Gin," she whispered. They huddled in the corner furthest from the door. No one paid them any mind, all of them eager to start their first DA lesson after the hols.

Ginny gently nudged her fist into Hermione's shoulder. "Perfect!"

They could not contain their giggles.

"You gotta capitalize on this!"

"I have no idea how," Hermione sighed.

"Girl, you are the only witch who can figure it out," Ginny said, the picture of Molly Weasley imparting wisdom. "Have you done like any flirting?"

Hermione twirled one of her curls around her finger to think.

"Yeah, like that," Ginny snickered.

Hermione blushed. "No. I mean…" She couldn't tell Ginny he called her dear as if it was a joke. She turned a darker red. "Er, I guess we joke a bit? I mean, he doesn't laugh. Ever."

"Because you're not funny, or…?"

Hermione shoved Ginny's arm. "And he found out where Luna was, for me. And he threatened to hex Moody at Christmas, even before he tried to slap me."

"I would consider those last bits courting, at the very least," Ginny conceded, very seriously drumming her fingers on her chin. "For him, anyway, those seem like nice gestures." She paced around a bit. "Hmm…You gotta do more of these."

She touched Hermione's arm. Touched her shoulder.

"We do zero of that."

"Now's the time to start." Who said the twins were the devious ones of the family?

Hermione…loved that Severus was jealous.

"Eat that, Carrow," she muttered as she brushed her hair that night.

Hermione tried to be bold—but the best she could do was wearing shorter shorts to bed than usual. And only wearing one t-shirt instead of the usual two.

Baby steps! she thought, face Quaffle red. She kept brushing her hair until her very interested husband saw the very scandalous amount of leg she was now showing.

Oh, he definitely saw her when he walked into the room. And he definitely acted like he was not interested when he went to hole up in the washroom. But he definitely turned to shut the door behind him to look at her bum.

Hermione pretended not to notice, very intent on brushing her hair.

And all this time she thought he found her hideous. Amycus should've spread their lie much sooner!