CHAPTER FOUR
Many hours later, the pair finally managed to pull themselves reluctantly from Hermione's bed. A shower together quickly turned into an aquatic aerobic event and it was yet another hour before they headed out the front door in search of lunch before going to Hogwarts to visit with Albus over tea later that afternoon. Severus needed to drop by the apartment he had shared with his former lover to look for a book he had apparently forgotten to pack, so they clasped hands and apparated to "his" part of London.
"Follow me, the best curry in London is around the corner," smiled Severus. He kept a tight hold on Hermione's hand as he led her to a small restaurant. An occasional passerby would wave or smile at him and they were stopped more than once by his former neighbors for small chats - apparently they were curious as to whom the new young lady was on his arm.
"I have to admit, I did like living in this area," he said, wistfully, as they entered the eatery. "It was a good three years for me. No students, no other wizards or witches around, no reminders of the war. These Muggles didn't even know that their city could have been leveled so easily by Voldemort, had he been allowed to grow in strength."
"But, you didn't let him," smiled Hermione, gently. He shook his head and squeezed her hand as they sat down at a corner table. "Severus, you were one of the key players in his defeat, you received the Order of Merlin, First Class - if I remember correctly. Take the credit, you deserve it."
"I'd prefer to forget the past," he said, after placing their order. "The year that I was a Death Eater and the years afterwards when I was working for Dumbledore - it's all a blur of nervous energy, stress and self-hatred. Until -"
"Until?"
"Well, until I met Catherine," he said, looking uncomfortable. "I was still under unbearable stress and a total bastard to everyone - I thought I'd admit that before you decided to chime in and remind me. She was calm and easy to live with. She counteracted my evil with cool composure, I think. Anyway, she gave me something positive to focus on and lent some stability to my life. Of course, the positive thing I focused on was marriage and a family after Voldemort's defeat and we know what happened with that pipedream, don't we?"
"I am sorry, Severus," said Hermione, quietly. "But, I am not sorry that everything in your life has led you to me. If that makes sense."
"I understand what you mean," he said, grinning a bit. "I suppose that someone had to teach me to love, so that once we found each other, I would be ready for the commitment. So, all of the pain was worth it. Because now I have you."
He leaned over and stole a soft kiss. Hermione pulled a face at him as the waiter set down their two chicken curries and sodas.
"I think, Severus, that is the most disgustingly sweet thing I've ever heard you say," she said, fighting back a giggle. "Where is Professor Snape and what did you do to him?"
Severus laughed with her and tucked into his lunch with enthusiasm. "He's still here. In fact, I need to get my - what is it the Quidditch players say?-- 'game face' back on next week. After all, I have first years to frighten, Miss Granger."
He followed that comment with a scowl and glare that would have made the 15- year-old Hermione Granger quake in her Mary Janes. Twenty-three-year-old Hermione Granger just laughed and threw her napkin at him.
"Merlin, those poor children!" she said. "What on earth will they do if we are having a baby? The mere idea of you having sex will put at least half of the Gryffindors in the infirmary and the fact that your child's mother is a Gryffindor will literally kill your Slytherins."
He stopped eating and looked at Hermione for a few minutes as she ate.
"How long until we know for sure?" he said, attempting nonchalance.
"Muggle testing? About two weeks, give or take. Wizard testing? Less than one week." Hermione smiled at him shyly. "Severus, I'd prefer waiting for the Muggle test."
"Merlin, Hermione, why?"
"The wizard tests show the sex of the baby and the mother has to do the incantation herself. I have never wanted to know - I'd prefer the surprise at the end not the beginning, if you don't mind. Muggle pregnancy tests just confirm that you are or aren't pregnant," she said, shrugging. "But, then if you have a burning desire to know what we're having -"
A long, elegant hand snaked under the table and slid up her thigh.
"There is only one thing in this world that I have a burning desire for, Hermione," he said, grinning evilly.
"Eat," she said, pushing him away playfully and pointing at his plate. "We'll never get your book at this rate and besides -"
She stopped and smiled at him. He quirked an eyebrow in response.
"Besides, you need your strength for later tonight," she said, attempting a sultry voice. Apparently, it worked as the hand still lingering on her thigh twitched and began to creep upwards again.
"That sounds like a challenge, Miss Granger," he growled. "And I accept."
