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Part 29
"My parents will be surprised when they eventually find out I'm engaged to a wizard," Hermione said ruefully later on. "They want me to settle down with a Muggle, I think."
"A Muggle?" Severus said in disbelief, raising his eyebrows. Were her parents from some other realm?
"Why on earth would they think you would be suitable with a Muggle?" he said scathingly. Truly, it had been easier to interpret Voldemort's malicious moods than to try and understand how most Muggles thought at times.
Hermione hesitated. "I think they would be happy if I eventually married someone 'normal' rather than a wizard. Not that I have any intention of doing so," she added.
Her parents had always been proud of her when she had been young, but ever since that day years ago when she had discovered to her delighted shock that she could make her schoolbooks float in the air, they had never looked at her in the same way again.
When a letter had arrived shortly after her first demonstration of magic to inform her that she would be eventually attending a school of magic called Hogwarts (instead of the ordinary, no-nonsense school her parents had carefully picked out for her), their pride had been edged with wariness, as if Hermione had been replaced by a changeling who could blow up the house if she accidentally sneezed.
It had been easy for Hermione to obey the rule that forbade the use of magic when she was at home in the holidays, for it was clear that it would only make her parents more uneasy around her. They were dentists, who believed in things they could see and touch. To be fair, they bravely tried to take an interest in what she did – they had always accompanied her to Diagon Alley to buy new school equipment (though they were careful not to touch or look at too many things) and took comfort in the fact that even though their daughter was at this peculiar school she was one of the brightest students there.
Still, Hermione got the feeling that her parents hoped that she would get magic 'out of her system' and eventually take up on a reliable, ordinary job like others in her hometown would be doing. When she went home her mother would ask how she was getting on with her 'Gryffindor friends' then inevitably point out the young men in her neighbourhood and the 'promising careers' they were on their way to having.
Hermione had cautiously mentioned though in her recent letters that there was 'someone special' in her life. Careful questions had inevitably followed. Was he nice? Was he handsome? Was he pleasant and polite?
She had been somewhat at a loss as to how to describe Severus in a way that wouldn't alarm her parents, eventually giving an edited version. She couldn't very well say at the moment 'well, he's tall, dark and not-quite-handsome. He used to be a follower of the darkest wizard in recent history before he switched sides and became a spy. Hates mornings. Wears black. Not really a people person. Believes in seducing me on a regular basis.'
"Normal?" Severus said, practically spitting the word out. A brilliant witch like Hermione did not come along every day and her parents felt she would be better off with someone 'normal'? Did they view her as someone to conform to Muggle society so that she wouldn't disgrace them or something idiotic like that?
"You parents are coming to see you on Graduation Day, I assume?" he said abruptly.
"Yes," Hermione nodded. While Muggles were barred from entering Hogwarts, the Muggle parents of witches or wizards were allowed to come onto the grounds on the Graduation Day of their children. What these parents wouldn't know is that before leaving Hogwarts their minds would be gently altered by a spell silently cast over them so that they would never be able to accurately describe the location of where they had been, and each persons description of Hogwarts would be different from someone else.
"I will have to redefine their criteria of what constitutes a 'normal' partner for their daughter," he growled softly.
Hermione hesitated. "What would your parents think about me?" she said carefully. His eyes narrowed and there was a faint tension in his shoulders. From what Hermione had gathered from the rare times he spoke about his parents, he felt little love or loyalty towards them. It appeared that they had had more interest in the pursuit of knowledge and status than the well-being of their son when he was growing up, with more disapproval than love given out.
Hermione couldn't imagine being sent away to a strict Slytherin boarding school as soon as humanly possible, and it was probably no surprise that when he reached his majority he had made his home outside Hogwarts in a castle as far away from his parents as possible.
Severus smiled humourlessly but nevertheless picked up her hand and slowly twined his fingers with her smaller ones so as to take the sting away from his next words. "You are a Gryffindor, with Muggle parents. As far as my father would be concerned you would be on the same social level as a house elf. Although my mother is a Ravenclaw she would follow my fathers lead in this instance. You would be seen as….how shall I say this….a corrupting influence on me."
Hermione's eyebrows rose in indignation at that. "On you? First it's people thinking you've corrupted me and now it's my turn to be the 'corrupting influence'? I've never heard such rot. As if I could corrupt you."
