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 27
Hermione Apparated a few blocks away from 12 Grimmauld Place, her feet hitting the sidewalk before she began walking, blending in with the walking Muggles. Walking up to Grimmauld Place, she saw the old Black home come into view. Reaching it, she hurried up the steps and knocked on the door calling out, "Harry! Harry, I need to speak with you!"
She could hear Walburga Black's portrait screeching inside, but Harry wasn't answering her. Looking around, she made sure no Muggles saw her before entering the home, knowing she could as Harry had granted her permission to come inside freely if necessary. Ignoring the screeching portrait, Hermione walked further into Grimmauld Place and called out, "Harry?"
Still receiving no answer, Hermione headed towards the kitchen to look for Kreacher. Entering, she looked around and saw the old House Elf rummaging around in a low cabinet, muttering to himself. She swore the old elf was going senile if he wasn't already. Clearing her throat to get his attention, she waited until he looked at her before asking, "Is Harry here?"
Kreacher glared at her momentarily before answering, "Master Potter no longer lives in Master Regulus's home. Master Potter and wife moved to Potter Manor."
"Potter Manor? I didn't know that. I need to talk to him, though."
"No worries Hermione, I'm here," Harry's voice spoke from behind her.
Quickly turning in surprise, Hermione exclaimed, "Harry! How did you know I was here?"
"I set an enchantment to alert me if someone enters Grimmauld Place ever since moving into my ancestral home."
"Oh."
Smiling, Harry greeted his friend properly and gave her a hug. "Welcome back, Hermione. How was Australia? Did you and Snape find your parents?"
Hermione briefly wondered how he knew she had gone to Australia, but then remembered she had informed him some time before the trip. Taking a seat at the table, she answered, "Yes we did, and I restored their memories. They're happy to remember everything and aren't upset with me for doing what I did. They've also decided to stay in Australia, but that's okay. And Australia was great. Severus and I went sightseeing and had fun. And believe it or not, my parents took my marriage to Severus pretty well."
"Really? No losing their heads over it?"
"Well, my dad did a bit, but mum quickly deduced it was arranged. Even so, they accepted it and accepted him."
"That's great, Hermione," Harry said with a genuine smile. "Seems like things are going great for you and Snape now. You guys are getting along, you two are compatible, you're…having sex. Things couldn't be better for you, right?"
The brunette blushed a bit following her friend's rhetorical question. "About that, I actually came to talk to you about something, Harry. Concerning Severus, I mean."
Harry frowned and asked, "Did something happen?"
"Sort of. I…well, during the trip Severus and I had gotten closer than we were before, and something changed between us. I didn't realize it until we returned home but…Harry, I'm…" She blushed heavily, but still got out her words. "I've fallen in love with Severus."
Green eyes widened in shock behind round glasses, Harry's mouth dropping open at the admission. Recovering, Harry blinked before asking, "Are you sure?"
Hermione nodded and answered, "Pretty sure. I'm in love with him, Harry. I don't know when it happened, I don't even know why, but I have. I've never felt this way about anyone before him. Not Viktor, not even Ron. I love him Harry, I really do, and I know I don't want to be with anyone else but him, never mind the fact that we're bound to each other. I just…he's it for me."
Harry just looked at the brunette, how her cheeks blushed pink from her words, yet held her head high during her impassioned speech. Wow, he couldn't believe it, but he could see it. His best friend had fallen in love with their old professor, with her husband. It was kind of weird, but he couldn't deny he understood how she felt. He too had fallen in love with his wife during their time together. He truly loved Daphne and saw that Daphne loved him as well. They were happy and so, he could understand how Hermione felt about Snape.
Smiling he said, "That's great, Hermione. You love him, he loves you, and you two are good together."
Hermione looked down at the table and murmured, "He doesn't love me, though."
"What?"
"Severus doesn't love me. He likes me—he even admitted it to me himself—but he doesn't love me. So me realizing I love him is great but is also awful because he doesn't return my feelings."
Harry took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Come on, Hermione, don't think like that. You don't know for sure he doesn't love you. Maybe he does and he just hasn't said so, so saying he likes you is as close as he's going to get."
"But I haven't told him I'm in love with him yet."
"That's alright. I don't think you should worry too much about this. Snape likes you a lot, but just because he hasn't said he loves you like you love him doesn't mean he doesn't."
"But I don't know if he does. Even so, I like that I know he does like me, though he said he does insufferably."
