Disclaimer: It's not mine, so don't ask!
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! This chapter is dedicated to Unus Salus Salazar and Renegade Seraph, thanks for the great ideas! As I said in the last chapter, they're getting used to each other and becoming friends, so in this chapter, we see a softer side of Sevvie (Yay!). However, there are some interesting things going on in this chapter, including some sad moments, sad conversations, and some major revelations and growing in Severus and Hermione's relationship. This chapter was pretty tough for me to write, so I hope that you enjoy!
Take Time to Smell the Roses
Chapter Eight
Severus turned and looked up at the sound of light footsteps on the creaky wooden stairs, and froze mid-stride. The sight of her was enough to make him speechless. There were no words that he could think of to describe her beauty.
'Enchanting, radiant, captivating,' Severus thought as he stared at her. 'Those are the closest I can think to even begin to describe her.'
"Do I look okay?" Hermione was worried since he was just staring at her with an un-readable expression on his face. "Or maybe I should ask if you're okay?"
"You're late," Severus said, not knowing how to tell her what he really thought, and even more afraid to let himself open up and tell her. So he reverted back to his defence mechanisms: sarcasm and scorn.
"I'm sorry you don't approve." Hermione said anxiously when he avoided answering her question.
"I never said that. Stop putting words into my mouth. I think you look fine," Severus pulled on his jacket and helped an apprehensive Hermione into hers.
"I'm so nervous about this," Hermione looked tense, and Severus wasn't helping any.
The way he was acting was confusing her. He was acting so indifferent towards her, like he used to. However, the past few weeks she had even thought they had become friends in a way. Now though, he was contradicting himself, and seemed to be fighting inner demons.
"Don't be nervous Hermione, you'll be fine."
"Shall we go? I don't want us to be any later than we already are."
"Lets," he replied, and holding out his arm for her to take, which she did, they apparated away.
A few minutes later they reappeared in the entrance hall of Malfoy Manor where they handed their coats to one house elf and their invitation to another of the waiting house elves who quickly ran to the top of the grand staircase to announce them once they were ready.
"Oh I can't do this. We're late, and most people are already here, and everyone is going to hate me!" Hermione moaned to herself as the whole realisation that she and Severus were about to make their societal debut as husband and wife, not to mention Lord and Lady Snape.
"I thought we talked about this back at the house," Severus said, almost irritatedly. "You're acting like a bloody Hufflepuff. Are you a Gryffindor or not?"
"Of course I am," Hermione shot back then paused, thinking, before continuing. "I am acting silly, aren't I? I guess I really don't care what they think of me, just-"
"Just what?" This time he did sound irritated.
"Never mind," Hermione shook her head. "Let's go, I'm ready."
Severus held out his right hand, palm down and Hermione laid her left hand on top as they walked to the top of the grand staircase. Hermione could see everything from where they stood. Tables lined the edges of both walls with large buffet tables set up near the end of the room on either side of the dais where the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge and his wife Annalisa Fudge sat. To the left of the bottom of the grand staircase was a platform with a small orchestra playing. At the right were a few reporters and camera men.
"Announcing Lord Severus Snape and Lady Hermione Snape," the house elf announced at Severus' nod, his voice magically projecting into the hall that had several hundred people in it.
At that very surprising and shocking announcement, most people turned to look up at them as they began descending. Hermione was shaking, but knowing that Severus was right beside her gave her comfort for some reason. She wouldn't admit it, but she was beginning to think of him as a good friend, especially with the way he had treated her just a little while ago. Keeping her head high and her posture straight, she ignored the camera flashes and reporters. Stepping off the staircase she and Severus crossed the room till they were in front of the Minister and his wife.
"Minister Fudge, Mrs. Fudge," Hermione and Severus said simultaneously as they bowed and curtsied, respectively.
"Lord and Lady Snape, a pleasure to have you here," the Minister of Magic replied as a dismissal.