Too soon, their dishes were cleaned and cleared and they had to complete their task for the afternoon. Severus was loathe to set foot in his former apartment. Even though he had Floo'd Catherine the day before to make sure his key still worked and that he was welcome to have a look through their bookcases - it still made him nervous. Catherine had even promised to find a Muggle movie to go see that afternoon, so he would have plenty of time to dig out the old and rare potions text he was searching for.
But he still did not want to go.
Abruptly standing, he looked down at Hermione and smiled a tight smile.
"Shall we?"
"What?"
"Let's go and get this over with. I need the text for a potion I want to work on my seventh years with or I would just let her keep the bloody thing," he said, roughly and nervously.
"I'm not going, Severus, I'll wait for you here," Hermione replied, biting her lip.
"What?" It was his turn to be confused.
"Severus. You are going to your old apartment. Where you lived with your girlfriend of eight years. Where she still lives," Hermione explained patiently.
"So?"
"So, don't you think it's a bit inappropriate for you to take your new bit of stuff with you?" she asked. "What if Catherine comes home early? What if she really wants to talk to you? What if -"
"Hermione," he began. "If she's there, we'll say hello. It's been several months and you are crazy if you think she hasn't taken lovers herself in that time - she can't be angry or cause a scene. Besides, she split up with me, not the other way around. She should be happy for me."
"And, trust me, she doesn't want me back. Hermione, think. You know what a bastard I can be?" She nodded. "Well, you should have seen me when she dumped me."
They both grinned and he offered her his hand and she took it.
"Okay, let's go."
A short walk later and they were entering a bright and lovely apartment building and heading up a flight of stairs to Severus' old home. His hand shook a bit as he put the key into the lock, but Hermione pretended not to notice. He pretended not to notice that she was pretending not to notice - and was grateful for the subterfuge on both parts. Walking inside, he flipped on the Muggle electrical switch to turn on the lights and made a beeline to a large and mostly empty bookcase on the far side of the slightly messy living room.
"Have a seat, Hermione," he said. "This shouldn't take but a moment."
It took a bit longer than a moment. As Hermione perched uneasily on the edge of the sofa, Severus searched the bookcases in the lounge and in the study before excusing himself to double check his old chest of drawers and nightstand in the bedroom. Moments after Severus left, Hermione heard a key turning in the lock and a rather shapely, middle-aged, petite blonde came through the door - struggling with an overabundance of packages and grocery sacks.
She swore and pulled rather viciously at the key, which appeared to be stuck. Hermione instinctively hopped up from the couch and walked to her and caught several packages before they hit the floor. The woman looked at her in shock, eyes narrowing.
"May I ask who you are?" she said, yanking the key free and slamming the door.
Hermione walked to the coffee table and set down the packages she still held, turned and held out her shaking hand.
"I'm so sorry, this is awkward," she said, as they shook hands. "I'm Hermione Granger. Severus and I went to lunch together around the corner and since he was looking for that potions text today - well, it seemed silly for me to apparate home for just a few minutes alone. We're on our way to meet with Headmaster Dumbledore for tea."
Catherine stood quietly, coldly examining the petite brunette. The elegant woman was dressed in a very expensive-looking Muggle pantsuit, Armani probably, Hermione thought. Physically, they weren't much different, Hermione mused, returning the frank gaze. However, Catherine's shiny, straight long blonde hair and her icy green eyes made her look a bit like a delicate china doll. Hermione immediately felt like a large, clumsy adolescent with buck teeth and big hair under her cool, sophisticated gaze.
"Hermione Granger?" Catherine said, attempting a small smile. "I remember that name. Weren't you the one who was friends with The Boy Who Lived? And - wait - you were the one who made the Polyjuice and -"
"Turned myself into a cat, yes, that was me," Hermione grinned good- naturedly, laughing. When Catherine didn't join in the forced merriment, Hermione dropped her gaze to the packages on the coffee table. "Well, Severus will most likely tearing up your dresser drawers and Merlin knows what else for a bit longer, so why don't I help you put your groceries away?"
"That's not necessary," Catherine said sharply. And with a quick wave of her wand and a muttered charm, the packages unwrapped themselves and were stowed away in the kitchen cupboards.
"Handy spell," said Hermione, still attempting to be polite, but inwardly praying that Severus would find the bloody book soon.
"Severus taught it to me," was the reply she received.
