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 17

Hermione started when she heard the front door open from the kitchen. She was in the midst of getting ingredients out to prepare a supper of spaghetti Bolognese, silently doing the calculations in her head to make just enough for her. Stepping out of the kitchen, she saw her husband for the first time in a week closing the front door behind him and hanging his cloak up. He turned his head after doing so and froze seeing the brunette staring at him from the entrance of the kitchen, surprise evident on her face at seeing him.

Silence passed between them for a moment before Severus finally spoke saying, "I'm back."

"Welcome back," Hermione said in reply.

She felt a bit awkward, but she felt as if she should say something. Clearing her throat a bit she said lamely, "I'm…making Bolognese."

Severus arched an eyebrow momentarily before asking casually, "Would you like a hand?"

Hermione blinked in surprise before giving a soft smile and nodded, turning back to enter the kitchen, Severus following behind her. The two of them worked in silence as they prepared the food together, and soon were seated at the table with a plate of spaghetti Bolognese with a side of spinach, kale, and arugula salad. They sat and ate in silence for a while before Hermione finally murmured, "I'm sorry."

"Hm?" Severus sounded taking a sip of tea that he had prepared.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry about what I did, you know, rearranging your bookshelf. It was wrong of me to do so while thinking you'd be okay with it. I should have asked or at the least considered that you wouldn't be happy with it." Hermione picked at her spaghetti with her fork. Biting her lip, she took a deep breath before continuing. "I'm also sorry about what I said to you. I shouldn't have said that you were a self-loathing prat."

Severus took in her apology before sighing softly saying, "It's alright. I did overreact about the situation; I shouldn't have been so angry with you. And I know I can be a prat more times than not, and I do the occasional self-loathing more than necessary."

The brunette couldn't help but giggle at that, not really believing her husband was admitting that, and almost in a joking way. The corner of the man's mouth quirked upward, him silently pleased that he had made Hermione laugh and couldn't deny that her brown eyes had started to shine a bit from mirth. Clearing his throat to continue, Severus said, "I would also like to apologize for not only my behavior, but for calling you an insufferable know-it-all."

"You've always called me that."

"Yes, but you're not as bad as you were when I first met you. Believe it or not, you've calmed down since then. Not a lot, but you have." He smirked when Hermione nodded to herself with a knowing smile. "Even so, I'm sorry about that and…I'm sorry that I kissed you."

Hermione looked up at him in surprise, surprise that he had brought up the moment that had ended their spat, as well as apologize for it. It wasn't necessary, unless he meant for doing so without her permission. But he should have at least recognized that she hadn't minded at the time, considering she had responded. Even now she still thought about the way his lips had felt against hers, and how they had tingled after he had left. Severus probably also felt bad about kissing her because he was older than her and probably felt he was rushing things or something. Still, she didn't want her husband to feel bad about what happened.

Smiling softly at him she said, "You don't have to apologize for the kiss, Severus. I think we both enjoyed it despite what led to it."

Black eyes blinked in surprise before nodding slowly, Severus's mind going back to Draco telling him the same, that the kiss they had shared was enjoyed on both ends. Hermione had just admitted that she had liked it, wasn't even upset about it. It made him wonder if she was used to him now, had warmed up to the idea of them being married. And that maybe—just maybe—she was attracted to him, at least a little bit.

Taking a sip of tea Hermione looked at his handsome face and asked, "So we are good?"

Severus looked at her momentarily before he nodded, a small smile on his face. "Yes, we're good. And I think I would like to know more about you and what you enjoy, if that is alright with you."

"Yes, I'd like that. And the same for you, too."

The married couple smiled at each other before turning back to their dinner, this time engaging in lighthearted conversation. Even when the food was gone they continued to sit and talk, enjoying each other's company without much if any awkwardness present. At some point Hermione had asked about his Fertility Potion that he had been working on, wondering if it was complete or at least mostly ready to be used. Severus told her that when they had had their argument, he had told his client that it was almost ready and would be in a week.

Brown eyes widened as Hermione realized that had been last week, and Severus had been gone since then, only now returning. There was no way he had had a chance to work on it since then and his client was probably ready to test it out now. Needing to say this she exclaimed, "Severus, it's not ready! You told your client that it would be ready in a week, and a week started today!"

