Chapter 11: Enlightenment
Mercifully, it was Saturday, and Hermione got up slowly. She had fallen asleep on the sofa last night, but had felt a pair of arms pick her up and gently put her in bed. It was there that she awoke, and she turned to see that Severus was missing. His things were gone, and she assumed that he had gone to his office or to breakfast. But he was not there.
Hermione went back to the great hall, feeling harassed and tired, and managed to eat only a little. Not knowing what else to do, she went to her office and graded papers till noon. Severus still had not returned, and Adrian was not speaking to her. She felt lonelier than ever.
A knock sounded on the door, and she looked up stoically; it was McGonagall. "Come in Minerva," she said slowly, laying down her quill, feeling surreal. "Are you doing all right, Hermione?" she asked solemnly, sitting down opposite her. "Yes," lied Hermione; after a minute of bottling this up, however, she confessed, "No." Minerva nodded, "I thought as much. Professor Snape has been to see me this morning and-" "He visited with you this morning?" interrupted Hermione. "Yes, he did; he told me to tell you that he wouldn't be back until this evening. He said he had business to attend." Hermione nodded slowly, "Oh. So...what did he say?"
"He saw me this morning and asked me to keep an eye on you and Adrian. He wanted me to look after you." Hermione smiled inwardly, "Oh." Minerva raised an eyebrow, "I think your marriage is yielding more than either of you expected, yes?" Hermione blushed slightly and looked at a corner of her office, "Maybe." Minerva let out a sigh, "I was so worried too. I'm glad to hear it." Hermione looked up, "Worried? Why so?"
She looked askance at Hermione, "I confess I have been worried about Severus for years. He's always been alone. But ever since this year there's been a considerable improvement in his attitude, and I gladden to see it." Hermione felt her heart swell, "Oh." Suddenly Minerva's eyes were alight, and she said, "And of course, you've changed too." Hermione looked surprised, and Minerva laughed as she continued, "You're a little more carefree this year, Hermione. I know you think otherwise because of your concern for Adrian, but I've noticed that you're also considerably more carefree with your life. You're happier; content."
Hermione thought she was wrong, and adamantly so, but then she began to think on these statements, and realized that Minerva was right. She was happy. She was content. She had Severus and Adrian. And that was all that mattered.
Minerva cleared her throat and said, "I think I accomplished my goal. I'll see you later, Hermione. Enjoy the weekend." She disappeared, and Hermione silently complemented her tact; accomplished her goal indeed.
Mercifully, it was Saturday, and Hermione got up slowly. She had fallen asleep on the sofa last night, but had felt a pair of arms pick her up and gently put her in bed. It was there that she awoke, and she turned to see that Severus was missing. His things were gone, and she assumed that he had gone to his office or to breakfast. But he was not there.
Hermione went back to the great hall, feeling harassed and tired, and managed to eat only a little. Not knowing what else to do, she went to her office and graded papers till noon. Severus still had not returned, and Adrian was not speaking to her. She felt lonelier than ever.
A knock sounded on the door, and she looked up stoically; it was McGonagall. "Come in Minerva," she said slowly, laying down her quill, feeling surreal. "Are you doing all right, Hermione?" she asked solemnly, sitting down opposite her. "Yes," lied Hermione; after a minute of bottling this up, however, she confessed, "No." Minerva nodded, "I thought as much. Professor Snape has been to see me this morning and-" "He visited with you this morning?" interrupted Hermione. "Yes, he did; he told me to tell you that he wouldn't be back until this evening. He said he had business to attend." Hermione nodded slowly, "Oh. So...what did he say?"
"He saw me this morning and asked me to keep an eye on you and Adrian. He wanted me to look after you." Hermione smiled inwardly, "Oh." Minerva raised an eyebrow, "I think your marriage is yielding more than either of you expected, yes?" Hermione blushed slightly and looked at a corner of her office, "Maybe." Minerva let out a sigh, "I was so worried too. I'm glad to hear it." Hermione looked up, "Worried? Why so?"
She looked askance at Hermione, "I confess I have been worried about Severus for years. He's always been alone. But ever since this year there's been a considerable improvement in his attitude, and I gladden to see it." Hermione felt her heart swell, "Oh." Suddenly Minerva's eyes were alight, and she said, "And of course, you've changed too." Hermione looked surprised, and Minerva laughed as she continued, "You're a little more carefree this year, Hermione. I know you think otherwise because of your concern for Adrian, but I've noticed that you're also considerably more carefree with your life. You're happier; content."
Hermione thought she was wrong, and adamantly so, but then she began to think on these statements, and realized that Minerva was right. She was happy. She was content. She had Severus and Adrian. And that was all that mattered.
Minerva cleared her throat and said, "I think I accomplished my goal. I'll see you later, Hermione. Enjoy the weekend." She disappeared, and Hermione silently complemented her tact; accomplished her goal indeed.