A/N: Hey all. Thanks for reading and reviewing! Many thanks go out to my beta, debjunk. She had the last chapter done for a while and life hit us pretty hard.

Also, to Lucyole, I have always fell quickly for whomever I was dating…actually I didn't really date much, maybe that's why? I don't know, lol. My husband and I only knew each other not even a whole year before we married.

Anyways, please enjoy!

Chapter 32

September 1, 1996

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Hermione groaned as she rolled over and shut her alarm off. It felt as if she had just closed her eyes. Groggy, she nearly fell out of the bed, as her foot was tangled in her blanket. Kicking the blanket off, she swung her legs over the side of it and headed for the bathroom.

She looked up as she pushed the door open, only to see Severus stepping out of the shower.

"Oh!" she squeaked before darting back in her room and slamming the door.

Her heart pounding, she no longer needed to wash the sleep from her eyes. Swallowing the big lump in her throat, she tried to force the image of his naked body from her mind.

Squeezing her eyes shut only made it worse. The water sliding down his body, through his chest hair, down to…to…other areas. Shaking her head, she blew out a deep breath.

Why is it so hot in here?

Shaking her head, she slipped into her green house-robe and hurried out of the bedroom for the kitchen.

Gods, have mercy on me. One cup of tea is all I ask before he…

The door opened.

…comes in.

"Morning," Severus said.

"Morning," she mumbled, avoiding looking at him.

He chuckled before sliding past her, his robes billowing behind him.

"Bathroom's all yours, I'll make the tea."

She fled the kitchen as quickly as possible without running. Stepping into the bathroom she leaned against the door as it closed.

What the bloody hell is wrong with me?

She growled in frustration. Pushing herself away from the door, she went about her business. Taking longer than necessary, she finally emerged and headed back to the kitchen.

"Hermione," he said as she sat down on a stool in front of her own steaming mug of tea.

She stared at her mug.

He sighed and placed a hand over top of hers.

"Look at me," he whispered.

Slowly her head lifted up until her eyes met his.

"It was bound to happen, Hermione…one loo, two people," he almost shrugged.

"You mean, you're not angry?" she asked in a small voice.

He pulled back from her.

"I could be, but where would that get us? It's not particularly your fault. I could have warded the door. I haven't had to share a loo in years," he chuckled.

She gave a small smile.

"I guess that'll need some time getting used to," she giggled.

Quirking an eyebrow over at her, "It would seem so."

Wrapping her hands around the steaming mug she sighed.

"How did it go last night?" she tried to ask calmly, but her voice hitched slightly at the end.

If he heard it, he ignored it.

"Surprisingly well," he replied.

"Oh?" she looked up in surprise.

He shrugged, "surprised me too."

Finishing his tea, he stood up.

"I will either be in my office or the classroom most of the day until the dunderheads arrive."

He headed for the door. She nodded her head as she rose the mug to her lips.

Before she could take a sip, she blurted out, "will you join me for lunch?"

He paused with his hand on the door before he replied in the affirmative and strode away.

With a silly grin on her face, she slowly finished her tea, enjoying her last day before classes.

"Dobby."

POP!

"Madam Snape needs Dobby's helps?" the Elf squeaked.

"Hello, Dobby. What is Professor Snape's favorite lunch?" she asked.

"Oh, Master Snape really likes, lobster bisque!" Dobby said excitedly.

"Hmm, lobster bisque," Hermione tapped her finger against her lips as she pondered.

Dobby was bouncing on his feet.

"Dobby will brings you the ingredients, yes?" he asked.

"Yes Dobby, and ingredients for a salad, okay?" she said before he nodded and popped out.

She turned around and started getting things for homemade bread. Dobby appeared as she was pulling a big bowl down from the top shelf.

"Does Madam Snape needs anything else?" he asked.

Hermione set the bowl down and pulled the basket towards her and looked in.

"Thank you, Dobby, I will call you if I find I need anything else," she said with a smile.

Dobby smiled as well and popped out of the room.

SSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHG

Severus was going over his inventory in the storeroom of the classroom when a knock sounded on the door.

He leaned back and peered out the doorway.

"Minerva, what can I do for you?" he asked, putting a checkmark next to beetle eyes.

She walked over to him, a genuine smile on her face.

