Chapter 2 Part 2

Hermione knocked on the lab door just after lunch, and he scowled, looking up from the acid-green potion.

"What is it?"

"An owl came for you. Nasty bird."

Severus turned. "Is it a grey and tatty thing?"

"Yes."

"That's Lucius's owl. He won it in a bet as a hatchling and keeps it to annoy Narcissa."

Severus took the note that Lucky had carried and broke the wax seal. "Ah, he wants to chat. I forgot to tell him I was using your Floo last we spoke. I need to call him, if you're not using it at the moment."

Hermione smiled at him. "Of course you can. I need to call Harry later to see if we're still getting together next week, but it's not important."

Severus joined her in the sitting room, but when she turned to go, he placed a hand on her arm. "You may need to remain. Were I a wagering man, I would say that he's going to invite me to Draco's wedding."

Hermione's nose scrunched, but she nodded. Severus didn't pay her face-making any heed. Instead he threw a pinch of green into the fire and called out for Malfoy Manor. Lucius himself answered.

"Ah, lucky I found you. I tried you three times, at Hogwarts and at your horrible little house."

"I am not in residence this summer. There is construction on my street, and I was unable to work there. I returned to Hogwarts, but this summer the renovations have moved to the dungeons."

"Are they still doing that?"

"You should be aware of that, Lucius. You're on the bloody board."

The blonde shrugged, toying idly with the snake-headed cane by his leg. "I admit I must have dozed off during a meeting or two. Honestly, aren't they done?"

"Nearly. I believe there may be a wing or two left," Severus replied.

Lucius snorted. "Waste of time, really. I suppose they're using the same mouldy tapestries and rusty suits of armor, as well. I don't think that any of those have been changed in at least two hundred years. Oh, they add portraits, but not the rest. That castle is in desperate need of redoing."

Severus sighed at his friend's preoccupation with Hogwarts's décor, but he wasn't about to explain again about the enchantments woven through the armor and tapestries that would be too costly to replace.

"Lucius, I do have potions to work on today, so I would appreciate it if you would get to the point. It is rare that you find it necessary to Floo me, and refuse to place the topic in writing."

"You are no fun." Lucius was pouting, and Severus rolled his eyes. "I wanted to invite you to Draco's wedding."

Severus shot a victorious smirk at Hermione over his shoulder. She shook her head, amused.

"Cutting it a bit close, aren't you?"

"Do you have any idea how costly it is to throw a wedding worthy of a Malfoy on such notice? Cissy is positively in a whirlwind and the goblins have never had to count gold so quickly." Lucius paused. "She's also asked how many eligible witches she should seat you with."

"One moment." Severus withdrew his head from the flames, casting a quick Silencio in front of the Floo. "Hermione?"

She opened her mouth, then paused, holding her breath. Then she nodded. "May as well tell your friends. I'll go with you, if you'd like. As long as it's not at the Manor."

He nodded briskly before shoving his head back into the flames, breaking the Charm. "Where is the blessed event to be held?"

Lucius arched a perfectly-manicured brow. "At the Summer Estate. The one owned by—oh, you don't care. But you know the one I mean, with the rose maze. Positively romantic."

Severus nodded. "Let Narcissa know that her matchmaking talents will be unneeded in my case."

"She will be devastated," Lucius drawled.

Severus could see the curiosity simmering. "She'll have to rearrange the seating to accommodate you."

"If it would be simpler to seat me amongst the married men, go ahead," Severus replied. "I will be attending with my wife."

Silence. Blessed silence. Lucius was gaping at him. Goggling. Severus was going to treasure this rare and glorious moment. It wasn't often that he managed to gobsmack his friend.

Finally, Lucius recovered. "Your wife. Well. Unexpected. But you certainly move quickly." He paused. "And I wasn't invited to this blessed event? Really, Severus, I'm hurt."

"It was an elopement," he replied drily.

"Ah, the whirlwind romance. My, my, you do have a heart buried in that cage you call a chest."

Lucius's tone had turned knowing. Not for the first time, Severus appreciated the man's grasp of subtlety.

