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 18

Severus walked alongside his wife as they navigated through the Ministry of Magic, making their way to the Minister's Office. They were going to Azkaban with Luna to visit Rabastan and were meeting her in Shacklebolt's office to get a special Portkey and pass to get there. After agreeing to go with her a week prior, Hermione had written to the blonde witch to alert her to him joining them, and Luna had apparently let Shacklebolt know as well, thus why they were meeting in his office. He honestly didn't want to go to Azkaban to visit Rabastan—he'd rather be starting on his new potion orders—but he promised his wife he would to ease her worries.

Hermione, who had been walking a few steps ahead of her husband, stopped and turned towards him, waiting for him to get beside her before continuing. As they walked, she said, "Thank you for accompanying me, Severus."

"It's fine," Severus replied, glaring at a passing witch that literally hissed at him. She wasn't the first person to throw him dirty looks since they walked into the Ministry, and he knew she wouldn't be the last.

Having noticed the less than pleasant looks Severus had been receiving, Hermione reached out and took hold of his bigger hand. Blinking in surprise at the sudden action, Severus looked down at their joined hands before black eyes looked into brown. Smiling reassuringly at him, the brunette gave his calloused hand a gentle squeeze before turning back to paying attention to where she was going, never letting go of his hand. The feel of her small hand in his made Severus's insides feel warm, and he too found himself returning her squeeze, his thumb stroking the back of her hand. Blushing at the action, Hermione bit her lip but didn't pull her hand away, liking the way his felt in hers.

So wrapped up in her thoughts, Hermione didn't realize who she had bumped into when they turned the corner until it was too late. Opening her mouth to apologize, she stopped seeing a familiar redhaired wizard, one she hadn't seen for quite a while. Pursing her lips slightly, Hermione said curtly, "Ron."

Ron blinked at her before scowling saying, "Hermione."

He then looked at Severus and sneered hatefully at him before saying, "I see you brought your husband along. I didn't know that you were so desperate for a man that you went with this Death Eater cradle-snatching scum."

Severus clenched his jaw to refrain from retorting, though his hand did draw near to where his wand was hidden. Hermione, not having liked what Ron had said, replied, "You shut your mouth, Ronald. You know he isn't like that. And if you had cared to listen to Harry after the war, you would know Severus was never a true Death Eater. And he's not a cradle-snatcher."

"Wow, look at you defend him; it's really sad. But if you really wanted a good partner for this bloodline act or whatever it's called, you should have asked me. After all it's not like Snape willingly chose you, not that any wizard would."

"And you think you would have been a better choice? If it had been you, I would have told them to poison me right then and there. There is no way I would have ever gone back to you, even if you hadn't put me through all that you did while we were together."

Ron smirked at her. "Oh, yes you would have. Despite everything, you are mine Hermione. You know no one would ever want you and that I'm the only one who will put up with you. Trust me, when this greasy git gets sick of you, divorcing you and humiliating you, you'll come crawling back to me."

Hermione glared at the redhead, his words making angry tears begin to fill her eyes. In a low voice she hissed out, "Never."

"You will. This sham marriage, no matter that it's arranged, won't last and you know it. He'll never love you. But with me," Ron reached out and stroked her cheek. "with me everything will be fine."

"Don't touch me!" Hermione slapped his hand away, taking her wand and hitting him with a Stinging Hex as a tear escaped one of her eyes. "And I'll never be yours!"

Blue eyes glared at her and he reached out to her, grabbing her wrist roughly, only to be knocked flat on his back when he was hit with another spell, knocking the wind out of him. Sitting up, Ron's eyes widened as he came face to face with a wand pointed right between his eyes, the wand belonging to that of Severus Snape. Black eyes glared down at him before he said in a deadly voice, "She said not to touch her, and you won't. Keep your fucking hands off my wife. She is not, nor will ever be yours. You have no claim to her, so stop acting as if you do. Your actions here are pathetic, Mr. Weasley. And if anything, it shows your insecurities about not being able to handle the woman Hermione has become or the fact that other men find her attractive, and so you use hateful words to knock her down. I always knew you were a pathetic being, and this proves it. Note that I will be reporting this to the Minister, and I'll see to it that your position in your Auror training be compromised. Now leave before I curse you to Hell and back."

Even now at nineteen-almost-twenty years old, Ron found himself feeling small and inadequate in the presence of his former professor. However, the words spoken to him infuriated him. What made him even more irate, was seeing that Snape was holding Hermione's hand and that she looked comfortable with it. Not only that, but he could tell that the greasy git actually cared for the brunette. And not only that, but it was obvious that Hermione seemed to care for him too. No, no one could care for Hermione, not like that! No one but him!

Deciding he wasn't having any of it, Ron pulled his wand ready to strike, only for a light voice to easily call out, "Petrificus Totalus."

The youngest Weasley male's body seized up where he was on the ground, lying stock still where he was. The couple looked at his petrified body before looking up, only to see Luna standing ten feet away, putting her wand back in the little bag she was carrying. Her pale silvery eyes locked on them and she smiled serenely before saying, "Hello Professor, Hermione. I hope you don't mind that I helped you a bit with your problem."