"I just came to check in. You didn't join us last night for our annual drink," she said.

He sighed and put the clipboard down on a desk.

"Oh, Minerva, I…" he tried to apologize but she waved him off.

"No need to apologize, Severus. You've got Hermione now. I'm sure you were more than busy," she waggled her eyebrows at him.

His reddening face seemed to give Minerva the wrong idea.

"Minerva, not that it's anyone's business, but Hermione and I have not consummated our marriage…nor are there any plans to do so."

A look of confusion crossed her face before it was placed with anger.

"Why not?! Because she's a Gryffindor?"

"No!"

"Then why not?! Any red-blooded man would be all over her! Unless…" her hand flew to her mouth as she looked up at him.

"Oh, my gods! Severus…I had no idea…you hide it so well."

"Hide what?" he asked.

Her hand came down and she looked at him with sad eyes.

"Severus, you're gay."

"WHAT?!" he roared.

"It's okay! There's nothing wrong with it, Severus. I just had no clue," she assured him.

"Minerva…I'm not gay," he said through clenched teeth.

"Oh," she took a step back, "You're sure?"

He snorted.

"I'm positive."

She sat down on a chair.

"Oh…then why…" she started to ask but he interrupted her.

"Hermione is not ready for sex," he stated quickly and turned his back to her as his face reddened again.

"Oh," was all she said.

There was an awkward silence before she stood up.

"I'll just leave you to prepare, sorry to interrupt," she said and hurried out of the room nearly running into Albus on her way out.

Albus nodded curtly to her as he entered the room.

"Severus, may I have a moment?" he asked.

Vanishing the clipboard, Severus gave the older man his undivided attention and crossed his arms over his chest.

Waving a hand behind him, Albus shut the door and stood before Severus.

"I understand you left the castle last night? Did Tom call you?" Albus asked.

"Actually, I called him," he said indifferently.

"Oh?" Albus seemed surprised.

"Hermione and I think we have found a way to track his other horcruxes, we just need a way to get some of his blood."

Albus thought for a moment, his brow furrowed before he replied.

"Ah…soul searching spell?"

"Precisely."

Albus sighed and shook his head.

"Why didn't I think of that."

Severus took a step forward.

"Just a heads up. Next time I meet with him, it's highly likely I will be punished. I do not want Hermione to see me that way."

Albus inclined his head towards the man.

"She is your wife, my boy. You can't hide her from your life as a spy," he offered.

Severus shook his head and sighed.

"Wife or not I don't want her to see me like that. You know how bad it looks when I get back after…she might…"

"Care about you?" Albus asked.

Severus rolled his eyes at the older man.

"You need to realize that a lot of people care about your wellbeing, Severus, not just Minerva and I. However, I will do my best when the time comes."

"Thank you, Headmaster."

SSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHG

Hermione hummed to herself as she cleaned up the kitchen—without magic. Her dough sat in a bowl on the oven with a towel overtop to let it rise. What she wouldn't give for a wireless radio in here.

Taking out her wand she flicked it at the two lobsters. They broke apart and meat flowed out into a bowl. She called for Dobby as she started chopping the ingredients for the salad.

"Yes, Madam?" Dobby asked as he popped into the room.

"Can I ask you something, Dobby?"

"Anythings."

"Do you remember you talked about Professor Snape and I being soul mates?" she asked.

Dobby nodded his head vigorously, "yes."

"Well, the professor and I found a book in the library, and it said something about being able to control each other?" she posed it like a question.

"Oh, yes. That is part of the olds magics. I thinks when girls was less important," Dobby said.

Hermione pursed her lips as she thought about that comment.

"Either way, Dobby, it didn't work for Severus and I. Do you know what that means?" she asked him.

"Not until there is loves between the two peoples," Dobby said.

"Love?" Hermione asks.

Dobby bounces up and down while nodding his head.

"Oh, yes. When the two peoples finally loves each other, you cans use the control."

Hermione nodding her head and her eyebrows rose.

"Uh-huh," she pondered whether to laugh or not. She chose the former, she didn't want to offend Dobby.

"Thank you for your help Dobby, I better get cooking, Severus will be back soon."

Dobby nodded before popping out.

SSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHG

She was humming another tune when Severus walked in the kitchen.

"What smells so good?" he asked.