"And tell me, who is the lucky witch to have so ensnared you?"

Once more Severus turned back to Hermione. "I forgot to ask what you intended to do with your name. Keep it, change it, it matters not."

Hermione blinked, surprised. "Oh, I thought I had told you, I'm sorry. I had planned on hyphenating. That way the students won't be confused, and it doesn't look like an insult to you."

An odd tendril of warmth curled in his chest, and he plunged his head back into the fire. "Tell Narcissa that the name card should read Mrs. Granger-Snape. What level of dress should I expect?"

Lucius was boggled again, and Severus fought the urge to smile like a gleeful child. It was entirely too undignified.

Finally, the blond found his voice. "It seems I owe Cissy a bauble; I thought it would take you longer than that. Very well, I'll send an owl with the details when we're done. I imagine you'll need to go shopping. I've seen all of your dress robes, Severus. You'll need something more suitable, I'm certain."

Damn. Another shopping trip, and it wouldn't be cheap. No new books for at least a month if he were to keep to his usual spending budget. Severus sighed. "And when is this blessed event?"

"Three day's time. I've heard rumors that in five the law will be passed. Reliable rumors." Lucius adjusted his hair. "With you not needing Cissy's skills, it will be a small and private affair. I assume you do not want a great deal of attention on your own nuptials. You have ever been the private sort."

"Thank you."

Lucius smiled-the one that Severus knew meant that his friend thought he would be owed a favour. A small one, luckily, and one he was well-familiar with. Severus made note to place a specialty order at the apothecary. Every time he 'owed' Lucius, he ended up crafting a bottle of perfume for the blond to give Narcissa for whatever occasion he could cook up.

"Indeed. Congratulations to you and your wife, Severus. I'll send the owl 'round."

They exchanged goodbyes and Severus ended the call, glad to be out of the stifling confines of the hearth. Hermione was looking at him with a grimace.

"Shopping?"

"Robe shopping." Severus sighed heavily. "Let me know when the owl arrives. I need to get back to my potion."

Hermione nodded and held up the book he had purchased for her yesterday. In fact, she hugged it to her chest with a smile. "I'm going to be reading."

"Hello, the Potter residence!" Hermione called into the emerald flames.

The cluttered sitting room was empty, but hopefully they were home.

"Hermione!" Ginny popped her head into the room, looking frazzled with an armload of laundry. "One second, Harry's playing with the boys. Harry! Hermione's on the Floo! Be right back, let me just tell this load to fold itself up."

Hermione waited patiently, knowing her bum was sticking out of the fireplace. Sometimes she missed the simplicity of the telephone.

She rather liked Harry and Ginny's home, to be honest. It had started off tidy, but since the grand moving-in-and-decorating had ended, it had slowly gotten more and more cluttered. Not messy, but what with their careers, then children, the house had taken on quite the lived-in feel. It wasn't as cluttered as the Burrow, but still felt just as homey.

That made her happy for them both.

Within moments, Harry appeared cradling Al, looking as messy-haired and cheerful as ever.

"Hermione! Oof!-James, no tackling Daddy while he's carrying Albus," he said sternly. "Sorry. I wasn't watching the clock. I meant to be here to answer."

"It's alright," she replied, and meant it.

"Ron left a while ago," Harry said.

Ginny breezed into the room, handing a sippy cup of juice to James and taking Albus.

"He and Pans brought their crup. Sweet creature."

"He got a pet?" she asked in surprise.

It was about time. Ron hadn't had a proper pet since, well...never.

"Well, Pansy doesn't want kids yet, if ever," Harry said. "So, Ron suggested a crup."

"A crup would suit Ron," Hermione mused. "What did they name it?"

Harry grimaced. "Pansy's as good as Ginny at naming pets."

"Oh dear."

"I heard that!" There was no censure in Ginny's voice, though. "Kids I can name. Pets, well, I liked Pigwidgeon. Not so sure about 'Mogicaphif', though."

"Oh dear," Hermione said again. Still, she was amused.