"Ms. Lovegood. Not at all," Severus replied as his wife hurried over to the blonde witch to hug her. He moved to stand with them, purposely stepping on Ron's petrified body as he did, ignoring his muffled groan.

"Good, I hoped that I hadn't overstepped." Luna let go of Hermione and looked at her before saying, "Don't listen to him, Hermione. The Wrackspurts in his ears are messing with his brain. He just needs a good cleansing."

"He'll need more than that if he continues with his foolish nonesense," Severus murmured, frowning as he noticed his wife wipe at her eyes, trying to wipe away the remaining tears. Reaching out, he gently finished wiping them away, giving her a reassuring smile as she smiled up at him. She nuzzled his hand slightly before realizing what she was doing and then taking a step back, looking away with a blush.

Luna, smiling at the moment between them, cleared her throat before suggesting they finish heading to Kingsley's office. Their Portkey was waiting, after all.

Rabastan looked up when he heard the creaking of the old elevator rising and stopping on his level. Standing from his cot, he walked over to the cell door and smiled as a familiar blonde skipped towards him, stopping in front of him. Smiling down at her he greeted, "Hello Luna."

"Hello Rabastan," Luna replied, reaching through the cell door and stroking his thinning cheek, feeling his facial hair as he did. She smiled more at how his dark brown eyes shined at her.

Approaching footsteps caught Rabastan's attention, and he turned to see two more guests with his fiancé. Surprised at the sight of them, he asked, "Severus? Granger?"

Severus nodded and replied, "Rabastan, good to see you. How are you fairing?"

"Alright." He looked down at Luna again. "My days have been better with Luna's visits."

Luna smiled at him before turning to look at the brunette who had yet to say anything. Smiling at her she said, "Hermione, meet my fiancé, Rabastan Lestrange."

Hermione, who had been observing the interaction between Luna and Lestrange so far, nodded slowly before turning to look at the man in the cell. Nodding at him she greeted politely, "Hello."

Rabastan nodded the same, clearly able to see the brunette's discomfort. It made him wonder if it was because she was here in Azkaban, it was him she was meeting, or if her discomfort lied in her concern for her friend. He supposed it could be a mix of all of those, and he didn't blame her for being concerned about Luna, especially now that she knew they were to be wed for the Bloodline Restoration Act when he was released. She probably thought he would behave untoward with Luna when they finally married, but he wouldn't do that. He knew how to treat a lady with respect, unlike how Rodolphus would treat women. Also, Rabastan had become really fond of Luna, really cared for her. She brought light into his bleak world and he looked forward to her visits, and found himself really looking forward to the day they were bonded.

Severus, having been using Legilimency to see what Rabastan's thoughts were towards Ms. Lovegood, nodded at what he found and exited his brain. He would tell Hermione about it later, but he knew he'd be able to help finish easing her worries about her friend's affianced.

The four of them conversed for a while more, Hermione still silently observing Luna and Rabastan as they did. From her observations, she came to a conclusion that was rather surprising: Luna and Lestrange were in love, or were about to be. They're relationship, despite being arranged, had obviously grown from the friendship that they seemed to have made and the feelings between them (from what she could see) were genuine and reciprocated. Lestrange liked Luna, and Luna liked Lestrange, and they were sincere. It made her feel happy for Luna, as she was able to get to know her partner before they were to wed, and it also made her feel jealous. It made Hermione wish that she and Severus had had time to get to know each other better before their Ministry wedding. Perhaps then…maybe… Hermione shook her head, willing the thought away from her brain. There was no way Severus could possibly fall in love with her, though the thought made her heart flutter. Even so, she believed they were in a good place and she believed her husband cared about her, and that was good enough for her right now.

Half an hour later, the three of them were leaving, though Luna hung back a bit to bid Rabastan 'farewell' and a promise to visit again soon. After allowing the man to kiss her hand, she walked to where Severus and Hermione were standing and got into the elevator with them, heading back down to the ground floor of Azkaban. They soon left the building, having gotten their wands back, and were soon in the boat taking them back to where their portkey was waiting for them. Before long, through the rain and salty mist from the North Sea, they reached their Portkey and had all grabbed hold of it before being transported back to Kingsley's office in the Ministry. They all spoke to Kingsley before leaving, though Severus did stay a bit longer to address what happened with Ron before getting there earlier. Hermione had been waiting outside of the office, but when Severus finally stepped out, he had a rather satisfied smirk on his face and a somewhat evil glint in his eyes.

"What did you do?" Hermione asked him. "What did he say?"

Severus shook his head and took hold of her hand before saying, "You'll know soon enough. Come, let's go home."

The man began walking, gently tugging Hermione along as he did. Hermione, though wondering what Severus and Kingsley discussed about Ron, couldn't help but blush brightly and smile almost stupidly as she gazed at their joined hands. Severus was holding her hand, and she hadn't initiated it! And he had said 'home', meaning his home was her home too, their home. Grinning, she hurried to walk instep with him, grinning up at him as they walked through the Ministry, ignoring the many looks that they received. Hermione didn't care, though. She was so happy right now to care about anything else.

Author's Note: Well, Ron has finally made his appearance and confrontation with Hermione. And Hermione, it seems like she's beginning to fall for Severus, doesn't it? I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and stay tuned for more to come. XOXO, SehunsBae37.