Hermione jumped and spun on her heel.

"Gods, Severus! I didn't hear you come in."

He smirked and gave a small bow.

Rolling her eyes, she turned away from him, grabbed two bowls and ladled the soup in them.

"I made…" she started before he interrupted her.

"Lobster bisque, my favorite."

He sat down at the table and breathed deeply.

"How did you know?" he asked, watching her walk back to the icebox.

"Dobby," she said simply.

She placed the salad bowl on the table along with the homemade bread—already sliced in pieces.

Bringing a spoonful of soup to his mouth he carefully tasted it. His eyes rolled back into his head and he accidently moaned.

"My gods," he breathed out.

"That bad?" she teased.

"That good," he replied before taking a piece of bread and dipping it into his soup.

She smiled and started eating. After a few minutes she giggled—remembering her conversation with Dobby.

He looked up at her. Placing the spoon down she looked over to him.

"Dobby said something rather amusing today."

"When isn't that elf funny?" Severus asked.

Hermione shrugged a shoulder.

"Well, I asked him about the book we found in the library. He says we have to love each other in order for the," she air quoted, "'controlling' to work."

"Controlling, huh?" he said.

"What would you call it?" she asked.

"Directing…out of love," he says with a smirk.

"My point being," she said with a sigh, "it won't be something we will have to worry about."

Severus dropped his spoon with a clang. His mouth dropped open and stared at her in mock hurt.

"My dear wife, are you saying you don't love me?" his hand comes to his chest. "Whatever will I do?" he exaggerates.

She snickered behind her hand and shook her head at him.

They finish their lunch and Severus thanks Hermione, saying that was the best lunch he'd had in a long time.

SSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHG

"Anything off the trolley dears?" the older lady asked sticking her head in the compartment.

Ron avoided making eye contact as Harry and Draco both stood up.

"I'd rather go to Honeydukes," Pansy whispered to Ron.

Ron smiled at her.

"Maybe we could go together on a weekend?" he offered.

Pansy smiled at him and took a hold of his hand.

"That sounds like a plan."

Harry and Draco came back with their arms loaded of treats—pumpkin pasties, Bertie Botts every flavored beans, and chocolate frogs.

"Help yourselves," Draco said, dropping the armload on the seat next to Ron. Harry dropped his down as well.

Grabbing a pumpkin pasty, Harry sat down by the window across from Pansy. Draco picked up a chocolate frog and sat down next to Harry.

"So, how has Granger been?" Pansy asked.

"Snape now, innit?" Draco smirked.

Harry nodded slightly.

"We haven't really heard much from her this summer."

"Yeah, I mean she came to my brother's wedding and well, she looked…," Ron paused a moment.

Pansy looked from Harry to Ron.

"She looked what? A thoroughly fucked wife?" she giggled.

"Ugh!"

All three boys groaned.

"I don't want to know about Snape's sex life Pans…my stomach can't handle that," Draco said, putting down his chocolate frog.

She shrugged.

"Well, you know it's been going on."

"Let's change the subject," Harry offered.

A knock on the door made them all look up.

Ginny opened the door and her eyes narrowed.

"What's going on?" she asked, stepping in, and Luna followed her in, shutting the door.

Draco looked at Harry for help.

"We, um, have decided to get along," Harry said.

"Oh, that is a wonderful idea," Luna's calm voice said as she sat on the edge of the seat with the treats.

Ginny looked at Luna before backing away.

"We can talk later," she said trying to turn away.

"You can sit by me. I won't bite," Draco said with a smile.

Ginny looked from Draco to Harry, and to Luna, her eyes landing on Ron and Pansy's hands clasped together.

Sighing, she took the only seat available next to Draco.

"So, you're friends now?" Ginny asked.

Harry nodded and looked past Draco to Ginny.

"We're getting there," he supplied with a nod from Draco.

Pursing her lips Ginny leaned back, crossing her arms and legs.

"And, what about you two?" she asked, looking over at Ron and Pansy.

"It's fairly new," Ron said, laying his other hand over top Pansy's.

Luna smiled over at them.

"The sunset liches tell me you two will be quite happy with one another."

Pansy opened her mouth to say something, saw the risen eyebrow from Ginny, she nodded her head.

"Thank you, Luna, I sure hope they're right."

Ginny looked shocked but kept quiet.