The two women stared at each other for a solid minute before Catherine seemed to come to a decision and spoke: "I'll just find Severus and see if I can't assist him. I'd hate for you to get back to school late today."
Hermione collapsed on the sofa as Catherine disappeared down the dark hallway into what she assumed was the bedroom. Catherine seemed very cold and detached, she thought. Of course, she's meeting her ex-boyfriends new lover, so that might have something to do with the fact that she was -- hell, Hermione, be honest - a bitch. Hermione, however, was perceptive enough to see that Catherine would have been a perfect match for Severus during the war and the rebuilding years. Cool, composed and probably calm with a mild temper - even if she seemed a bit pretentious. But, she mused, Severus is from an old wizarding family, so maybe they like the stuck-up type.
Lost in her thoughts, she watched the clock over the mantel tick away nearly 15 minutes before she decided to see if she could hurry things along. She walked down the hallway and came to an abrupt halt as she entered what had been Catherine and Severus' bedroom.
They were kissing.
She shook her head and blinked, looking at the hardwood floor of the room. Raising her eyes once again, she took in the horrible tableau before her. Snape, book in one hand and the other hand clenching the top of a dresser, was propped against the wall. The pretty blonde had pressed her significant curves into his body and had her manicured hand buried in his hair. And they were sharing a deep and passionate kiss. Hermione's eyes grew wide as she watched the kiss grow even deeper as Snape gasped for air and simultaneously slid his tongue into Catherine's mouth. Catherine responded with a small moan.
A soft gasp escaped Hermione. Snape's head jerked up in shock and he attempted to pull away from the woman who held him, dropping his book in the process. Catherine backed away and smiled at Hermione with lips swollen from Snape's attentions. Hermione's hand drifted to her own lips as a sob escaped her and she turned on her heel and dashed from the room.
"Dammit," swore Snape, following her with long strides. "Hermione! Wait, please - Hermione!"
Hermione left the apartment with a slam of the door.
Snape was left standing in the lounge of his former home, face white with shock and gasping for breath. He turned haunted eyes to his former lover and stood speechless as she advanced on him, a sultry look in her eye and a hand beginning to unbutton her blouse.
Many hours later, the pair finally managed to pull themselves reluctantly from Hermione's bed. A shower together quickly turned into an aquatic aerobic event and it was yet another hour before they headed out the front door in search of lunch before going to Hogwarts to visit with Albus over tea later that afternoon. Severus needed to drop by the apartment he had shared with his former lover to look for a book he had apparently forgotten to pack, so they clasped hands and apparated to "his" part of London.
"Follow me, the best curry in London is around the corner," smiled Severus. He kept a tight hold on Hermione's hand as he led her to a small restaurant. An occasional passerby would wave or smile at him and they were stopped more than once by his former neighbors for small chats - apparently they were curious as to whom the new young lady was on his arm.
"I have to admit, I did like living in this area," he said, wistfully, as they entered the eatery. "It was a good three years for me. No students, no other wizards or witches around, no reminders of the war. These Muggles didn't even know that their city could have been leveled so easily by Voldemort, had he been allowed to grow in strength."
"But, you didn't let him," smiled Hermione, gently. He shook his head and squeezed her hand as they sat down at a corner table. "Severus, you were one of the key players in his defeat, you received the Order of Merlin, First Class - if I remember correctly. Take the credit, you deserve it."
"I'd prefer to forget the past," he said, after placing their order. "The year that I was a Death Eater and the years afterwards when I was working for Dumbledore - it's all a blur of nervous energy, stress and self-hatred. Until -"
"Until?"
"Well, until I met Catherine," he said, looking uncomfortable. "I was still under unbearable stress and a total bastard to everyone - I thought I'd admit that before you decided to chime in and remind me. She was calm and easy to live with. She counteracted my evil with cool composure, I think. Anyway, she gave me something positive to focus on and lent some stability to my life. Of course, the positive thing I focused on was marriage and a family after Voldemort's defeat and we know what happened with that pipedream, don't we?"
"I am sorry, Severus," said Hermione, quietly. "But, I am not sorry that everything in your life has led you to me. If that makes sense."
"I understand what you mean," he said, grinning a bit. "I suppose that someone had to teach me to love, so that once we found each other, I would be ready for the commitment. So, all of the pain was worth it. Because now I have you."
