Insufferable Attraction
SeverusxHermione
Rated NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling
Insufferable Attraction
Chapter 9
Severus woke up the next morning, feeling oddly well rested than usual. He stared at the ceiling wondering why he could have when the events of the previous night suddenly flooded his mind. Last night he and Hermione had had sex to consummate their bonding vows in time, and it had been…pleasurable. He hadn't expected to be so attracted to her body the way he was last night, and yet he had been. She had felt wonderful around him and he doubted he would be able to get the look of ecstasy on her face during their coupling out of his head.
Groaning he turned over onto his side, taking his pillow and placing it over his head. He was such a disgusting old man for allowing his mind and body to want his former student the way it had the night before. Even now he could still feel her touch lingering on his skin. He shouldn't be thinking about Hermione like this, even if she was his wife now. It was wrong and if it had been his choice, it wouldn't have happened. He shouldn't have been the one to take her innocence, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He had taken her virtue; he had been her first.
A soft knock on the door of the guest room he was occupying caught his attention and he heard slightly muffled through the door, "Severus?"
It was Hermione, as if it would be anyone else. Wondering what she wanted, he climbed out of bed and slipped his feet into a pair of slippers before walking to the door. He didn't know why, but Severus could feel his heart speed up in his chest. Was he…was he nervous? He had no reason to be, it was just Hermione after all. Perhaps it was because of what had occurred between them the night before and this would be the first time facing each other since he escaped the room. And yes, he had escaped. Her offer to stay had been too much temptation after what they had done; it was just better for him to leave.
Taking hold of the door handle, Severus turned it and opened the door to reveal Hermione standing on the other side of the threshold. She, much like himself, was still in her nightwear with a robe wrapped around her body and her feet in fuzzy slippers. His inner thoughts found it quite a shame to see her completely covered with him now knowing what she looked like with no clothes on. Her curly brown hair looked wild in the messy bun she had it pinned in up top of her head, a few strands having not made it up. Her whole ensemble made her look…adorable. Looking at her with an unreadable expression he asked, "Yes, Hermione?"
It was still strange for him to call her by her first name, but he noticed she seemed rather pleased that he had, if the way her eyes shined and pink lips curved into a small smile was anything to go by. Hermione looked up at him and said, "There is an owl with a letter from the Ministry for you waiting downstairs."
What could they possibly want now? Severus couldn't help but wonder in annoyance. The Ministry—especially the Bloodline Restoration Act—were really grinding his nerves. Repressing a sigh he stepped out of the room and headed down the hallway for the stairs, Hermione following behind him. They descended the stairs to the kitchen where the owl was perched on the back of one of the chairs at the table. It held out its leg to the Potions Master, allowing him to take the letter attached before flying out of the kitchen to the living room and up the chimney from the fireplace; it was apparently how it had gotten inside. Rolling his eyes at the bird Severus opened the letter and saw that it was from the representatives of the B.R.A. Already hating the letter, he began reading its contents.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Snape,
Thank you for taking part in your consummation and completing your vows. We were alerted of your doing so last night, presumably when you finished your consummation. Now with all of the formalities done for the time being, we hope you two will be happy in your marriage and we will look forward to a child within the next year.
Also, it is imperative now that you have consummated to move into the Prince family ancestral home soon, wherever it may be. One of us will visit later in the week to make sure that the move into the ancestral home will go as planned. Again, thank you for completing your wedding vows with your consummation and participating in the Bloodline Restoration Act.
Sincerely,
The Representatives of the B.R.A.
The Department of Magical Law Enforcement
"Those sick bastards!" Severus hissed viciously, the letter crumbling in his pale hands as they formed fists.
Hermione, rather surprised by the sudden and low outburst, gently asked, "What is it?"
Not answering, Severus handed the crumbled letter to the brunette, allowing her to read its contents while he made himself a pot of black coffee, his preferred brew. He heard a small choking noise and turned to see Hermione's face bright red—obviously from embarrassment—while a look of disbelief covered her face. Looking at him she said, "They were alerted that we consummated."
"Yes, which is why they are the sick prats that they are. Who in the name of Salazar Slytherin keeps tabs on two people having sex to make sure the bond and vows took?"
"It is an invasion of privacy, and rather perverted of them."
Severus hummed in agreement, pouring himself a cup of coffee and taking a sip of the hot drink. Hermione meanwhile turned back to the letter to read it once more before asking, "What do they mean when they say 'wherever it may be'? In regard to your ancestral home, I mean?"