"They're actually pretty smart and can see a little of the future, not far though," Luna smiled.

"Have the liches said anything else?" Harry asked trying to be supportive.

Luna looked thoughtful for a moment before looking at Draco and Ginny.

"They say, there is a future between you two, though they don't say if it's good or bad," she smiled apologetically.

Draco looked at Ginny, who scoffed.

"I'm positive it'll be bad," she looked at Draco. "You haven't exactly been friendly."

Draco inclined his head.

"I'll take as long as you need me to prove I'm not the same person, Ginny," he held out his hand to her.

"Can we start over?"

Ginny stared hard at him for a few seconds before shaking his hand in resignation.

She pulled him towards her—hard.

"I swear Malfoy, if this is a trick, I will destroy you," she growled into his ear.

Draco smiled; his thumb stroked small circles on her hand.

"Easy, red, you have nothing to worry about. Unless you're scared of me eventually courting you?" he asked waggling his eyebrows.

"Hmph," she pushed him away from her and tried to ignore him.

As the train progressed, Ginny warmed up slowly to Draco. Ron managed to get a few kisses from Pansy. Harry smiled shyly at Luna while she talked utter nonsense to him, but he didn't seem to mind.

SSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHG

Severus sighed as he stood up from the couch and walked over to the bathroom door, already ajar.

Rapping lightly on the open door he leaned against the door frame and watched Hermione apply mascara to her eyelashes.

"Is it time?" she asked, looking at his reflection.

"Yes, they will be here any moment," he replied.

She leaned back eyeing her makeup skills. She has gotten better and couldn't wait to see what Lavender and Parvati would say.

"Where's your school robe?" he asked.

"On my bed. Would you mind?" she asked as she applied a light lipstick.

Sighing dramatically, he walked into the bathroom and over to her door and opened it.

Picking up her school robe he eyed the red and gold, stroking it softly.

His thoughts brought him to the first time he had seen Lily wearing similar robes. He had known there was no way he would be in Gryffindor. What a mistake that had been to be separated from her. Maybe he should have asked the hat to put him in Gryffindor; it might have worked.

"Severus?"

He turned quickly and glared at her.

"Are my robes, okay?" she asked.

He nearly threw her robes at her before stalking past her and out both doors.

"We need to get to the Great Hall," he barked at her.

She quickly shrugged into her robes, hurrying after him.

"Now that school is in session, does that mean you're back to being mean?" she asked, jogging to catch up with him as he briskly walked down the dungeon corridor.

She thought he was ignoring her question before he finally replied.

"We all have our roles to play," he stopped walking and turned to look at her.

She skidded to a halt.

"Don't get offended when…" he thought for a moment.

"When I'm an arse." He said before turning away again.

Hermione stood there a moment before following him again. They walked up the stairs and into the Entrance Hall. Before she could say anything else the front doors opened and students started piling in.

Severus hurried through, trying to avoid the students. Especially before…

"Hermione!" came Harry Potter's voice.

Rolling his eyes, he hurried into the Great Hall and towards the Head Table.

"Severus, you're running a bit late, everything okay?" asked Professor Sinistra questioned.

Severus sat down next to her and before he could reply Professor Trelawney opened her strange trap.

"I have foreseen the future…it tells me you will be very busy in the coming months…perhaps a new baby from your very fertile wife…" she droned on leaning slightly to the left as she swayed.

Sinistra caught Severus' eye and rolled hers.

"How is Miss Granger doing?" she asked him.

"She is rather well," Severus replied.

"And married life?" she asked.

He turned slightly to look at her.

"Is none of your business," his reply short.

"Oh. Touchy," she replied.

Just then Hermione came in with Harry's arm draped around her shoulder.

She was laughing at something, but someone was missing. Where was the red-headed nuisance?

Ah.

There.

At the Slytherin table?

He was helping Pansy into her seat before smiling and walking away heading for the Gryffindor table.

Not long after, the feast commenced, first years were sorted, and new teachers were introduced. Food appeared, and Severus rather wished he was back in his rooms eating lobster bisque.

A/N: Hope you all liked this chapter. Anyone ever make bread before? I did once, came out good but a lot of work. Alright y'all, I'm tired and going to leave this here! Hope it's all right and I'll keep working on more chapters!