A/N: The world of Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. I am just having fun
playing with her characters. This story is rated R for a reason. You have
been warned. I also have this story listed on Whispers, Adult Fan Fiction
and Lord and Lady Snape websites.. In case it gets deleted here.
Chapter Sixteen
Severus and Hermione woke up naked and wrapped in each other's arms to the bright sunlight that was filtering through their bedroom windows. It was still very early morning but they had both slept longer than usual due to the events of the previous night. Hermione moved her head slightly, which was resting on Severus' chest. Severus was awake, preferring to stroke her hair gently until she woke up of her own accord. He had a great deal on his mind, namely why two people would try to break up their marriage.
"Severus?" Hermione said her voice still thick from sleep. She cleared her throat lightly.
"Yes, my love?" He asked in his liquid velvet tones as his dark gaze landed on her.
"I'm sorry." She said quietly.
"For what?" He asked with a slight frown.
"Asking if you were having an affair," he moved his hands from her hair to rub down her back. "I should have shown you far more trust. You certainly do deserve it from me."
"Hermione, love. Do not apologise. I'm disconcerted by your so-called secret admirer as well, and it is no fault of yours that someone is trying to brain wash you. This whole thing is a messy situation." He told her lightly and continued to rub her back. "And one concocted solely by Slytherins I should imagine."
"I love you, Severus." She whispered, kissing his chest softly.
"I love you too, my wife." He kissed the top of her head.
"So, will we stage some kind of separation?" Hermione asked as she turned to face him slightly and placed her hands on his chest, resting her chin on top of them to look at his face.
"I don't think I can live being separated from you." He told her, stroking her face slightly as he grimaced at the thought.
"Me neither." She told him. "But we need to find out who is doing this to us and I believe that this is the only way."
"I agree." He sighed deeply. "So, what do you suggest?"
"Well." She started only to be cut off by an incessant tapping at one of the bedroom windows. Severus moved his hand to perform some wandless magic in order to allow the owl entrance. It swiftly made its way over to the bed and dropped a heavy letter addressed to Hermione before flying back to the owlry without waiting. "Ah, another letter from my secret admirer," she announced with a fake smile and far less than enthusiastically as another owl brought a scroll for Severus this time.
"It appears I have one also." He said picking it up from the pillow where it had landed and frowning; this would be the first one addressed to him. They looked to each other. "After you, dear," Severus told her.
Hermione opened the letter and sat bolt upright in bed, startled as a photograph slipped out and landed face down.
My Sweet,
Here is your proof. I will be here for you. I will be watching you closely. I will make my self known when the time is right. Remember my love for you in your time of pain, as it will provide a guiding light in your hours of need.
She reached for the photograph and her initial reaction was total shock before she forced herself to look a little closer and laughed out loud.
"What is so funny?" She handed him the photograph and he looked completely horrified as he sat up himself. "I-I didn't. I absolutely swear to you, I never."
"Severus. I know." She told him still chuckling as she rubbed his arm affectionately.
"You know?" He asked horrified as he looked over the top of the photo at her.
"It's your head but not your body. You can see your head has been superimposed onto the photograph. However, it is Sonia Flint. Quite a lot more than what I wanted to see of her actually." The picture showed a man with Severus' head superimposed over the rightful head and Sonia Flint giving him a blowjob, both quite naked.
"Me too," Severus said placing the picture to one side as he picked up his scroll again.
Professor,
Do we still have our meeting set for tonight? I believe a more pleasant setting should be in order. Let's meet in my chambers at 8pm. I have so many ideas to discuss with you and we will have more privacy since, as you know, as Head Girl I have my own rooms.
Sonia
"I've been propositioned. I think." Severus replied raising his eyebrow and handing the scroll to Hermione. "Do I go?" He asked her.
"Erm. I need to think, let's eat breakfast." They ate breakfast while Hermione thought about what they would need to do in order to sort this whole situation out.
"Do you have a plan?" Severus asked as he saw her eyes light up whilst she was eating a spoonful of porridge.
"Yes," she swallowed and took a deep breath. "We need to speak to the Headmaster though. he can cast the spell."
"What spell?"
"The one that will make me hate you. I can't hide my love for you otherwise, Severus." She informed him. "And I would find it so hard to act exceptionally angry at you when I'm clearly not. The puppy dog look you get in your eyes when I shout at you would just kill me if I were simply pretending to be angry."
"What are you talking about. 'puppy dog look'?" He asked slightly outraged, he much preferred his strict overgrown-bat look to be honest.
"It's true." She said giggling at him when he rolled his eyes and tutted, pretending to be offended.
"How long will this spell last?" He asked getting back to the subject at hand.
"A couple of days I should imagine. Not at all permanent though and I think that I need the spell in order to be believable and therefore, lure our secret author out of the shadows." She said far too excitedly for what she was proposing.
"What then?" He asked.
"Well, I play the injured party and hopefully draw the secret admirer out. In order to do that you will need to meet Miss. Flint and I'll have to catch you together at some point I guess." She began to explain.
"Together?" He gulped, shocked at what he thought she was suggesting.
"I just mean walking together in the corridor or something." She said waving her hand to stop whatever he had been thinking she meant from forming real thoughts.
"Okay." He said, still not quite getting her idea. "But why must I meet with Miss. Flint?"
"I do believe they are both in on this whole thing together. I think she will know who is behind all of this." Hermione told him.
"Then I will speak to her. There's no reason for this spell you speak of." Severus said in an authoritative manner, putting his foot down.