Harry laughed and shook his head. "All will be well, you'll see. Whenever you confess-"
"If I confess."
"Right. If you confess, it won't be long before he does, too. Just wait and see; it'll all work out."
Hermione nodded and smiled at her bespectacled friend, thanking him as she did. The sound of the front door opening reached their ears, followed by hurried footsteps until Daphne entered the kitchen with a huge smile on her beautiful face. Looking at her husband, she quickly sat next to him saying, "Harry! Guess what?"
She looked at Hermione and greeted her before turning back to her husband. Harry smiled in amusement at his excited wife and asked, "What is it?"
"Well, it's two things really. The first is that I won my suit against Weaslette."
"Oh? And how did Ginny take it?"
"Surprisingly well. Make no mistake, her face was red with anger, but she took it."
"Alright. Well, hopefully Ginny won't do much else. And the second thing?"
Daphne smiled and took Harry's hand in hers, placing it against her flat midsection. Looking into his green eyes, she said with a grin, "I'm pregnant. We're going to have a baby."
Hermione gasped happily as Harry stared in shock at the blonde witch. He looked down at her midsection once more before looking into her blue-green eyes in amazement. Smiling, he let out a soft laugh and hugged his wife, holding her close as he continued to bask in the news. In a soft voice he said, "This is amazing, Daph. We're going to be parents."
Daphne smiled and hugged her husband in return, resting her head against his shoulder and closing her eyes. Hermione, believing she was intruding on this precious, private moment, stood up and left Grimmauld Place, leaving the happy couple to themselves. She made sure to quietly congratulate them before fully leaving. She was happy for them, she really was. And she also knew this was an important moment in Harry's life. Harry didn't have any family, so to start his own and bestow upon a child the love that his parents did to him before their deaths, she knew he couldn't wait for it and he deserved it. As she left though, the news made her wonder once more if Severus wanted to have any children with her. He hadn't answered the question before, and she hadn't asked him again since that night. Still, it made her wonder if he wanted to.
Two weeks later, Hermione and Severus were standing in the Minister's Office once again, ready to attend and bear witness to the final marriage of the Bloodline Restoration Act, the bonding of Rabastan Lestrange and Luna Lovegood. Not only were they there, so were Harry and Daphne, Luna's father Xenophilius, the usual B.R.A. representatives, as well as a Daily Prophet writer. Rabastan was waiting patiently with Kingsley as they waited for Luna to arrive, and Severus had gone to speak with him. Hermione took this time to speak with Harry and Daphne, once again congratulating them on Daphne's pregnancy and ask how far along she was. Daphne answered she was two months along, so she still had a long way to go before the new Potter baby would be born. Of course, their discussion was overheard by the Daily Prophet writer, as well as the representatives of the B.R.A., them being extremely happy that the Potters were fulfilling the final part of the Bloodline Restoration Act; fulfilling the wish of children to carry on the bloodlines.
It wasn't long before Luna entered the office wearing a beautiful white dress that seemed to be made of an odd combination of white feathers, satin, and seashells. Her long dirty-blonde hair was twisted into a lovely bun on her head, and she had a beautiful smile on her make-up free face. Rabastan couldn't keep his eyes off his soon-to-be wife and grinned as she greeted her father who gave her away, albeit reluctantly. Even so, Xenophilius could see just how much his daughter loved the man she was soon to be bound to. Once Luna stood next to Rabastan in front of Kingsley, he began their bonding ceremony, him going through the same motions that he had done for the Snapes and the Potters. He spoke as the affianced held each other's' left hand, Kingsley's wand waving over their hands with the pink and gold sparks from his wand turning into the ribbon that swirled around their hands. As the ribbon swirled around their hands, Kingsley asked Rabastan, "Do you Rabastan Randall Lestrange, take Luna Pandora Lovegood as your wife and bonded partner, with the promise to protect and cherish her, as well as commit no infidelity for as long as you both shall live?"
"I, Rabastan Randall Lestrange, promise to these terms to Luna Pandora Lovegood," Rabastan replied with a smile, looking into Luna's pale silvery eyes.
"Do you Luna Pandora Lovegood, take Rabastan Randall Lestrange as your husband and bonded partner, with the promise to protect and cherish him, as well as commit no infidelity for as long as you both shall live?" Kingsley then asked Luna.
Luna smiled and said with a nod, "I, Luna Pandora Lovegood, promise to these terms to Rabastan Randall Lestrange."