He leaned over and stole a soft kiss. Hermione pulled a face at him as the waiter set down their two chicken curries and sodas.
"I think, Severus, that is the most disgustingly sweet thing I've ever heard you say," she said, fighting back a giggle. "Where is Professor Snape and what did you do to him?"
Severus laughed with her and tucked into his lunch with enthusiasm. "He's still here. In fact, I need to get my - what is it the Quidditch players say?-- 'game face' back on next week. After all, I have first years to frighten, Miss Granger."
He followed that comment with a scowl and glare that would have made the 15- year-old Hermione Granger quake in her Mary Janes. Twenty-three-year-old Hermione Granger just laughed and threw her napkin at him.
"Merlin, those poor children!" she said. "What on earth will they do if we are having a baby? The mere idea of you having sex will put at least half of the Gryffindors in the infirmary and the fact that your child's mother is a Gryffindor will literally kill your Slytherins."
He stopped eating and looked at Hermione for a few minutes as she ate.
"How long until we know for sure?" he said, attempting nonchalance.
"Muggle testing? About two weeks, give or take. Wizard testing? Less than one week." Hermione smiled at him shyly. "Severus, I'd prefer waiting for the Muggle test."
"Merlin, Hermione, why?"
"The wizard tests show the sex of the baby and the mother has to do the incantation herself. I have never wanted to know - I'd prefer the surprise at the end not the beginning, if you don't mind. Muggle pregnancy tests just confirm that you are or aren't pregnant," she said, shrugging. "But, then if you have a burning desire to know what we're having -"
A long, elegant hand snaked under the table and slid up her thigh.
"There is only one thing in this world that I have a burning desire for, Hermione," he said, grinning evilly.
"Eat," she said, pushing him away playfully and pointing at his plate. "We'll never get your book at this rate and besides -"
She stopped and smiled at him. He quirked an eyebrow in response.
"Besides, you need your strength for later tonight," she said, attempting a sultry voice. Apparently, it worked as the hand still lingering on her thigh twitched and began to creep upwards again.
"That sounds like a challenge, Miss Granger," he growled. "And I accept."
Too soon, their dishes were cleaned and cleared and they had to complete their task for the afternoon. Severus was loathe to set foot in his former apartment. Even though he had Floo'd Catherine the day before to make sure his key still worked and that he was welcome to have a look through their bookcases - it still made him nervous. Catherine had even promised to find a Muggle movie to go see that afternoon, so he would have plenty of time to dig out the old and rare potions text he was searching for.
But he still did not want to go.
Abruptly standing, he looked down at Hermione and smiled a tight smile.
"Shall we?"
"What?"
"Let's go and get this over with. I need the text for a potion I want to work on my seventh years with or I would just let her keep the bloody thing," he said, roughly and nervously.
"I'm not going, Severus, I'll wait for you here," Hermione replied, biting her lip.
"What?" It was his turn to be confused.
"Severus. You are going to your old apartment. Where you lived with your girlfriend of eight years. Where she still lives," Hermione explained patiently.
"So?"
"So, don't you think it's a bit inappropriate for you to take your new bit of stuff with you?" she asked. "What if Catherine comes home early? What if she really wants to talk to you? What if -"
"Hermione," he began. "If she's there, we'll say hello. It's been several months and you are crazy if you think she hasn't taken lovers herself in that time - she can't be angry or cause a scene. Besides, she split up with me, not the other way around. She should be happy for me."
"And, trust me, she doesn't want me back. Hermione, think. You know what a bastard I can be?" She nodded. "Well, you should have seen me when she dumped me."
They both grinned and he offered her his hand and she took it.
"Okay, let's go."
A short walk later and they were entering a bright and lovely apartment building and heading up a flight of stairs to Severus' old home. His hand shook a bit as he put the key into the lock, but Hermione pretended not to notice. He pretended not to notice that she was pretending not to notice - and was grateful for the subterfuge on both parts. Walking inside, he flipped on the Muggle electrical switch to turn on the lights and made a beeline to a large and mostly empty bookcase on the far side of the slightly messy living room.
"Have a seat, Hermione," he said. "This shouldn't take but a moment."