"At least they call him 'Mogi' for short," Harry offered. "Anyway. I talked to Ron about next week. How does Wednesday lunchtime through dinner sound?"

"Sounds good to me," she replied. Then she hesitated. "Have you been keeping up with the papers?"

"Er—" Harry said, rolling around toy cars with James. "Sort of. Do you mean the law they're talking about possibly enacting?"

"More like they will-be enacting," Hermione muttered.

"Oh dear." Ginny pursed her lips. "You're sure?"

"Positive." Hermione paused. "So, um...I—"

Harry was grinning. "You married him, didn't you?"

Hermione stared at him.

"You did," Ginny crowed. "Oh, it's about time!"

"How did you know? We eloped yesterday morning!"

"Oh please," Ginny said. "Who else would you marry? The two of you have danced around each other for ages. It's been glaringly obvious for months that there was something more."

Hermione just gaped. What were they on about? Severus had been her friend, yes...but the possibility of something more between them hadn't occurred to her until the first article in the Prophet. And Harry and Ginny thought she had been harboring feelings for him? Something strange curled through her at the suggestion. It was silly...wasn't it?

"So what are you doing about your name?" Harry asked. "Staying Granger? Or going to be Granger-Snape? Or just taking Snape?"

"Er—I want to hyphenate. Always have, but it makes even more sense, with the students."

Ginny burst out laughing. "Oh, Merlin! Could you imagine their faces if they had two Professor Snapes?"

Harry chuckled. "They'd go mental!"

"Right," Hermione said. "Anyway...so. You know. I still need to tell Ron."

"Oh he won't be surprised either," said Harry, still laughing. "He's the one who noticed it first. Of course, he was joking at the time..."

"Right," she said again, just a little sourly.

"Don't worry, we'll behave if Snape decides to grace us with his presence on Wednesday," Harry assured her. "Can't guarantee the kids will behave, though."

Hermione smiled. "Thanks."

"Anything else?" Ginny said, jiggling Al on her knee.

"Catching up is what Wednesday's for," Hermione said. "Then I can bore you all with my fascinating stories of lesson planning."

"And tell us all about your romantic elopement," Ginny teased. "See you Wednesday, Hermione."

"'Bye," Hermione said, waving.

Harry reached over to make Albus give her a floppy wave, as James was too busy crashing his car into the leg of the coffee table to care.

Brushing soot from her jeans, Hermione idly went back to the couch. Her fingers caressed the cover of her new book. The leather was smooth under her fingertips. The pages smelled amazing. She had been wanting the new compilation of Arithmantic Equations as based on Ancient Runes found in various sites around the world when it had come out. It was a fascinating study, and the Master Arithmancers who had written the tome had included various problems for solving. It was a dream come true, and not a book that she would have bought for herself without careful planning. But Severus...Severus had seen that she had wanted it and bought it for her.

No one had done that for her, ever.

Well, she didn't count her parents. But Viktor hadn't. Ron hadn't. None of the men she had dated had. She had, for that brief, beautiful moment...she had felt so cherished. Thinking about it, about the way he had so casually plucked it down and claimed it a gift, made Harry and Ginny's suppositions about her feelings for Severus seem a little less far-fetched.

She caught herself smiling as she opened to where she had left off on the runes hidden under the glamours at Stonehenge. Maybe there was even more hope for their marriage than she had originally thought.

Severus washed his hands and exited the lab. He had gotten quite far in his brewing, and was rather pleased with his progress. The air smelled like chicken and butter—rice, perhaps? Definitely broccoli. Hermione poked her head out of the kitchenette with a smile.

"Oh, right on time. I was about to come get you. Dinner will be ready in about five minutes, and the Malfoy's owl came again."

He frowned. "You didn't tell me?"

"I knocked, you were stirring. And humming."

Severus winced; he hadn't meant for her to find out about that particular habit, but she was still grinning, her hair frizzing in the heat of the kitchen.

"Do you require assistance?"

"No, I can ruin dinner on my own."

"You don't always ruin it," he muttered, coming to lean lazily against the doorjamb.