Hermione watched with a soft smile as the ribbon whirling around their hands glowed and sunk into their hands and moving to their ring fingers to settle into their skin. Seeing it happen for a third time took her mind to hers and Severus's bonding ceremony, how nervous she had been with her nerves completely shot, being so overwhelmed by everything that she had fainted. It was funny how so long ago that seemed, especially with how far she and her husband had come from that point.
Kingsley, satisfied at the success of the enchantment, spoke saying, "By the power of I, Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt, I now pronounce you bonded and married in the law of the Ministry and in the eye of Merlin. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Rabastan Randall Lestrange."
Hermione clapped along with the others in the room, Luna and Rabastan looking completely happy with how everything went. It went without saying just how in love these two were with each other despite just getting married. All of the guests congratulated the newly bonded couple, Luna hugging her friends while Rabastan shook Severus's and Kingsley's hand. He did the same with his new father-in-law, promising Xenophililus that he would take good care of, love, and respect his daughter in all ways. Movement out of the corner of her eye drew Hermione's attention towards the door of the office, only to see the writer from the Daily Prophet slip out.
A deep voice by her ear murmured, "It won't be long before everyone hears about this bonding."
The brunette nodded and replied, "That, and the news of Daphne being pregnant."
Severus nodded and suggested that they leave and go into Muggle London for a bit of lunch. Happily agreeing, Hermione bid her friends 'goodbye' and congratulated the Lestranges once more before leaving with her husband.
Later that day in Diagon Alley, the news from the Daily Prophet announcing not only the final marriage of the Bloodline Restoration Act being fulfilled, but also the announcement of a Potter-Greengrass baby being revealed was all that anyone could talk about. The news of the marriage was shocking to the public, as they couldn't believe that not only had Rabastan Lestrange been released from Azkaban early and chosen to be a part of the B.R.A., but had married Harry Potter's friend Luna Lovegood. And as for the news of the Potter-Greengrass baby, nothing but excitement was what met that news. Needless to say, that day's Daily Prophet was one to be talked about.
Sitting in the Leaky Cauldron while glaring at the headline of the newspaper was Ginny, having a bottle of mead as she did. Her whole life seemed to be in some sort of downward spiral, but she also knew it was partly her fault. Well, at least her losing the lawsuit Greengrass had on her. If she hadn't attacked her out of jealousy for her marrying Harry, Greengrass wouldn't have taken legal action against her. And if she had just settled out of court, she wouldn't have so much to lose. And now Harry and Greengrass were expecting a baby. Her dreams of being Harry's wife and having his children were completely dashed now. Still, she understood that Harry and Greengrass came together because of the B.R.A., but even she couldn't deny that they looked happy and in love. The whole situation upset her, but she also knew there wasn't anything she could do and no point in holding a grudge when nothing good would come of it. That, and no matter what, all she really wanted was for Harry to be happy. Therefore, if being with Greengrass made him happy, she would accept that.
Sighing, she chugged the rest of her mead before leaving money on the table, standing up to leave the pub. Ginny headed towards the exit, bidding Hannah Abbott, the new landlady of the Leaky Cauldron, 'goodbye' as she did. Crossing the threshold to step back out into Diagon Alley, she turned and bumped into someone. Stumbling a bit to catch herself, she said, "Sorry."
"Weaslette," a familiar voice drawled.
Looking up, Ginny looked into the face of Draco Malfoy, and next to him was Blaise Zabini. Glaring at the blond wizard, Ginny nearly spat, "Malfoy. If I had known it was you I had bumped into, I wouldn't have apologized."
Malfoy looked at her amused before saying, "Good to know. Anyhow, I'm not here to pick a fight with you. I'm here to have a drink and you were obviously on your way somewhere, so…" He stepped back and held an arm out, obviously giving her a path to walk past him and his friend.
Frowning in confusion, Ginny couldn't help but ask, "What? No snarky remarks? No insults? No making fun of me about the news in the Daily Prophet or my losing of Greengrass's lawsuit? I know you heard about it because you are engaged to her sister."
"True, but it also isn't any of my business. If it doesn't affect Astoria directly, it isn't worth my time."
Ginny was surprised at Malfoy's response. Not only that, but also surprised at how…pleasant…he seemed to be acting. He was being rather civil, to be honest. She had been aware Harry had once said Malfoy had changed since before the end of the war, even having stalled identifying him and not giving him up when he was right in Malfoy Manor, but she hadn't believed it. He had said despite Malfoy being a right arse, he actually wasn't a bad guy. She thought Harry had been crazy to come to that conclusion considering all of the bad blood between them from years ago, but perhaps things really were different now.