"No. She will not tell you anything and you can't use Veritaserum or intimidate her in anyway, Severus. You are her professor after all." Hermione said. "There is also the possibility she is being coerced in all of this as well. After all she has never done anything like this before and I know that it is not you with her in that photograph. She must have strong moral fibre as well since she managed to make Head Girl. something's just very wrong about all of this."
"Okay, so we are going to use her for our own means?" He asked sharply, he didn't want to use one of his Slytherins in such a manner, especially if she were an innocent victim as well.
"No, we need to make sure she is safe in all of this." Hermione said, alleviating his concerns. "What we need is to just make a spectacle in front of everyone and therefore ensure that this secret admirer of mine is watching. That way he will make himself known."
"And what of Miss. Flint? Her reputation?" Severus demanded.
"She will be fine. When this is over and she has been cleared we will make it known just as publicly that she was helping us. That is of course if I ever need to actually make people know it is she who is supposedly having an affair with you."
"We should tell her what we are planning, get her permission to use her in our plan, Hermione." Severus said in defence of his Slytherin prefect.
"We can't, we don't know if she is being coerced or not." Hermione replied. "We don't want our plan returning to the secret author or it could all fall through and we'd be back to square one."
"Okay, but I don't like this." Severus sighed, resigned to the fact that this would have to be brought to a head sooner rather than later and there was no other way to do it.
"Oh, and you'll need for me to throw you out as well. You can sleep in the dungeons for a night. or two. can't you?" Hermione asked him tentatively.
"Hermione, I'm beginning to like this plan less every second." He wined with a sneer on his face.
"Only for one night then. or I could go visit my parents for a day and night. I'm sure Lavender could cover my classes for me?" She thought for a second. "No, that wouldn't work. I need to be here for when the secret admirer shows himself. I'll stay with Ron and Lavender for a night, catch up with them, either that or remain here."
"Will you tell them of this plan?"
"There's no time, Severus. Don't worry. I wouldn't let anyone get their revenge on you for hurting me before I do." She said with an evil glint in her eye. "Come along then, my soon-to-be-estranged husband. We need to see Dumbledore, and we'll have to use the floo network until the spell has been cast." Hermione said as she got up and clasped Severus' hand, pulling him to his feet.
~~*~~
They both entered the Headmaster's office to find it empty. "He must still be at breakfast." Hermione commented as they both stood in the middle of the office and waited for him to arrive.
"Are you sure this is what you want, Hermione?" Severus asked wanting to make sure she was certain.
"This is what needs to happen, Severus. It will only be for a few days and then hopefully this will be over with." She said as she put her arms around him and gave him a hug.
"Ah. Good morning, my elusive Heads of Houses. We missed you at breakfast this morning. I trust you are both well?" Albus Dumbledore said as he entered his office and Severus and Hermione turned to face him, releasing one another in turn. "Our Head Girl was asking where you were this morning, Severus. I believe she needs to speak with you about something. She did seem quite nervous." Dumbledore said as he indicated they should sit down.
"That'll be right." Hermione muttered under her breath and glanced sideways at her husband.
They each took a seat and Hermione and Severus both explained what had happened, showing him the evidence of the photograph and the notes they'd both received.
"So, we would like you to help us, please." Severus said.
"Of course. I know one spell, Hermione that will make you believe it is truly Severus in the photograph." Dumbledore said. "And I do agree with Hermione's assessment that we should not let Miss. Flint in on this plan. I think the elusive Book of Shadows is possibly controlling her. It is certain that this text is under the control of someone in this school and has been for some time now. If we find your secret admirer, Hermione, I believe we will be lead to the book. Miss Flint is clearly being influenced by something and I refuse to believe it is simply her teenage hormones."
"Well, your spell ought to do it, I think, Headmaster. Of course if I truly did believe it was Severus in the photograph I would castrate him, and I don't particularly want to do that since I know it is not true." She said, smiling at Severus who was looking fairly nervous and he crossed his legs self-consciously.
"I understand and so I will cast a protection spell on Severus. You will not be able to cast any magic against him." Albus told them.
"She'll find another way to do it." Severus mumbled with an audible gulp.
"Well then, Severus. I do suggest you not be alone with her for the time being." Albus said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"What about our wedding rings?" Severus asked.
"Just take it off, wear it round your neck." Hermione said as she moved to do just that.
"It can not be removed, love. Unless you were ever to fall out of love with me and then it would simply dissolve along with our marriage."
"Then a concealment and weightless charm." Hermione said and Severus nodded in agreement.
"Right then," Albus nodded. "Are you both ready?"
"Wait." Hermione said, turning to Severus. "I'll apologise now for whatever I will say to you in the next few days."
"And I apologise for making you think whatever you will be angry at me for, is true." Severus replied. They both stood up and kissed each other before turning to the Headmaster and nodding their heads in unison.
Dumbledore lifted his wand and cast two concealment and weightless charms on both of their rings. They wiggled their fingers a bit, still feeling their rings present for a few seconds before they could not see or feel them at all. They looked to each other in silent understanding.
"Okay, Severus?" Dumbledore said raising his wand to Severus' chest. Severus nodded and Dumbledore said the incantation that would keep him safe from Hermione. "Praesidium!" A small golden coloured light left Albus' wand and surrounded Severus forming a sort of bubble before winking out. "Hermione, if you would test the spell for me please?"
"Expelliarmus!" She shouted pointing her wand at Severus but the spell dissolved into the golden bubble and Severus was safe.
"Thank you, Hermione." Albus nodded to her. "And now, I will cast a spell on Hermione solely to make her think that this photograph is actually you, Severus. She will already believe that she has confronted you and that you are both in my office to discuss a separation. This spell should make you angry only, Hermione. You should not feel hurt or sorrow, just anger." Dumbledore told her. Hermione and Severus both nodded and Severus quickly gave her a kiss to say a temporary goodbye. "Sum Irasci!" Dumbledore intoned gravely as he lifted his wand to Hermione and a red spark left it, heading straight for her chest as he replayed his thoughts to her about what she was to be angry with.