"Oh, I know. But I'd rather laugh at myself first. I don't always ruin it, but sometimes it's undercooked, sometimes it's charred, and sometimes I just don't know what happens."

Hermione stirred the pot. He craned his neck to see that it was indeed rice.

"I am getting better, though."

"Indeed."

"I have a good teacher." She dumped rice onto their plates and began spooning on broccoli.

"I don't know how you can brew a complicated potion and not cook," Severus said.

The chicken she was adding to the plate looked a little overdone, but it was definitely an improvement.

"They are practically the same thing."

"Not really."

Hermione handed him his plate and they carried them to the table, where they sat.

"I've been trying to figure it out. You don't have a problem cooking, but you're also naturally gifted at potions. And potions require the use of magic, even if it seems sort of an unconscious sort of use, since it's not an actual spell. Cooking doesn't."

Severus chewed thoughtfully. A tad dry, but much better. "And you cook the Muggle way," he mused.

"Well, yes. That's how I grew up." Hermione took a bite of rice and wrinkled her nose. "Careful, it's a bit crunchy."

He nodded. "Have you by chance tried cooking with magic?"

Hermione paused. "No, I haven't. I haven't ever tried. I don't even know how."

"I can't say that I do, either, but it does raise a curious point."

"I'll owl Molly and ask if she has a cookbook." Hermione grinned. "I have to admit, now I'm anxious to try it and see if there's a difference!"

"The broccoli is excellent," Severus replied, trying to change the subject.

Hermione beamed at the praise, and he was grateful he had decided to consciously try to be a better husband than his father had been. Maybe he wouldn't bollocks everything.

"Did you get a hold of Potter?"

"I did, actually." Hermione crunched her way through her rice. "Wednesday next week, from about lunch through dinner, we have plans. You're invited, of course."

He snorted. For her, he would attend this time. "Potter is always trying to get me to come to dinner, Hermione."

"I know." She took another bite and chewed thoughtfully. "You know, they didn't seem too surprised that we got married. Actually assumed it was some grand, romantic elopement. Thought I should warn you. Come to think of it, Malfoy didn't seem too surprised, either."

"Yes, but he knows very well it was not driven by the heart," Severus sneered, ignoring the twinge in his chest at his own words. "It is entirely likely that Lucius reached the same conclusion you did. For all that he can act the fop, he is far from unintelligent, especially now that he is actively attempting to extract his head from his arse."

Speaking of Lucius, Severus was reminded of his letter and set aside his utensils to open the gilded envelope. The detailed invitation was in the finest vellum money could purchase, and Severus winced. He would definitely need new dress robes. Damn. He handed the invite to Hermione and Summoned a quill to fill in the reply card.

"I hate clothes shopping," she said, grimacing.

"Married," Healer Coles repeated blankly. Severus crossed his arms over his chest and looked down his nose at her.

"Yes."

"That is...certainly a big development. Last quarter you hadn't mentioned even a relationship."

"It was a spur of the moment decision," he replied curtly.

He hated therapy sessions. He couldn't imagine why in the name of Hades that Hermione had gone to them voluntarily.

"Who did you marry, if I may ask?"

"Hermione Granger."

"Oh." She relaxed. "Well, that's not too surprising! You were rather close-mouthed about your relationship with her, I suppose. Unless...Was it arranged under the law?"

"No, actually. We eloped a few weeks ago."

Severus paused. He and Hermione had already decided on the tale to tell.

"Construction on my street left me unable to work at home, and upon returning to Hogwarts found my chambers one of those under repair. There were no guest rooms or dormitories open, so Hermione was kind enough to let me stay with her. One thing turned into another."

Curt, to the point. The complete truth and vague enough to ensure that people would assume the lascivious or romantic nature to make it entirely believable.

"Well, congratulations." Healer Coles gave him a kind smile. "And how are you doing this quarter? Any other...big steps in your life?"

Oh, he knew that look. He had gotten that from the Potters, and from Narcissa at Draco's wedding, too. She was asking about children. None of her thrice-damned business.