It took a bit longer than a moment. As Hermione perched uneasily on the edge of the sofa, Severus searched the bookcases in the lounge and in the study before excusing himself to double check his old chest of drawers and nightstand in the bedroom. Moments after Severus left, Hermione heard a key turning in the lock and a rather shapely, middle-aged, petite blonde came through the door - struggling with an overabundance of packages and grocery sacks.
She swore and pulled rather viciously at the key, which appeared to be stuck. Hermione instinctively hopped up from the couch and walked to her and caught several packages before they hit the floor. The woman looked at her in shock, eyes narrowing.
"May I ask who you are?" she said, yanking the key free and slamming the door.
Hermione walked to the coffee table and set down the packages she still held, turned and held out her shaking hand.
"I'm so sorry, this is awkward," she said, as they shook hands. "I'm Hermione Granger. Severus and I went to lunch together around the corner and since he was looking for that potions text today - well, it seemed silly for me to apparate home for just a few minutes alone. We're on our way to meet with Headmaster Dumbledore for tea."
Catherine stood quietly, coldly examining the petite brunette. The elegant woman was dressed in a very expensive-looking Muggle pantsuit, Armani probably, Hermione thought. Physically, they weren't much different, Hermione mused, returning the frank gaze. However, Catherine's shiny, straight long blonde hair and her icy green eyes made her look a bit like a delicate china doll. Hermione immediately felt like a large, clumsy adolescent with buck teeth and big hair under her cool, sophisticated gaze.
"Hermione Granger?" Catherine said, attempting a small smile. "I remember that name. Weren't you the one who was friends with The Boy Who Lived? And - wait - you were the one who made the Polyjuice and -"
"Turned myself into a cat, yes, that was me," Hermione grinned good- naturedly, laughing. When Catherine didn't join in the forced merriment, Hermione dropped her gaze to the packages on the coffee table. "Well, Severus will most likely tearing up your dresser drawers and Merlin knows what else for a bit longer, so why don't I help you put your groceries away?"
"That's not necessary," Catherine said sharply. And with a quick wave of her wand and a muttered charm, the packages unwrapped themselves and were stowed away in the kitchen cupboards.
"Handy spell," said Hermione, still attempting to be polite, but inwardly praying that Severus would find the bloody book soon.
"Severus taught it to me," was the reply she received.
The two women stared at each other for a solid minute before Catherine seemed to come to a decision and spoke: "I'll just find Severus and see if I can't assist him. I'd hate for you to get back to school late today."
Hermione collapsed on the sofa as Catherine disappeared down the dark hallway into what she assumed was the bedroom. Catherine seemed very cold and detached, she thought. Of course, she's meeting her ex-boyfriends new lover, so that might have something to do with the fact that she was -- hell, Hermione, be honest - a bitch. Hermione, however, was perceptive enough to see that Catherine would have been a perfect match for Severus during the war and the rebuilding years. Cool, composed and probably calm with a mild temper - even if she seemed a bit pretentious. But, she mused, Severus is from an old wizarding family, so maybe they like the stuck-up type.
Lost in her thoughts, she watched the clock over the mantel tick away nearly 15 minutes before she decided to see if she could hurry things along. She walked down the hallway and came to an abrupt halt as she entered what had been Catherine and Severus' bedroom.
They were kissing.
She shook her head and blinked, looking at the hardwood floor of the room. Raising her eyes once again, she took in the horrible tableau before her. Snape, book in one hand and the other hand clenching the top of a dresser, was propped against the wall. The pretty blonde had pressed her significant curves into his body and had her manicured hand buried in his hair. And they were sharing a deep and passionate kiss. Hermione's eyes grew wide as she watched the kiss grow even deeper as Snape gasped for air and simultaneously slid his tongue into Catherine's mouth. Catherine responded with a small moan.
A soft gasp escaped Hermione. Snape's head jerked up in shock and he attempted to pull away from the woman who held him, dropping his book in the process. Catherine backed away and smiled at Hermione with lips swollen from Snape's attentions. Hermione's hand drifted to her own lips as a sob escaped her and she turned on her heel and dashed from the room.
"Dammit," swore Snape, following her with long strides. "Hermione! Wait, please - Hermione!"
Hermione left the apartment with a slam of the door.
Snape was left standing in the lounge of his former home, face white with shock and gasping for breath. He turned haunted eyes to his former lover and stood speechless as she advanced on him, a sultry look in her eye and a hand beginning to unbutton her blouse.