Severus looked on in horror as she closed her eyes and stumbled backwards. He reached out to stop her from falling when her eyes suddenly sprang open and she glared with pure unadulterated venom at him. "Keep you hands off me, Snape!" She snarled and Severus moved a few steps away from her in total astonishment. She steadied herself and looked to the Headmaster. "I believe everything has been said, Headmaster?" She asked quickly and angrily.
"I believe so, Professor. Thank you for bringing this to my attention." Dumbledore replied looking intently at her and indicating the photograph on his desk. "I trust you will be cordial to our Head Girl despite what this picture would indicate?"
"I can try, Headmaster. After all it takes two to tango." She replied trying to calm her breathing down and ignore Snape as much as possible. "And I trust you will deal with him?" She asked jerking her head in Severus' general direction.
"He will be reprimanded in private, Professor." Albus replied calmly looking over to his Potions Master and noticing that he had schooled his face to his more usual expressionless mask.
"Do what you like with him, Headmaster. I must leave. I cannot stay in his presence much longer." She looked down at her hand for her wedding ring, which was no longer there. "I was going to give you the ring back, but I see I've already disposed of it."
"Hermione." Severus began, he really had no clue as to what he would say; it was as though his wife had a split personality.
"Do not call me Hermione! You have lost that privilege! Consider our marriage over and leave me alone!" With that Hermione turned quickly and ran from the office, slamming the door behind her as she went. Severus watched her go before slumping down in one of the chairs looking completely lost and covering his face with his hands.
"She plays the part too well, Albus." He said very quietly and sighed deeply.
"There, there, my boy." Albus said patting him on the shoulder. "The spell will only last a couple of days before it wears off. If we solve this problem before that time I can always remove it."
"Those will be the longest days of my life, Albus." Severus intoned gravely.
"Well, now. I suggest you run into each other so that you will cause a few arguments out in public. This will hopefully weed out the mystery author. Now, I do believe that you need to perhaps rescue your belongings as I believe Hermione is placing them in the corridor as we speak."
"She what!" Severus shouted leaping to his feet. "She's supposed to be staying at the Weasley's."
"She's chucking you out, dear boy." Albus replied. "I will have your old rooms set up while you are teaching so that you at least have a bed to sleep in tonight. As for her staying at the Weasley's- well she's quite obviously forgotten about that since I cast the spell. Now, off with you. Let's get this over with as quickly as we can."
"Thank you, Albus." Severus said as he left the office himself at haste.
Severus reached the main entrance to their chambers to notice that Marcus and Lucretia were both holding each other tightly and sobbing their hearts out in the painting that guarded their door.
"You. fiend! How could you?" Lucretia spat when she saw Severus standing there.
"Wolfsbane!" Severus barked at them.
"Wrong! Professor Granger has changed the password and you shall not enter these chambers again!" Marcus shouted venomously.
"There are you clothes." Lucretia snapped and pointed to the floor in front of the door. Severus looked down and found a trunk which had his clothes thrown haphazardly into it. He took out his wand and reduced the size of the trunk, picking it up and pocketing it. 'Only a couple of days,' he thought and moved off down to his office.
~~*~~
Hermione was crying her eyes out at what Severus had done to her. She had managed to teach her morning classes but she had taken so many points it was a record for her. She dragged herself out of her office still red eyed and headed for the Great Hall. She was determined to hold her head high at least and she did have a growing baby to feed so she could not miss any meals. She would have preferred to eat in her chambers but they produced too many memories and she needed company in order to take her mind off things. She cast a spell to remove all of the redness around her eyes and continued walking.
When Hermione entered the hall she noticed that the only seat available was next to her soon-to-be-ex-husband. She glared at him and headed to the Gryffindor table deciding that she would rather sit amongst the first years than next to him. She reached Chris and he looked up smiling slightly and knowing something was horribly wrong when she did not return the smile. "Budge up, Chris." She said with a hand gesture and he shifted himself along the seat to make some room. Hermione climbed over the long seat and sat herself down where a new plate conjured itself in front of her and the whole hall went silent. It was rather strange to be back at a student table after so many years and she helped herself to some food.
"Erm. P-Professor?" Chris asked delicately.
"Yes, Chris?" She asked looking down at him her patience quite thin right now but trying to be as calm as possible.
"W-What are you doing?" He asked looking quizzically at her.
"I'm eating lunch, Christopher. What does it look like?" She asked in a forced polite tone of voice.
"But." He looked up to the head table to see all the teachers staring in wonder at his sister and then noticed Severus with a very strange look of pain and hurt on his face. "What happened?" He whispered to her.
"I decided to have lunch with you today, Christopher as the only available seat was. well. you see where it is at the head table." She said jerking her head in the general direction.
"But, Prof."
"Oh, call me Hermione for Merlin's sake! I'm sitting at the student table after all." She snapped at him.
"Hermione," he said, not knowing what else he should say.
"Eat, Chris. The food is going cold." She indicated with her knife and putting an end to the conversation.
"I-I-I."
"And do stop stuttering, it does not behove you." She admonished looking up at the other students surrounding her who were all looking strangely at her and most had their mouths gaping open. "Everyone, get on with your meals, please. Your professors are not anything other than people older than you are. I see no reason why we cannot at least eat a meal together."
