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3*12*03(Edited 4/2 not only for punctuation but also flow. Added in an extra thing or two to make Hermione's reverie less fluffy…)
Hi. Love to everyone who reviewed as well as anyone who didn't. If anyone is feeling kind, please enlighten me on the slang for a train car… I eventually gave up and left "car" in there…
Chapter 3
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"Now let's review this one more time."
"Oh yes, let's!" I agreed sarcastically. "Because you know there's nothing I enjoy more than going over simple personas which I know eight times over backwards and forwards."
"I swear, if we're discovered…" His scowl finished the statement.
"Fine," I conceded, setting my skirt while wondering how I fell into such a predicament.
He nodded sternly and began the 'review', "What's your name?"
"Elizabeth," I rolled my eyes.
"Your husband's name?" He had closed his eyes in a show of supposed disinterest.
"Allan." I took the opportunity to stick my tongue out at him.
"Keep that in your mouth."
I growled. It's not typical of me to do so, but Severus was rubbing off.
"What's…" he sighed, "our last name?"
"Barker." Damn Albus and his game shows. Everyone in the entire bloody muggle world knew who Bob Barker was. How was the last name supposed to be conspicuous?!
He grimaced a bit at the name as well, but continued, "Our history?"
"I fell in love with Allan two years ago at University. He was my professor," I fluttered my eyelashes, "Isn't that dreamy?"
"Don't do that," how'd he know I had done anything? "It's unattractive."
"I never agreed to be attractive."
He opened one eye and gave me disconcertingly through look. However, all he said was: "What University?"
"Oh, an obscure one in Britain, you wouldn't have heard of it," my smile washed off my face as soon as I completed the line. "How is it," I leaned forward, speaking in an inquisitive voice, "you can be so tense, in such a relaxed position?" He had his eyes closed and was leaning back, but the man was still not relaxed. His edginess made me tense.
"Do you really need to know?"
"I was just wondering how a bright and fluffy girl like myself, could possibly fall in love with such a dry cold man."
He opened both eyes and raised an eyebrow at me in question.
"I'm just saying; it's completely unbelievable."
"If you wish to challenge Dumbledoor," his eyes shut once more, "feel free to do so. However, I'll warn you this; you'd have a far better chance of bringing back the dead."
I took a sharp intake of breath. How I wanted to do that. The boy who lived hadn't lived through Final Battle. That real reason I returned to Hogwarts. Well, returned, agreed to work on disturbing illegal problems no one else would, and found myself in hiding from the legal and illegal wizarding worlds… I shuddered, shaking off my thoughts.
"What's the DMW?" I asked Severus, who had allowed me my short reverie in an unusual burst of consideration. Or else he had simply fallen asleep.
"Department of Missing Wizards." His voice was dull, monotone.
"What was our original cover story?" I had been so distracted with grief and work when I arrived at Hogwarts; I never thought to ask. I just selfishly hid in their protection and did whatever I was told.
"We chose to live quiet lives in the 'magical countryside.'"
"How quaint…" I mused.
"Oh, quite." His face remained expressionless but I allowed myself a bitter chuckle.
"Why are we missing?"
"They need a reason to check Albus' 'activities.'"
"Lovely…"
"He's suspected of illegal activities in the Dungeon."
"How'd they find us out?"
"Some little prat probably saw you and squealed," he said, blaming me, of course.
During our work we weren't to be seen by the students. I didn't mind. We ate and lived alone. Prior to the boys I'd been a very solitary person. I resumed that lifestyle at Hogwarts. Ron and I kept in contact by way of Dumbledoor. I wondered if that caused us to be discovered.
"What will Ron be told?"
"That we ran off to elope?" That was helpful.
"I don't know why I bother with you." Honesty first!
"Neither do I," he agreed, still with closed eyes.
In my frustration, I threw a cushion at his head. It was to no avail, however, as he caught it.
"God!" I heard my mother's voice echo in my mind…Do not take thy lord's name in vain.
"Allan," he corrected, eyes still closed…
"Sod off…" I cursed Albus Dumbledoor in my mind. Only the world's most brilliant wizard could land me in a muggle train cart with the world's most sadistic bastard… Who responded to "God" of all things!
A homely little woman bustled into our car with a cart, pointedly ignoring the negative energy flowing from Severus' "sleeping" body.
"How are you, Miss?" she frowned, tossing a glance at Severus. "Or Mrs.?"
"Oh, I'm just enjoying the ride." I was desperate for non-Snape conversation. "But its just Miss," Severus shot me a look, "currently." His eyes shut.
"What would you like?" she smiled at me, but her face took on a wary gaze as she glanced at Severus.
"Um… I'd love honey tea and a few biscuits." She nodded and glanced my lover-boy. "Coffee, for him. Black." Took a wild guess there…
"Oh, I can come back later, Miss," she said, pouring my tea.
"I couldn't dream of it," I picked up a crumpet and flung it at him.
"Miss!" she exclaimed, and then laughed when he caught it. "That's quite a good trick."
"If only it was," Severus commented, as he straightened up to claim his coffee.
She winked at me as she left.
"You really ought to act as though you at least know me," I lectured.
"What do you mean?" he made a face after sipping the java, " I know you."
"I mean this-" I gestured to the distance between us. We sat at opposing ends of the car.
"Ridiculous."
"What do you expect to do when we take the flight over?"
"Flight?"
"Well, we'll have to sit together..."
"Muggles…."
"Actually, wizarding couples tend to behave with affection toward one another, just as muggles do."
"How would you know?"
"How would you?" He quit after that.
Well, for about five minutes, "A plane?"
"You've never flown?"
"Only by hippogriff."