"My intentions were to inform you of my next-of-kin for your records. As these sessions were set up initially for me to, what was it? Work through my past? My married life will not be under your scrutiny."

Healer Coles' lips thinned. Had he upset her? Too bloody bad. By now, the witch was more than familiar with his temper. To her credit, she'd actually caught on to it after their first appointment, when Severus had refused to talk after a brief 'I was told to attend'. When he had left at her next appointment, the Healer had contacted him that same night and moved his appointments to the last of the day. And then the witch would wait for him to speak. As long as it took.

If prodded, Severus would admit to reluctantly admiring her for it.

Very reluctantly.

And it didn't keep him from despising the sessions, either. He hated the stilted awkwardness while the Healer tried to phrase a question he couldn't evade, and he hated that he wasn't supposed to leave until she decided they were done. Severus was aware that the meetings were helping somewhat, but he still despised them.

"Severus, we are here to discuss you and how your past has shaped the man you are," Healer Coles said finally. "That means your temper and your need for privacy. You are married now: it is a part of marriage that the people involved communicate with each other. You cannot assume that because it is okay now that it will be okay later as well. I am not here to judge you, I am here to help you. If you cannot talk to me, how can you talk to you wife about things that will inevitably bother you?"

His nostrils flared. "Hermione knows me quite well, and we have a relationship based in a friendship that we have built since she started teaching at Hogwarts. It is not the same as being told to sit here and have my life nitpicked."

Healer Coles' lips thinned in displeasure. "I am here to help you, Severus."

"No, you're being paid to. There's a difference," he retorted. "I'm not trying to take my annoyances out on you, but I have told you how displeased I am with the lack of control in my own life. I am fortunate that Hermione and I were married before the Ministry unleashed that bloody stupid law."

They sat in relative quiet. The only sound was the occasional shifting of their bodies on the comfortable furniture, or the steady tick-tick-tick of the clock on the mantle. He was certain that the quiet room had been designed to put people at ease, but it merely made him want to bolt. This was the sort of room where they gave you terrible news. ...Like the room they had sat him in to tell him of his mum's passing.

Finally, she sighed. "Severus...I think you have made marvelous progress since you started coming here. So much so that our meetings are only once every three months. You're talking, rather than staring me down until one of us relents. Minerva has remarked that you seem more centered at work, and appear healthier." Healer Coles looked down at her notes. "I would like to keep seeing you once a quarter, especially now that you've wed."

His spine stiffened. Did she think he was some sort of monster? She knew about his father, was she intimating that he would turn out the same? Lucius had certainly implied—in his roundabout way—that it was a concern. Why the bloody ponce cared about Hermione was beyond Severus, but his wife had gotten along with the Malfoys surprisingly well. He had resolved to do his utmost to match her when he was needed to accompany her to see the Potters or Weasleys.

Oh, yes. Such progress. Healer Coles would be so ruddy pleased if she dragged that from him.

"And before you get defensive, it's purely because it is a large change in your life. You may need a non-judgmental someone to speak to when it comes to adjusting to sharing your space with someone constantly." She gave him a small smile. "Why don't we call it for today? You can head home to your wife, and I'll see you in the fall."

"That would be...acceptable." Really? He nearly kicked himself. Only acceptable? "Thank you."

"Of course. I'll owl you some available times." She shook his hand and opened the door for him. "And Severus? Congratulations."

"Minerva's back," Hermione said absently by way of greeting. "She stopped by earlier. I haven't told her yet."

Severus frowned, hanging his summer cloak on the rack by the door. "I see."

"Mmmhmm," she replied, turning the page in her book. Her fingertip skimmed along as she read.

Severus walked to the sofa and peered over her shoulder. "Are you still reading that?"

Hermione smiled and looked up at him. "Reading it again, actually."

"I'm glad you like it," he said in a somewhat snarky tone, actually rather pleased that she liked the book he had purchased her so much. "When did you want to speak to Minerva?"

She shrugged, marking her spot in the book and closing it. "Whenever you're ready, I suppose. How was your appointment? You're back earlier than I expected."