"Perhaps though, Professor Granger-Snape you would like to sit at the table with the other Professors?" Hermione heard a silky voice behind her say and turned to find the speaker none other than Severus who was regarding her with a raised eyebrow and a cool expression. She turned in her seat and slowly stood, which was becoming quite difficult to do with her pregnancy progressing at a rate of knots and finding she had to support her back whilst she stood. 'Time for a showdown,' Severus thought to himself and as per the plan, it would be as public as they could possibly make it.
"Do you see a ring on my finger, Professor Snape? No? Perhaps that's because I no longer wish to be married to you! I will have you and all others refer to me as Professor Granger from now on." She seethed with pure hatred crossing her face as she glared at him with daggers in her eyes. "I will sit wherever I choose to Professor Snape and feed your bastard child, which you have left me high and dry with!" She snarled.
Severus was absolutely seething with rage. "Our baby not a bastard child! We are married and how dare you speak of our unborn like this! You do not know what you are saying," he said in a deadly voice as he slowly took a step towards her and glared unwaveringly.
"Oh, go back to your Slytherin Hussy!" She sneered as she pointed over in the general direction of Sonia Flint who was trying to just about hide under the Slytherin table as all eyes turned to her and there were resounding gasps around the hall.
"Professors Granger and Snape, I believe we should move this outside of the hall." Albus Dumbledore said striding over to them and escorting them bodily from all prying eyes. Hermione shook herself free of the Headmaster and bursting into tears ran back off to her office.
"Headmaster!" Severus bellowed as they reached the entranceway. "You said she would only be angry! She's clearly distraught!"
"Secretum!" Albus said raising his wand and a privacy bubble formed around the both of them. "Yes, a very strange reaction indeed." He pondered. "At any rate her pregnancy must have caused the spell to change slightly. The soonest I can release it will be this evening. I think that was enough of a public display to have the required results and so you should both come to my office around 8pm- assuming the secret admirer shows himself of course."
"I'm meeting with the Head Girl at that time, Headmaster." Severus told him forlornly.
"Do you think that wise, my boy?" Dumbledore asked, pinning him with his clear blue eyes.
"No, but it was part of the plan, Headmaster." Severus said. "And I never thought any of this was a good idea to start with anyway."
"Then do not meet with her. Cancel the meeting." Albus commanded him.
"Very well. I'll go and see Herm."
"No, I will. She will not want to see you right now, my boy. And you have a Potions class I believe." Severus nodded and stormed off down the corridor, robes billowing furiously in his wake.
~~*~~
A knock resounded on Hermione's office door for the second time since her outburst that afternoon. "Enter!" She commanded and the door opened noiselessly to reveal Layton Frontera. "Mr. Frontera? What can I do for you?" She asked, she didn't want to be disturbed yet again, it had been hard enough getting rid of the Headmaster.
Layton entered the room and moved over to Hermione's desk. "I saw what happened in the hall today, Professor Granger." He began in his deep and calmly controlled voice.
"Oh, ten points for observation. I expect the whole school saw it, Mr. Frontera. What can I help you with?" Hermione snapped putting her quill down and looking up at him irritably.
"Well, nothing, Professor. I thought I may be able to help you though?" Layton said seemingly ignoring her sarcasm.
"I don't think so, Mr. Frontera. Now, I am very busy so..."
"Professor, I know what it's like to have a family break up. I had to endure such a thing a couple of years ago when my mother found out about my half sister." He told her as he stood in front of her desk. Hermione sighed, perhaps this was something he needed to talk about and he must feel as though he owed her one or something.
"Please, take a seat, Mr. Frontera." She offered and he sat immediately, a slight smile breaking out on his face.
"My mother was so upset and my father, being the self-conceited jerk that he is told her she would have to get on and live with it. You see since they'd been married for well over a year by wizarding law they had to remain married. No divorce allowed at all or it's a spell in Azkaban for both of them." Hermione raised her eyebrows at this; it was something she had not been aware of and certainly bared some thought considering her current situation. "Anyway, my parents worked through it and Theresa was accepted by my mother into our family, though she does not live with us."
"I'm pleased for you." Hermione said genuinely but there was obviously nothing she could do for him, as he seemed to be happy enough with his family situation. He rummaged in his bag suddenly and pulled out a picture frame.
"Look, Professor," he said handing it over to her with a warm smile on his face. Hermione took it from his hands. "This is my family now. Well, my parents and my half sister. See? Things do get better."
"Yes, I see that." Hermione said as she looked at the photograph where the family was all laughing and carrying on with each other, Layton's parents kissing tenderly in the back ground as the two siblings pushed and shoved each other playfully in the front. Layton reached into his sleeve and pulled out his wand quickly muttering a spell and causing the photo frame to change back into its original format. Hermione held it for a second until it formed into the shape of a large book and she dropped it quickly on her desk but it was already too late.
"Ah, so you know of my book, Professor Granger?" He asked her with an evil glare.
"Yes, how did you." She began but was cut off mid sentence.
"A-ah," Layton held up his hand and she immediately stopped speaking, her eyes glazing over as Layton relayed his thoughts into her head by placing his hand on the book's front cover. "You will suggest that I show my book to the class in Arithmancy on Wednesday. You will not go back to your husband and will remain upset and angry at him, and you will accept my affections." Hermione nodded to everything that was being placed into her mind before Layton transfigured the book back into the photo frame and handed it back to Hermione. She snapped out of her glazed expression to find Layton smiling at her.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Frontera. I have so much on my mind right now and I guess I drifted off." She apologised and rubbed her eyes tiredly.
"I understand, Professor." He said nodding.
"Thank you, and here is your photograph back." She handed it back over to him.
"I'll have to go now, Professor but if you need me then just let me know." He told her as he stood up and put the picture back into his bag.