"You always were trouble," Severus said dryly, then he fell silent.
Hermione looked down at their twined fingers. "I suppose you wish you had…nicer parents at times," she said awkwardly.
"There is no point in wishing for something that has no chance of happening," Severus said with no hint of anger or regret in his voice. It was as if, Hermione thought, he had long ago stopped expecting, or wanting a true bond with his parents.
Pushing thoughts of his parents out of his head, Severus changed the subject. "Have you tested the properties of your bracelet?" he inquired.
"I haven't tested the ability of protection against curses," Hermione said seriously. "However, I have used it to Apparate a few times and it's quite easy – almost instinctive."
Severus showed approval. "Excellent. Although," and here he gave her a warning look, "this does not mean you can go into my storeroom whenever you feel like it. As you sometimes do," he added significantly.
Hermione put a look of faint surprise on her face. Now was not the time to admit the occasions when she had done so – for serious reasons at the time of course.
"I can think of other places to Apparate besides your storeroom," she said in a carefully off-hand way.
Diverted, the eyes of Severus changed to that of a more simmering black. "How very curious," he murmured. "So can I."
The bell then rang to signify lunch was over.
"I will have to go," Hermione said, finding herself resenting the bell as never before. "Next year, I'll be able to hear that bell and know it doesn't apply to me," she asserted with a glint in her eyes.
Severus tilted his dark head sideways at her, a smirk on his sallow face. "No, because next year you will be at my beck and call as my apprentice…..and later my wife……to obey me in every way."
Hermione stood up and put her hands on her hip. "Don't get any ideas!" she warned him, though there was a smile lurking on her face. Severus merely looked at her in a way that indicated he already had quite a few ideas, thank you.
The school year would soon be over indeed, Hermione thought. There was a subject she wanted to raise with him, though how to say it….
"There's a Graduation Dance at the end of the year," she said carefully.
There was a suspicious look on his face. "Yes," Severus said warily. Surely she wasn't suggesting what he thought she was…..
"I was wondering….if you would want to dance with me then. It doesn't have to be a lot of dances," Hermione said in a rush, looking awkward.
"I do not dance," Severus said curtly, his eyebrows drawing together.
"It's not that hard," Hermione said appealingly. However, Severus refused to be swayed by his fiancée. "I would look like a fool if I tried to dance – I have no wish to be a laughingstock, thank you."
"You would never look like a fool." Hermione said firmly.
"You say that to make me feel better Hermione, therefore your judgement at the moment is faulty," he said dryly.
"I'm not just saying it to make you feel better!" Hermione said indignantly.
Severus sighed. "Do you recall me attending any dances in the past?" he said patiently, crossing his arms in front of him.
Hermione couldn't, though she could remember other faculty members participating in past dances, such as the time a slightly tipsy Professor McGonagall and the Headmaster had decided to have a waltz together (though they were floating half a metre off the ground while doing so. Harry and Ron hadn't known which way to look they had been so embarrassed!).
"No," Hermione had to admit. "You were probably patrolling the corridors to catch students who sneaked away together for" "……..their own good," Severus cut in smoothly, his eyes glinting. "Teenage hormones can be even more appalling at dances. I will be on patrol this year as every other year," he said brusquely.
Though Hermione tried not to show it she looked disappointed. She obviously entertained melodramatic scenes of them both whirling gracefully in time around a dance floor, Severus thought. How could he make her understand that dancing was not a particularly good skill of his? In his own teenage years at Hogwarts he had kept to the background at the dances, a sneer on his face as he had watched happy couples like James and Lily dance together, refusing to care that no one wished to dance with him. Or that if a girl did decide to dance with him it was done as quickly as possible on her part. [But here you have a woman who loves you and wouldn't care if you were clumsy] a voice in his head pointed out. He refused to listen, as he most certainly wouldn't want to let her down in public. But at the sight of Hermione's downcast face he said gruffly, "I am sure you will enjoy yourself anyway."
Hermione sighed softly then nodded. There was no point in making a fuss after all if he was this determined not to dance with her. She certainly couldn't force Severus to do something when he dug in his heels and refused to do so.
"Yes," she nodded. Then almost as an afterthought she added, "I'll probably be dancing with Harry most of the night – it's a tradition for the Head Boy and Girl to be partners at their final dance."