He saw no reason to deny her the information as to why Prince Manor's location was hidden, seeing as she was now his wife and all. Gesturing for her to sit down, he used wandless magic to levitate an empty coffee cup to the table, as well as the coffee pot and cream and sugar. As Hermione set to making her coffee just the way she liked it, Severus proceeded to explain where Prince Manor was located, as well as its location no longer being known by the Ministry of Magic, having gone off the grid so to speak during the reign of Grindelwald. His grandfather had opened up their Floo Network following his defeat, only to cut it off completely during Voldemort's first initial reign. Not only that, but the manor was protected by ancient wards and only those of Prince blood could enter. When asked how he knew this, he told that his mother had informed him of it some time before her passing. However, he did admit that he had never stepped foot into the manor before, even though he knew where it was.
Hermione tilted her head before saying, "You should go and see it, especially if it is inherited to you."
Severus was quiet for a moment before saying, "I'm not sure it was."
"Why wouldn't it be? You are of Prince blood."
"Because my mother was disowned for choosing to marry a muggle, losing access to the Prince family vaults and stepping foot onto the manor grounds. It wouldn't surprise me if her disownment extended to me."
Hermione thought that sounded ridiculous. "Have you inquired about it with the goblins at Gringotts?"
Severus raised his eyebrow. "I don't have to inquire about something that I know to be accurate."
"Well I'm going to inquire about it. It is your family and you have a right to everything the Princes have ever had, disowned mother or not."
Standing up Hermione walked towards the stairs to go get dressed, a step of purpose in her stride. Severus watched her go slightly bemused, wondering if she was really serious about finding out if he inherited the Prince family manor and fortune. What made him wonder about it more was the fact that she most likely knew it wasn't any of her business, and yet she was doing it anyway. Then again, perhaps it was with her being his wife now, but that was beside the point. She did not have to do this for him, and he wouldn't ask her to, but she still was. He sat there so long in wonder about her actions that he was surprised to see her back downstairs dressed in a black pencil skirt and baby blue dress shirt, black ballet flats on her feet and hair neatly pulled back from her face.
Looking square into his black eyes she asked, "Are you getting dressed? We have somewhere to be."
The Potions Master's eye twitched at the rather haughty tone the brunette had used, though she probably hadn't meant to. He knew she could be rather bossy, especially with Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, but hearing it directed towards him made him feel some type of way. Holding his tongue from saying something snarky in response, he simply stood and strode towards the stairs, heading to the guest room to get dressed, as well as wash his face and brush his teeth. When he had done all of that, he descended the stairs dressed in black slacks and button up shirt, black shoes on his feet.
"Let's go," Severus simply said, an almost commanding tone in his voice that had Hermione frowning at him.
As the two of them left Spinner's End and Disapparated to Diagon Alley, Hermione couldn't help but notice that her new husband had transitioned back into the Severus Snape that she had been familiar with her entire life, very much unlike the one that had consummated their vows with her last night. She had very much enjoyed that Severus, the one that had been kind and sweet with her, making her body sing in a way it had never before, the one that had been concerned about her and soothingly helped her to relax. The contrast was drastic and she found she wanted to see more of that Severus Snape, and not the snarky, sharp tongued one that established her as an insufferable know-it-all.
Harry walked through the Ministry heading for the Minister's Office. Kingsley had sent him a letter asking him to visit, to which Harry responded that he would. It was also convenient for Harry as he wanted to speak to Kingsley more about his upcoming marriage to Daphne in just days. It wasn't that he wasn't looking forward to it, he just wanted to talk to someone about it. That, and he wanted to know if Kingsley knew anything about Hermione and Snape's completion of their vows, if they completed their vows.
Turning the corner he was surprised to see Luna step out of Kingsley office, her usual serene smile on her face. Smiling he greeted, "Hello Luna."
Luna smiled at Harry and gave him a friendly hug replying, "Hello Harry. It is good to see you again. I haven't seen you since Hermione and Professor Snape's bonding ceremony."
"Yeah, things have been a bit crazy since then."
"Yes, I'm sure. Everyone is talking about the bonding. How is Ron taking it?"
"Not good, and neither is Ginny upon finding out I'm a part of the Bloodline Restoration Act as well."
Luna nodded in understanding, her knowing exactly why Ginny would be upset about it. The two of them stood there in silence for a while before Harry asked, "What were you doing here, Luna?"
Blinking Luna answered, "I was here because the Minister summoned me."
"Oh? About what?"
With a soft smile Luna said, "I'm to marry Rabastan Lestrange as part of the Bloodline Restoration Act once he is set free from his imprisonment in Azkaban."
Green eyes widened in shock upon hearing those words. Harry couldn't believe it. Not only was he and Hermione in this mess with no way out, now Luna was a part of it, too. Why did it seem like the world loved to screw with him and his friends? Harry stared at the blonde witch for a moment before he just said, "Bloody hell."