"Thank you and have a good afternoon." Hermione smiled back as he left her office.
Chapter Sixteen
Severus and Hermione woke up naked and wrapped in each other's arms to the bright sunlight that was filtering through their bedroom windows. It was still very early morning but they had both slept longer than usual due to the events of the previous night. Hermione moved her head slightly, which was resting on Severus' chest. Severus was awake, preferring to stroke her hair gently until she woke up of her own accord. He had a great deal on his mind, namely why two people would try to break up their marriage.
"Severus?" Hermione said her voice still thick from sleep. She cleared her throat lightly.
"Yes, my love?" He asked in his liquid velvet tones as his dark gaze landed on her.
"I'm sorry." She said quietly.
"For what?" He asked with a slight frown.
"Asking if you were having an affair," he moved his hands from her hair to rub down her back. "I should have shown you far more trust. You certainly do deserve it from me."
"Hermione, love. Do not apologise. I'm disconcerted by your so-called secret admirer as well, and it is no fault of yours that someone is trying to brain wash you. This whole thing is a messy situation." He told her lightly and continued to rub her back. "And one concocted solely by Slytherins I should imagine."
"I love you, Severus." She whispered, kissing his chest softly.
"I love you too, my wife." He kissed the top of her head.
"So, will we stage some kind of separation?" Hermione asked as she turned to face him slightly and placed her hands on his chest, resting her chin on top of them to look at his face.
"I don't think I can live being separated from you." He told her, stroking her face slightly as he grimaced at the thought.
"Me neither." She told him. "But we need to find out who is doing this to us and I believe that this is the only way."
"I agree." He sighed deeply. "So, what do you suggest?"
"Well." She started only to be cut off by an incessant tapping at one of the bedroom windows. Severus moved his hand to perform some wandless magic in order to allow the owl entrance. It swiftly made its way over to the bed and dropped a heavy letter addressed to Hermione before flying back to the owlry without waiting. "Ah, another letter from my secret admirer," she announced with a fake smile and far less than enthusiastically as another owl brought a scroll for Severus this time.
"It appears I have one also." He said picking it up from the pillow where it had landed and frowning; this would be the first one addressed to him. They looked to each other. "After you, dear," Severus told her.
Hermione opened the letter and sat bolt upright in bed, startled as a photograph slipped out and landed face down.
My Sweet,
Here is your proof. I will be here for you. I will be watching you closely. I will make my self known when the time is right. Remember my love for you in your time of pain, as it will provide a guiding light in your hours of need.
She reached for the photograph and her initial reaction was total shock before she forced herself to look a little closer and laughed out loud.
"What is so funny?" She handed him the photograph and he looked completely horrified as he sat up himself. "I-I didn't. I absolutely swear to you, I never."
"Severus. I know." She told him still chuckling as she rubbed his arm affectionately.
"You know?" He asked horrified as he looked over the top of the photo at her.
"It's your head but not your body. You can see your head has been superimposed onto the photograph. However, it is Sonia Flint. Quite a lot more than what I wanted to see of her actually." The picture showed a man with Severus' head superimposed over the rightful head and Sonia Flint giving him a blowjob, both quite naked.
"Me too," Severus said placing the picture to one side as he picked up his scroll again.
Professor,
Do we still have our meeting set for tonight? I believe a more pleasant setting should be in order. Let's meet in my chambers at 8pm. I have so many ideas to discuss with you and we will have more privacy since, as you know, as Head Girl I have my own rooms.
Sonia
"I've been propositioned. I think." Severus replied raising his eyebrow and handing the scroll to Hermione. "Do I go?" He asked her.
"Erm. I need to think, let's eat breakfast." They ate breakfast while Hermione thought about what they would need to do in order to sort this whole situation out.
"Do you have a plan?" Severus asked as he saw her eyes light up whilst she was eating a spoonful of porridge.
"Yes," she swallowed and took a deep breath. "We need to speak to the Headmaster though. he can cast the spell."
"What spell?"
"The one that will make me hate you. I can't hide my love for you otherwise, Severus." She informed him. "And I would find it so hard to act exceptionally angry at you when I'm clearly not. The puppy dog look you get in your eyes when I shout at you would just kill me if I were simply pretending to be angry."
"What are you talking about. 'puppy dog look'?" He asked slightly outraged, he much preferred his strict overgrown-bat look to be honest.
"It's true." She said giggling at him when he rolled his eyes and tutted, pretending to be offended.
"How long will this spell last?" He asked getting back to the subject at hand.
"A couple of days I should imagine. Not at all permanent though and I think that I need the spell in order to be believable and therefore, lure our secret author out of the shadows." She said far too excitedly for what she was proposing.
"What then?" He asked.
"Well, I play the injured party and hopefully draw the secret admirer out. In order to do that you will need to meet Miss. Flint and I'll have to catch you together at some point I guess." She began to explain.
"Together?" He gulped, shocked at what he thought she was suggesting.
"I just mean walking together in the corridor or something." She said waving her hand to stop whatever he had been thinking she meant from forming real thoughts.
"Okay." He said, still not quite getting her idea. "But why must I meet with Miss. Flint?"
"I do believe they are both in on this whole thing together. I think she will know who is behind all of this." Hermione told him.
"Then I will speak to her. There's no reason for this spell you speak of." Severus said in an authoritative manner, putting his foot down.
"No. She will not tell you anything and you can't use Veritaserum or intimidate her in anyway, Severus. You are her professor after all." Hermione said. "There is also the possibility she is being coerced in all of this as well. After all she has never done anything like this before and I know that it is not you with her in that photograph. She must have strong moral fibre as well since she managed to make Head Girl. something's just very wrong about all of this."