"Healer Coles decided to cut it short."

"Oh no. What did you say to her?"

He scowled. "Nothing."

Hermione grinned at him. "I don't believe you, but that's between you and her." She rose from the sofa and considered him. "You don't want to talk to Minerva, do you?"

Severus snorted, straightening his back. "Not particularly, no. I predict that either she will be overjoyed for us or you'll be carting me back to our quarters in pieces."

"Minerva's not that bad." Hermione smiled to herself: 'our quarters'. The fact that he hadn't hesitated over the words meant a great deal to her. "I doubt we'll even surprise her. No one else has been."

"You say that now." With a sigh, Severus glanced at the clock. "We should probably get this over with before she vacates her office until dinner... Unless you had other plans tonight?"

"I did, until she got back. I figured it was better to get things over with right away." Hermione paused. "She can't fire us for this, can she...?"

Severus merely opened the door to the corridor. "After you, Professor Granger-Snape."

The Headmaster's Office had changed over the years. With Albus, it had been lined with books, and displays of various devices. Hermione had never seen the Headmaster's Office during Severus's reign outside of the Pensieve memories from Harry, and she didn't recall him changing much.

But when Minerva had taken over, the whirling and ticking silver instruments were gone. Fawke's perch was gone, too. The Sword of Gryffindor, however, remained in a display case below the portrait of one Phineas Black, who still refused to stay in his portrait while Hermione was present even though she had apologised repeatedly for using him.

The Headmistress's other changes included better seating. Gone were the squashy armchairs that made you feel as if you were sinking, and instead sturdy-yet-comfortable armchairs in the same shade as Scottish heather were provided. There was a great deal of tartan, but it was tastefully done. (And thank Merlin for small favours. Hermione had seen the Headmistress's bedroom once, when Minerva had been ill. Her eyes still burned at the memory.)

It was a cozy room, still lined with shelves of books, the tome that recorded incoming students hovering in a nook. It was a room that could appear inviting or foreboding, depending on what you had done that brought you to it.

But now the room seemed almost frozen in time. Minerva sat very still, her teacup halfway to her lips.

Hermione glanced worriedly at Severus. It had been twenty seconds or so since he had informed Minerva that he wanted to see his quarters before the construction elves departed in case he required changes, as he wanted to ensure that there would be plenty of space to accommodate both himself and his wife, Hermione.

She hadn't moved since, and Hermione was growing concerned. Flabbergasting the Headmistress was a feat.

Severus seemed unaffected by the pause, reaching for another biscuit. Hermione could tell by the crinkles at the corners of his eyes that he was enjoying himself immensely.

"I don't see how that would be a problem," Minerva said finally. She set her teacup down upon the heavy desk and opened a drawer. Retrieving a flask, she poured a generous helping of whiskey into the cup. The alcohol was so potent that Hermione's nose hairs burned. "Now then, do you expect me to introduce the two of you at start-of-term?"

"No," Hermione blurted. "We don't want to make a fuss."

"I don't think that will be necessary," Severus added. "The first years will have little to no knowledge of what to expect from us, while the older students will know about the law that has come into effect. Most will assume that is how we came about."

"But it wasn't?" Minerva took a healthy swig of tea.

"No," Hermione said firmly. "We have been friends for a few years now. Things sort of...changed between us this summer. Severus has been staying with me while the dungeons were under construction and his own home as well. I ended up proposing."

Hermione agreed with Severus that they shouldn't tell anyone, especially not the Headmistress, that their elopement was more or less staged. Still, colour flushed on her cheeks. She had rather rashly proposed to him, after all.

"I see." Minerva took another swallow of tea-laced whiskey. "Well, I can't say that I'm surprised it's the two of you, but I am surprised that you acted so...rashly. You're not pregnant are you?"

"Merlin, no!" Hermione blurted.

"Indeed," Severus said with a scowl. He set his teacup down with a clatter. "And if one more person asks me that, I'm going to hex them."

"Not if I hex them first," Hermione muttered sourly.

Minerva took a drink directly from her flask this time.