A muscle at the side of Severus' mouth twitched at the mention of Harry and his eyes narrowed for a moment until they were almost black slits. Although his attitude to Harry had thawed slightly, Hermione could almost see his suddenly seething thoughts at the idea of her and Harry dancing together all night. Being close together. Hermione, being held by Harry. Hermione smiled to herself and wisely said nothing.
Suddenly aware that time was passing Severus made an effort to calm down and rose smoothly to his feet, both of them walking along the path that would take them out of the rose garden. However, Severus frowned and paused. Something needed to be done.
"Wait," he said crisply and his narrowed eyes scanned the nearby rose bushes.
No, white wouldn't do for her.
He wouldn't be caught within ten feet of pink flowers.
Ah….that one would do, he supposed.
With Hermione looking on in surprise, Lavender's line about Severus not being the 'flowers and chocolate' type echoing in her head, Severus strode over to a rose bush where the roses were of a shade of red so dark as to almost be black and quickly broke off one of the smaller budding roses.
Walking back to her he held the rose out to her. "Here," he informed her, watching her carefully for her reaction, hoping she would accept it as a peace offering on his part.
Although Hermione seemed slightly taken aback at its colour she carefully accepted the dark rose, a look of interest appearing on her face. Though the rose looked more forbidding than its lighter cousins, the scent wafting from it hinted at forbidden delights.
"Thank you," Hermione said softly as she inserted the rose into one of her buttonholes where it almost seemed to blend in with her uniform. "You've already given me enough today. I wish I could give you something in return."
"You have," Severus replied quietly, reaching out to brush away a strand of hair from her face. Then in a brisker tone he said "Come along or I will be forced to take off points from you for lateness," and with that they both left the rose garden.
Severus had the feeling though that he was going to be in a fairly agreeable mood for the rest of the day, which was slightly unnerving. The Potions master assured himself that of course if any student got into trouble then he would be upon them like a ton of bricks. Soft teachers became easy prey.
Hermione wondered how she was going to efficiently concentrate on her work for the rest of the day while being constantly aware of the rose as well as the ring she wore against her skin. She felt like running to the top of the Astronomy Tower and announcing to the world they were engaged….would the others realise something was different about her? Would Dumbledore or the other faculty be able to sense something? A faintly concerned look appeared on her face when she realised that if Remus was in her proximity then as a werewolf he would certainly be alerted to the presence of silver on her. She would have to cast a shielding spell over the necklace and ring she told herself, for although Severus felt less animosity to Remus than he did to Sirius, Hermione doubted Severus would want to go out of his way to make a special concession to Remus by giving her a different ring and necklace.
When she and Severus were back in the more public corridors and about to go their separate ways, he deliberately bent and brushed her lips softly with his even though nearby students were giving them covert looks. "Do use that bracelet later, Hermione," he murmured for her ears only before leaving her with a swirl of his black robes.
When Hermione turned and saw the gaped-mouth looks cast her way she merely smiled sweetly and walked on to her next class. She felt it was a good day to be alive, after all. Those who sought to dampen Hermione's obvious good spirits were annoyed when their pointed looks at her appeared to have no affect whatsoever, and they dourly consoled themselves with the thought that Hermione was bound to realise eventually what a slimy git Snape was.
For those who dared to cast looks of disgust at Professor Snape, they were discouraged when he looked back at them as if he found them amusing, in a limited sort of way of course.
When Hermione had a class with her friends, the teacher having had to leave the classroom for a short while, Harry leaned over to Hermione and asked her if she had had a nice walk with (he coughed) 'her significant other'. Then he glanced down at her uniform. "Did he give you that rose?" he said in disbelief. Ron who was sitting nearby grimaced.
"Yes," Hermione found herself mumbling.
"He did?" Neville said in bewilderment.
"Now he's giving you roses?" Lavender said suspiciously. "What's the catch?"
"What do you mean, 'what's the catch?'" Hermione queried her.
"I'm just saying that if Snape is giving you roses he picked himself then he wants something," Lavender said darkly.
Hermione shrugged and smiled. "He usually does" she murmured.
"I did not hear that," Lavender sighed and gave up.
Hermione didn't mention the engagement ring she had concealed under her uniform. Her friends were amazed enough just at the thought of Professor Snape giving Hermione a rose….
TBC
A/N – There really is a rose that is so dark that it almost black, but the name eludes me right now….