The Potions Master was silent for a moment before a chuckle escaped his lips, the laugh just as deep as his voice and somewhat soothing. Shaking his head he asked, "You really think that I didn't finish it while I was away?"

Hermione blinked. "So it's ready?"

"Of course, it is. I don't neglect my duties, no matter how long I'm away." Severus looked at his wife somewhat playfully, the expression looking out of place on his pale face. "I am an expert at my craft, need I remind you."

There was no malice in his tone, letting Hermione know he was just messing with her. Even so, she felt slightly embarrassed that she had reacted frantically when she should have known the man had everything under control. Blushing Hermione mumbled, "I know."

Severus chuckled once more before standing with his plate, taking it to the sink before waving his wand and taking up Hermione's plate as well. After waving his wand over the dirty dishes to begin washing themselves, Severus left the kitchen to head upstairs to his room, Hermione following to head to bed. Stopping at the room she was occupying, she smiled at Severus and said, "Good night, Severus."

"Good night, Hermione," Severus said, watching as his wife stepped into the room and closing the door before continuing to his own room.

Once inside the room, he sighed for a moment before sitting on the bed, letting his thoughts run. He was back now and he was going to make an effort to finally be happy in his life. Draco insisted he try with Hermione, and after how dinner had gone tonight, he believed that he was at least on the right track. It was obvious the brunette had enjoyed herself and he was glad that she did, considering the last time they had been together, it had ended in disaster. Well, not disaster, but it had been intense.

Just thinking of the young woman caused his mouth to twitch in a would-be smile. Talking with Hermione had been invigorating, and Severus had realized in the middle of dinner that he had actually missed talking to her, even if before it had been here or there. He then realized that rather than talking to her, he actually had missed the sound of her voice. It wasn't annoying anymore, and though it still held a bit of a swotty note to it, he liked the sound of it. And when she laughed or even giggled, her face lit up and her eyes shone. It was nice to see and it filled him with some sort of joy that he had been the one to make that happen tonight.

Rubbing a hand down his face, Severus decided to make a promise to himself right then. It was probably out of character for him, but he would do it for the young woman he called his wife. He promised to himself that he would not only protect her from whatever she needed protecting from, but that he would strive to make her happy in their marriage.

Deciding to take a shower, Severus stood from the bed and opened the door to head to the bathroom, only to stop at seeing his wife on the other side of the bedroom door. Hermione looked up at him in surprise before saying, "Oh, sorry. I was just about to knock."

"What is it?" Severus asked.

Holding up a letter, Hermione said sounding somewhat distressed, "I just got a letter from Luna, asking me to accompany her to visit her fiancé. Apparently, she's in this Bloodline Restoration Act, too."

"Alright. So why do you sound distressed about it?"

Handing him the letter to read, she answered, "Because her chosen affianced is Lestrange."

Severus's eyebrows rose in interest as he read Ms. Lovegood's letter. So not only was Rabastan forced to be a participating family line in the B.R.A., but they had chosen Ms. Lovegood to be his chosen spouse. After rereading the dreamy Ravenclaw's letter, Severus looked down at his wife and said, "At least it is Rabastan. He's less dangerous than Rodolphus and actually knows how to care for someone despite it seeming like he doesn't or doesn't care for anything or anyone."

"Well yes, but Lestrange? He's in Azkaban right now and Luna will have to marry him when he gets out. What if he tries to do something to her or tries to hurt her once they are married?""

"He won't do that."

"How can you be so sure?"

Severus looked at his wife and saw the worry in her eyes. Placing a comforting hand on her shoulder he said, "Because I know him personally, and I know he's not as bad as he seems despite his being a Death Eater. He'll take care of and care for Ms. Lovegood. And if it's any consolation to ease your worries, I personally like him."

Hermione nodded, though she was still unsure. She wanted to go with Luna to not only meet Lestrange formally, but to also see for herself if he was actually suitable to be Luna's future husband. Even so, she felt uncomfortable about seeing him by herself, even if she was there with Luna. But perhaps if Severus was there, she would feel more at ease, especially since he knew him personally.

Biting the bullet Hermione asked, "Will you go with me?"

"She asked you to go, not me," Severus replied.

"I know, but I'll feel more comfortable if you are there, too. Please?"

Black eyes looked into brown for a moment before he finally answered, though he was amused all the same by the brunette's plea. Really, she had nothing to worry about. But if it eased her worries, then he would do it.

"Alright, I'll go."