Author's Note: Hello reader! My sincere apologies for the delay in updating. I've been super busy with admissions and with everyone's support and blessings, I've got multiple good university offers. So now I'm sorting out applications and figuring out which course and college combination will be the best for me. I should hopefully be off to college in a few weeks. :)
You may want to note that I have added an extra sentence to the official Ministry letter in chapter four to clear things up a bit. As I mentioned to Katherine (who by the way, has given me so many reviews and is a sweetheart), it was actually planned to be part of one of the "Appendices" I mentioned, but since I'm not putting up the contents of the Appendices, I decided to add it to the letter itself. That (and this chapter) explains Draco's and Luna's respective marriages. Sorry about this, I know it's not a good writer who edits stuff that's already uploaded. I promise to do better.
About Ginny, yes, she is not 17 yet. I will be throwing light on that ahead. Hermione is still really dazed by everything (the war, Ron's death, the law, etc.) and since she is sort of the protagonist here, till she doesn't realise something, neither do you. But not to fear, she's meeting Ginny soon. We shall find out!
In response to Kermit 304, Draco found Hermione entirely by chance. I plan on explaining that somewhere ahead, but in case I don't, he just happened to be at the right place in the right time. Do you think I should include that in a future chapter? Let me know.
Again, a million times sorry to all of you. Please keep reviewing. Your thoughts motivate me to write. xxx
Chapter Eleven:
Hermione awoke the next morning with none of the "soreness" that she had often heard of in the Hogwarts dormitories. A quick scan of the house revealed that she seemed to be alone, so she retreated into the bathroom and immersed herself into a long bath, trying to scrub off the memories of the previous night.
She entered the living room after her morning ablutions and wondered whether she should cook something to eat and if so, whether she should cook for one or two. She was startled out of her dilemma by a tap tap tap coming from the kitchen window. She recognised Pigwidgeon among the parliament of owls and undoubtedly, it was a short scrawl from Ginny asking her if her potion had helped. The rest of the letters were for Severus, so she neatly arranged them in a pile and was about to keep them in an easily locatable place, when a Ministry sealed envelope caught her eye. "Mr and Mrs Snape" was written in a neat font across the envelope.
Mrs Snape? Hadn't they submitted the document for retaining her maiden surname? Frustrated and slightly curious, she opened the envelope and unfurled the folded parchment that lay within.
Mr and Mrs Snape,
We are sorry to inform you that your request for a reconsideration of your intercourse frequency has been rejected. Mr Snape, you are no longer recognised as a Ministry official since your tenure at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has ended. Mrs Snape too, as of now, is not affiliated to the Ministry in any way.
You may feel free to visit our marital counsellor for further queries.
Hoping you are well.
Dempster Wiggleswade
Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Request for a reconsideration of intercourse frequency….?
"Hermione?"
She turned. Severus stood at the doorway, arms crossed, looking every bit the angry Potions master as he had once been. She gulped. She wasn't alone after all, then.
"Oh. Uhm, good morning. I uh… saw this and it sort of had my name on it so…."
"Would you mind?"
She handed over the letter and saw his frown deepen as he read its contents. His lips formed a thin line and she saw his fist clench at his side. Hesitantly, she inquired, "So, what exactly does that mean?"
"Well, I would presume that this letter is self-explanatory. My appeal has been rejected. The rules specified by the Ministry remain unchanged."
"Your appeal? Why did you appeal? I mean, why would they accept it anyway?"
"Because the Ministry letter clearly stated that Ministry officials may apply for certain exemptions. Although I am no longer a professor at Hogwarts, I did hold the position for several years and hoped that that would earn me, and by extension you, some leeway. Evidently, the Ministry is only entertaining those appeals that would benefit them in some way, perhaps some political sway or the other."
"Oh. I wasn't aware of that."
"How do you think my godson married a pureblood? Pulled some strings, no doubt. Lucius may have been a Death Eater in the past, however he still remains a very influential man both inside and outside the Ministry."
"So then…. Luna and-"
"Displeasing Newton Scamander would have been a blot on the Ministry's reputation. I would not be surprised if they sponsored the entire wedding. They are in dire need of public support and they will resort to almost anything to acquire it. I suppose gaining the favour of the "Gryffindor Princess" and an alleged traitor is not luring enough."
Hermione opened her mouth to argue over the extravagant title he had given her, but Severus waved it away and proceeded into the kitchen. Quickly changing tracks, she asked, "Do you cook?"
He snorted. "I was a potions master. I would have expected you to see the similarities between brewing up a potion and simmering some gravy."
"Yes, I suppose so. And sir… I mean, uh, Severus? Has the Ministry changed my surname?"
"No. The letter was probably devised to irk you. My letter seems to have a struck a sour note."
"Oh. Well then, um... If it's alright, I'll be going to meet Ginny now. I'll use the Floo."
He shrugged.
"Oh and thank you for the vial last night."
When Ginny questioned her later, she did not mention it, but she was quite certain that Severus had sighed after her mention of the previous night. Though, for all she knew, it could have been out of annoyance at her excessive chatter that morning.