Nodding, Ginny said almost stiltedly, "Well, alright then. Have a good day, Malfoy."
She then looked at his companion—very handsome companion, as she had always thought Zabini was a handsome wizard—and said, "Zabini."
Zabini smiled at her and said, "Weasley."
Ginny nodded at them once more before walking past them down the cobblestone street, her mind still reeling from her interaction with the two wizards. However, she stopped at hearing her name being called from behind. Turning, she was even more surprised at seeing Zabini walking her way. Stopping in front of her he said, "Weasley, I have a question."
"What is it?" Ginny asked.
"I was wondering if you'd like to hangout."
"…With you and Malfoy?"
"No, not with Draco. Just me. So, want to?"
Brown eyes blinked in bewilderment at the dark-skinned wizard's words. Was he…was Zabini asking her out? Wanting to be sure just in case, Ginny asked, "Are you asking me on a date?"
Zabini smiled in amusement and replied, "I'm asking you to hang out with me some time, but if it leads into a date, then sure."
"Are…are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure." He was still looking at her amused, but also like her hesitation in answering was adorable.
Feeling herself flush, Ginny considered for a moment before answering, "Okay. Yeah, that'd be good."
"Brilliant. I'll owl you later. Until next time, Weaslette." With that, Zabini flashed her a charming smile before turning to head back to the Leaky Cauldron. As he did, Ginny couldn't help but stare after him, wondering what had just happened. Even so, she found herself smiling before continuing on her way.
Nighttime had fallen at Prince Manor, the hour being late and the manor quiet save for the House Elves doing some last-minute cleaning before retiring for the night. In their bedroom, Severus and Hermione were lying in their bed talking with each other, snuggled against one another conversing about whatever topic came to mind. Hermione, dressed in a satin baby blue nightgown, was pressed against her husband with her head resting on his bare chest right over his heart. Severus in turn had his arm wrapped around her, his fingers lightly playing with the curls of her hair.
As they laid there and their discussion of the Invigoration Potion fizzled out—really, they were laughing as Severus recalled how an old classmate of his had used it back in Hogwarts to personally up his sex stamina with his girlfriend and how it didn't quite have the desired effect—they were quiet for a moment, just simply enjoying each other's company. However, as they laid there, a thought Hermione had been thinking about popped into her mind. She supposed it wouldn't hurt, seeing as her and Severus had come a long way concerning sensitive topics, but if he didn't want to talk it was okay. But she still wanted to ask.
Tilting her head up a bit to look at her husband, Hermione said, "Severus?"
"Hm?" Severus responded looking down at her.
"Can you tell me about your childhood?"
Black eyes stared at her silently, no indication of any emotion on his face as Severus stared at his wife. Feeling her face flushing, Hermione quickly began to explain herself.
"It's just that, well, Harry mentioned it was somewhat similar to his own, though he didn't go into detail. He had also said that upon seeing your memories during the war, he fully understood why you are the way you are."
"And what's wrong with the way I am?" Severus asked.
Hermione smiled and shook her head. "Nothing at all. Besides, if you were any different, I'd wonder if you were really Severus Snape."
Severus chuckled at his wife's words, his eyes shining in mirth. Smiling Hermione laughed softly before calming a bit. Looking at him, she asked, "So, can you tell me? You don't have to, but I'd like to know more about you, more than I already do."
The man considered her words for a moment before saying, "My childhood isn't a happy one. I'll tell you a bit, but not much; I'm not ready to fully talk about it."
"That's fine, Severus. I'm listening, just take your time."
Severus nodded and looked up at the canopy of their bed, taking the time to collect his thoughts. Hermione waited patiently for her husband to speak, knowing this was probably a hard topic to talk about for him. But she loved her husband and wanted to be there for him no matter what. Eventually, Severus took a deep breath and let it out, finally having found the words to speak. Holding her closer, he began talking.
"As you know, I'm a Halfblood through marriage between my Pureblood mother Eileen, and Muggle father Tobias. Our lives were great the first few years until my dad lost his job. He became a terrible drunkard, and that was around the time I started displaying my magical abilities. It freaked him out and made my mother reveal her status as a witch. Everything in our lives went downhill from there, and my mother and I suffered greatly, especially my mother. My relationship with my mother meant everything to me and I was devastated when she died. As for my father…I hated him like I've never hated anyone. Not even my contempt for James Potter and Sirius Black could compare. My home life was bleak, and the only good thing outside of my mother in my life that seemed to chase the darkness away was my friendship with Lily Evans."