"Okay, so we are going to use her for our own means?" He asked sharply, he didn't want to use one of his Slytherins in such a manner, especially if she were an innocent victim as well.
"No, we need to make sure she is safe in all of this." Hermione said, alleviating his concerns. "What we need is to just make a spectacle in front of everyone and therefore ensure that this secret admirer of mine is watching. That way he will make himself known."
"And what of Miss. Flint? Her reputation?" Severus demanded.
"She will be fine. When this is over and she has been cleared we will make it known just as publicly that she was helping us. That is of course if I ever need to actually make people know it is she who is supposedly having an affair with you."
"We should tell her what we are planning, get her permission to use her in our plan, Hermione." Severus said in defence of his Slytherin prefect.
"We can't, we don't know if she is being coerced or not." Hermione replied. "We don't want our plan returning to the secret author or it could all fall through and we'd be back to square one."
"Okay, but I don't like this." Severus sighed, resigned to the fact that this would have to be brought to a head sooner rather than later and there was no other way to do it.
"Oh, and you'll need for me to throw you out as well. You can sleep in the dungeons for a night. or two. can't you?" Hermione asked him tentatively.
"Hermione, I'm beginning to like this plan less every second." He wined with a sneer on his face.
"Only for one night then. or I could go visit my parents for a day and night. I'm sure Lavender could cover my classes for me?" She thought for a second. "No, that wouldn't work. I need to be here for when the secret admirer shows himself. I'll stay with Ron and Lavender for a night, catch up with them, either that or remain here."
"Will you tell them of this plan?"
"There's no time, Severus. Don't worry. I wouldn't let anyone get their revenge on you for hurting me before I do." She said with an evil glint in her eye. "Come along then, my soon-to-be-estranged husband. We need to see Dumbledore, and we'll have to use the floo network until the spell has been cast." Hermione said as she got up and clasped Severus' hand, pulling him to his feet.
~~*~~
They both entered the Headmaster's office to find it empty. "He must still be at breakfast." Hermione commented as they both stood in the middle of the office and waited for him to arrive.
"Are you sure this is what you want, Hermione?" Severus asked wanting to make sure she was certain.
"This is what needs to happen, Severus. It will only be for a few days and then hopefully this will be over with." She said as she put her arms around him and gave him a hug.
"Ah. Good morning, my elusive Heads of Houses. We missed you at breakfast this morning. I trust you are both well?" Albus Dumbledore said as he entered his office and Severus and Hermione turned to face him, releasing one another in turn. "Our Head Girl was asking where you were this morning, Severus. I believe she needs to speak with you about something. She did seem quite nervous." Dumbledore said as he indicated they should sit down.
"That'll be right." Hermione muttered under her breath and glanced sideways at her husband.
They each took a seat and Hermione and Severus both explained what had happened, showing him the evidence of the photograph and the notes they'd both received.
"So, we would like you to help us, please." Severus said.
"Of course. I know one spell, Hermione that will make you believe it is truly Severus in the photograph." Dumbledore said. "And I do agree with Hermione's assessment that we should not let Miss. Flint in on this plan. I think the elusive Book of Shadows is possibly controlling her. It is certain that this text is under the control of someone in this school and has been for some time now. If we find your secret admirer, Hermione, I believe we will be lead to the book. Miss Flint is clearly being influenced by something and I refuse to believe it is simply her teenage hormones."
"Well, your spell ought to do it, I think, Headmaster. Of course if I truly did believe it was Severus in the photograph I would castrate him, and I don't particularly want to do that since I know it is not true." She said, smiling at Severus who was looking fairly nervous and he crossed his legs self-consciously.
"I understand and so I will cast a protection spell on Severus. You will not be able to cast any magic against him." Albus told them.
"She'll find another way to do it." Severus mumbled with an audible gulp.
"Well then, Severus. I do suggest you not be alone with her for the time being." Albus said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"What about our wedding rings?" Severus asked.
"Just take it off, wear it round your neck." Hermione said as she moved to do just that.
"It can not be removed, love. Unless you were ever to fall out of love with me and then it would simply dissolve along with our marriage."
"Then a concealment and weightless charm." Hermione said and Severus nodded in agreement.
"Right then," Albus nodded. "Are you both ready?"
"Wait." Hermione said, turning to Severus. "I'll apologise now for whatever I will say to you in the next few days."
"And I apologise for making you think whatever you will be angry at me for, is true." Severus replied. They both stood up and kissed each other before turning to the Headmaster and nodding their heads in unison.
Dumbledore lifted his wand and cast two concealment and weightless charms on both of their rings. They wiggled their fingers a bit, still feeling their rings present for a few seconds before they could not see or feel them at all. They looked to each other in silent understanding.
"Okay, Severus?" Dumbledore said raising his wand to Severus' chest. Severus nodded and Dumbledore said the incantation that would keep him safe from Hermione. "Praesidium!" A small golden coloured light left Albus' wand and surrounded Severus forming a sort of bubble before winking out. "Hermione, if you would test the spell for me please?"
"Expelliarmus!" She shouted pointing her wand at Severus but the spell dissolved into the golden bubble and Severus was safe.
"Thank you, Hermione." Albus nodded to her. "And now, I will cast a spell on Hermione solely to make her think that this photograph is actually you, Severus. She will already believe that she has confronted you and that you are both in my office to discuss a separation. This spell should make you angry only, Hermione. You should not feel hurt or sorrow, just anger." Dumbledore told her. Hermione and Severus both nodded and Severus quickly gave her a kiss to say a temporary goodbye. "Sum Irasci!" Dumbledore intoned gravely as he lifted his wand to Hermione and a red spark left it, heading straight for her chest as he replayed his thoughts to her about what she was to be angry with.