"Harry's mum," Hermione said unnecessarily.
"Yes, Mr. Potter's mother. I was the one to tell her she was a witch and she became my best friend. She was the only person other than my mother and her parents to accept me for who I was. We had promised to be friends forever, come what may. But being Sorted into opposing Houses made it hard, and me enduring more than enough bullying from her Housemates."
Hermione nodded, knowing he was talking about Harry's dad, Sirius, Pettigrew, and whoever else was involved, but mainly the Marauders. Harry had told her after the war that Severus didn't like him because he not only looked like his main tormentor, but because he reminded him of him as well. Even so, he had decided to protect and save him in honor of Lily.
"Our friendship became strained not long after my mother's death. I…wasn't in a good place then, but Lily tried her hardest to reach me. Unfortunately, my vulnerability made me susceptible to being recruited by Lucius to join the Death Eaters. I had refused at first, still trying to maintain the only relationship I still had with the one other person that was important to me."
"Because you loved her."
"Yes, I did. But then that fateful day happened where I was publicly embarrassed by Black and Potter, and everyone laughed at me. Lily was the only one to come to my rescue. She tried to talk to me and calm me down, but my anger got the best of me and I…well, I called her something I shouldn't have. I didn't mean it and tried to apologize, but the damage was done and our friendship was over, subjecting me to even worse bullying by those so-called Marauders. And feeling like I had nowhere else to go and no place to belong, I willingly joined the Death Eaters. I didn't believe in what they stood for, but when you have no where else to go or a place to belong to, you go where you are welcomed."
Severus took another deep breath and sighed. "So, there is a bit of my bleak childhood. The Death Eaters were the only ones to accept me when no one else would, my one friendship in the world destroyed in a matter of moments, and a terrible childhood with a drunkard for a father and a mother that I loved but wouldn't stand up to him. And…and because of my experience with having Tobias as a parent, it also makes me afraid to be one. I want children one day, but I don't want to turn out like him."
Hermione could see the sadness in his black eyes, though his facial expression remained stoic. And hidden in that sadness was the fear he had spoken of. Sitting up, she leant over him a bit to look into his eyes, searching them. After a moment of silence, she spoke saying, "I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that. No one deserves what you had to go through, and it isn't fair. But despite all of what you think, it has made you stronger. You could never be the man your father was, I just know it. You will be better, the best father any child could ask for. And though your friendship with Lily ended, I have no doubt she forgave you. I'm sure she knows you didn't mean it but considering everything happening at the time, it was probably easy for her to believe it. But you looked out for Harry for her when you didn't have to. And if she hadn't forgiven you before, I'm sure she did the moment you began to secretly look out for him. And you being a Death Eater, you redeemed yourself by joining the Order and being Dumbledore's spy. You had us all fooled but showed us that you are braver than we or anyone ever gave you credit for, and you've always had my respect. I don't think any different about you because of your past and the decisions you made. Your past, while having shaped you, doesn't define you at all. And personally, I like the you I have with me right now, even if no one else sees it."
Severus stared in shock at his wife, not believing she had said something so sweet and heartfelt. Then again, it was Hermione and she always wore her heart on her sleeve and spoke her mind no matter what. And looking into her brown eyes, he saw that she spoke nothing but the truth to him. Smiling, Severus pulled her down to him, kissing her sweetly before hugging her close murmuring, "Sweet witch. Thank you."
The brunette smiled and snuggled into Severus, kissing his cheek while holding him in return. No more words were exchanged between them, but nothing needed to be said. In that intimate moment of silence, more than enough words were being spoken in reassurance and care. Eventually, Hermione did drift off to sleep, being somewhat aware of Severus Noxing the lights. She felt herself being pulled closer as her husband settled them under the covers to go to sleep with her. However, before falling further into sleep, she heard her husband murmur something. Hermione couldn't make it out, but she could have sworn Severus had whispered that he thought he loved her. And though she was probably wrong, it made a smile appear on her lips as she slept peacefully in his strong arms.
Author's Note: Ah! So much cuteness between Sev and Hermione, and I loved it! And what do you guys think? Do you think Severus confessed his feelings, or was Hermione just imagining it? I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and stay tuned for more to come. XOXO, SehunsBae37.