Severus looked on in horror as she closed her eyes and stumbled backwards. He reached out to stop her from falling when her eyes suddenly sprang open and she glared with pure unadulterated venom at him. "Keep you hands off me, Snape!" She snarled and Severus moved a few steps away from her in total astonishment. She steadied herself and looked to the Headmaster. "I believe everything has been said, Headmaster?" She asked quickly and angrily.
"I believe so, Professor. Thank you for bringing this to my attention." Dumbledore replied looking intently at her and indicating the photograph on his desk. "I trust you will be cordial to our Head Girl despite what this picture would indicate?"
"I can try, Headmaster. After all it takes two to tango." She replied trying to calm her breathing down and ignore Snape as much as possible. "And I trust you will deal with him?" She asked jerking her head in Severus' general direction.
"He will be reprimanded in private, Professor." Albus replied calmly looking over to his Potions Master and noticing that he had schooled his face to his more usual expressionless mask.
"Do what you like with him, Headmaster. I must leave. I cannot stay in his presence much longer." She looked down at her hand for her wedding ring, which was no longer there. "I was going to give you the ring back, but I see I've already disposed of it."
"Hermione." Severus began, he really had no clue as to what he would say; it was as though his wife had a split personality.
"Do not call me Hermione! You have lost that privilege! Consider our marriage over and leave me alone!" With that Hermione turned quickly and ran from the office, slamming the door behind her as she went. Severus watched her go before slumping down in one of the chairs looking completely lost and covering his face with his hands.
"She plays the part too well, Albus." He said very quietly and sighed deeply.
"There, there, my boy." Albus said patting him on the shoulder. "The spell will only last a couple of days before it wears off. If we solve this problem before that time I can always remove it."
"Those will be the longest days of my life, Albus." Severus intoned gravely.
"Well, now. I suggest you run into each other so that you will cause a few arguments out in public. This will hopefully weed out the mystery author. Now, I do believe that you need to perhaps rescue your belongings as I believe Hermione is placing them in the corridor as we speak."
"She what!" Severus shouted leaping to his feet. "She's supposed to be staying at the Weasley's."
"She's chucking you out, dear boy." Albus replied. "I will have your old rooms set up while you are teaching so that you at least have a bed to sleep in tonight. As for her staying at the Weasley's- well she's quite obviously forgotten about that since I cast the spell. Now, off with you. Let's get this over with as quickly as we can."
"Thank you, Albus." Severus said as he left the office himself at haste.
Severus reached the main entrance to their chambers to notice that Marcus and Lucretia were both holding each other tightly and sobbing their hearts out in the painting that guarded their door.
"You. fiend! How could you?" Lucretia spat when she saw Severus standing there.
"Wolfsbane!" Severus barked at them.
"Wrong! Professor Granger has changed the password and you shall not enter these chambers again!" Marcus shouted venomously.
"There are you clothes." Lucretia snapped and pointed to the floor in front of the door. Severus looked down and found a trunk which had his clothes thrown haphazardly into it. He took out his wand and reduced the size of the trunk, picking it up and pocketing it. 'Only a couple of days,' he thought and moved off down to his office.
~~*~~
Hermione was crying her eyes out at what Severus had done to her. She had managed to teach her morning classes but she had taken so many points it was a record for her. She dragged herself out of her office still red eyed and headed for the Great Hall. She was determined to hold her head high at least and she did have a growing baby to feed so she could not miss any meals. She would have preferred to eat in her chambers but they produced too many memories and she needed company in order to take her mind off things. She cast a spell to remove all of the redness around her eyes and continued walking.
When Hermione entered the hall she noticed that the only seat available was next to her soon-to-be-ex-husband. She glared at him and headed to the Gryffindor table deciding that she would rather sit amongst the first years than next to him. She reached Chris and he looked up smiling slightly and knowing something was horribly wrong when she did not return the smile. "Budge up, Chris." She said with a hand gesture and he shifted himself along the seat to make some room. Hermione climbed over the long seat and sat herself down where a new plate conjured itself in front of her and the whole hall went silent. It was rather strange to be back at a student table after so many years and she helped herself to some food.
"Erm. P-Professor?" Chris asked delicately.
"Yes, Chris?" She asked looking down at him her patience quite thin right now but trying to be as calm as possible.
"W-What are you doing?" He asked looking quizzically at her.
"I'm eating lunch, Christopher. What does it look like?" She asked in a forced polite tone of voice.
"But." He looked up to the head table to see all the teachers staring in wonder at his sister and then noticed Severus with a very strange look of pain and hurt on his face. "What happened?" He whispered to her.
"I decided to have lunch with you today, Christopher as the only available seat was. well. you see where it is at the head table." She said jerking her head in the general direction.
"But, Prof."
"Oh, call me Hermione for Merlin's sake! I'm sitting at the student table after all." She snapped at him.
"Hermione," he said, not knowing what else he should say.
"Eat, Chris. The food is going cold." She indicated with her knife and putting an end to the conversation.
"I-I-I."
"And do stop stuttering, it does not behove you." She admonished looking up at the other students surrounding her who were all looking strangely at her and most had their mouths gaping open. "Everyone, get on with your meals, please. Your professors are not anything other than people older than you are. I see no reason why we cannot at least eat a meal together."
"Perhaps though, Professor Granger-Snape you would like to sit at the table with the other Professors?" Hermione heard a silky voice behind her say and turned to find the speaker none other than Severus who was regarding her with a raised eyebrow and a cool expression. She turned in her seat and slowly stood, which was becoming quite difficult to do with her pregnancy progressing at a rate of knots and finding she had to support her back whilst she stood. 'Time for a showdown,' Severus thought to himself and as per the plan, it would be as public as they could possibly make it.
"Do you see a ring on my finger, Professor Snape? No? Perhaps that's because I no longer wish to be married to you! I will have you and all others refer to me as Professor Granger from now on." She seethed with pure hatred crossing her face as she glared at him with daggers in her eyes. "I will sit wherever I choose to Professor Snape and feed your bastard child, which you have left me high and dry with!" She snarled.
Severus was absolutely seething with rage. "Our baby not a bastard child! We are married and how dare you speak of our unborn like this! You do not know what you are saying," he said in a deadly voice as he slowly took a step towards her and glared unwaveringly.
"Oh, go back to your Slytherin Hussy!" She sneered as she pointed over in the general direction of Sonia Flint who was trying to just about hide under the Slytherin table as all eyes turned to her and there were resounding gasps around the hall.
"Professors Granger and Snape, I believe we should move this outside of the hall." Albus Dumbledore said striding over to them and escorting them bodily from all prying eyes. Hermione shook herself free of the Headmaster and bursting into tears ran back off to her office.
"Headmaster!" Severus bellowed as they reached the entranceway. "You said she would only be angry! She's clearly distraught!"
"Secretum!" Albus said raising his wand and a privacy bubble formed around the both of them. "Yes, a very strange reaction indeed." He pondered. "At any rate her pregnancy must have caused the spell to change slightly. The soonest I can release it will be this evening. I think that was enough of a public display to have the required results and so you should both come to my office around 8pm- assuming the secret admirer shows himself of course."
"I'm meeting with the Head Girl at that time, Headmaster." Severus told him forlornly.
"Do you think that wise, my boy?" Dumbledore asked, pinning him with his clear blue eyes.
"No, but it was part of the plan, Headmaster." Severus said. "And I never thought any of this was a good idea to start with anyway."
"Then do not meet with her. Cancel the meeting." Albus commanded him.
"Very well. I'll go and see Herm."
"No, I will. She will not want to see you right now, my boy. And you have a Potions class I believe." Severus nodded and stormed off down the corridor, robes billowing furiously in his wake.
~~*~~
A knock resounded on Hermione's office door for the second time since her outburst that afternoon. "Enter!" She commanded and the door opened noiselessly to reveal Layton Frontera. "Mr. Frontera? What can I do for you?" She asked, she didn't want to be disturbed yet again, it had been hard enough getting rid of the Headmaster.
Layton entered the room and moved over to Hermione's desk. "I saw what happened in the hall today, Professor Granger." He began in his deep and calmly controlled voice.
"Oh, ten points for observation. I expect the whole school saw it, Mr. Frontera. What can I help you with?" Hermione snapped putting her quill down and looking up at him irritably.
"Well, nothing, Professor. I thought I may be able to help you though?" Layton said seemingly ignoring her sarcasm.
"I don't think so, Mr. Frontera. Now, I am very busy so..."
"Professor, I know what it's like to have a family break up. I had to endure such a thing a couple of years ago when my mother found out about my half sister." He told her as he stood in front of her desk. Hermione sighed, perhaps this was something he needed to talk about and he must feel as though he owed her one or something.
"Please, take a seat, Mr. Frontera." She offered and he sat immediately, a slight smile breaking out on his face.
"My mother was so upset and my father, being the self-conceited jerk that he is told her she would have to get on and live with it. You see since they'd been married for well over a year by wizarding law they had to remain married. No divorce allowed at all or it's a spell in Azkaban for both of them." Hermione raised her eyebrows at this; it was something she had not been aware of and certainly bared some thought considering her current situation. "Anyway, my parents worked through it and Theresa was accepted by my mother into our family, though she does not live with us."
"I'm pleased for you." Hermione said genuinely but there was obviously nothing she could do for him, as he seemed to be happy enough with his family situation. He rummaged in his bag suddenly and pulled out a picture frame.
"Look, Professor," he said handing it over to her with a warm smile on his face. Hermione took it from his hands. "This is my family now. Well, my parents and my half sister. See? Things do get better."
"Yes, I see that." Hermione said as she looked at the photograph where the family was all laughing and carrying on with each other, Layton's parents kissing tenderly in the back ground as the two siblings pushed and shoved each other playfully in the front. Layton reached into his sleeve and pulled out his wand quickly muttering a spell and causing the photo frame to change back into its original format. Hermione held it for a second until it formed into the shape of a large book and she dropped it quickly on her desk but it was already too late.
"Ah, so you know of my book, Professor Granger?" He asked her with an evil glare.
"Yes, how did you." She began but was cut off mid sentence.
"A-ah," Layton held up his hand and she immediately stopped speaking, her eyes glazing over as Layton relayed his thoughts into her head by placing his hand on the book's front cover. "You will suggest that I show my book to the class in Arithmancy on Wednesday. You will not go back to your husband and will remain upset and angry at him, and you will accept my affections." Hermione nodded to everything that was being placed into her mind before Layton transfigured the book back into the photo frame and handed it back to Hermione. She snapped out of her glazed expression to find Layton smiling at her.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Frontera. I have so much on my mind right now and I guess I drifted off." She apologised and rubbed her eyes tiredly.
"I understand, Professor." He said nodding.
"Thank you, and here is your photograph back." She handed it back over to him.
"I'll have to go now, Professor but if you need me then just let me know." He told her as he stood up and put the picture back into his bag.
"Thank you and have a good afternoon." Hermione smiled back as he left her office.