"Thank you," Severus replied straightening back up. Taking Hermione's hand, he led her over to the side to one of the small tables. Walking over to the drink table, he poured two glasses of wine and brought them back to the table where Hermione was now conversing with who he recognised as Elaine Longbottom, Neville Longbottom's eccentric Grandmother.
"Good Evening Mrs. Longbottom, I trust you're well?" He asked as he came over to them and handed Hermione a glass of wine.
"Quite well Severus, thank you," she replied staring beadily at him. "Just chatting with this lovely creature here about school."
"Oh?" Severus said, not really paying attention as several more families arrived, including the Parkinson's, Zambini's, Crabbe's and Goyle's.
"Yes, we were talking about my grandson and his talents in Herbology."
"Professor Sprout says he would make a superb Herbologist someday," Hermione commented.
"Yes, so I've heard," he said once again not paying attention due to the fact that Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco had just made their grand entrance and many people were applauding them, since they were the hosts after all.
"If you'll excuse me, I see the Chang's across the room," Mrs. Longbottom said standing up. "Severus, if you'll escort me over? I'm too old to be at these things."
"Of course," he said, knowing it would be rude to refuse. Turning to Hermione he said, "You'll be fine for a few minutes?"
"Yes," she said taking a sip of the wine. "You go ahead."
Hermione watched him slowly walk away with Mrs. Longbottom holding his arm, chatting about something to which Severus was nodding occasionally at. She was so wrapped up in watching him she didn't even hear several people come up behind her. However, when she stood up to go get something to eat, she turned around only to come face to face with Draco, Pansy, Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle. Draco would've looked very handsome in his tuxedo were it not for the sneer he wore across his face. Blaise had always been quiet around her and the other Gryffindors, so she didn't know what he was like, other than the fact that many girls thought her was cute with his sandy brown hair and green eyes. Crabbe and Goyle's tuxedos were nice, but looked ready to burst open because of their bulging mid-sections. Pansy was looking very…flashy, for lack of a better word, in her neon pink halter top gown that was very low cut in front, had no back, and had thigh high slits. The dress was also covered in glitter, and made her stand out very noticeably, especially amongst the black of the tuxedos. She too was wearing a sneer, and was gripping Draco's arm tightly, something which Draco didn't look especially thrilled with.
'I guess his parents told him to be nice to her.' Hermione thought. 'I actually feel a little sorry for him.'
"What are you doing here mudblood?" Pansy asked with her nose in the air. "This is for high society members only."
"Yes, I'm well aware," Hermione replied as she calmed herself down from the shock of seeing people she didn't especially like, and one she didn't know, right in front of her.
"Then why don't you answer the question as to why you're here, because I know an invitation was not sent to you," Draco glared at her, but then his demeanour totally changed. "Oh hello Professor Snape, how are you?"
"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Parkinson, Mr. Zambini, Mr. Crabbe, Mr. Goyle," Severus nodded at each of them in turn as he came to stand next to Hermione. "Everything all right over here?"
"Of course Professor," Pansy replied, her voice sugar coated. "We were just asking why her she's here, since she isn't exactly high society."
"Oh, did she not introduce herself properly?" Severus glanced questioningly at Hermione out of the corner of his eye.
"I didn't have the chance," Hermione replied rolling her eyes.
"Well then, allow me," Severus smirked. "May I introduce my wife, Lady Hermione Snape."
"WIFE?!?!" Draco and Pansy exclaimed while Crabbe and Goyle stared dumbly. Blaise looked surprised, but didn't say anything, just looked from one to the other before smirking, almost as if in approval.
"Yes, now if you'll excuse us, I'd like a dance with my husband," Hermione took Severus' arm and they walked to dance floor just in time for a slow foxtrot. "Oh that was priceless!"
"I'd have to say you're right," Severus agreed as they began to dance. "What were you saying earlier?"
"About what?"
"You were saying that you don't care what people think of you, just- and you wouldn't finish your sentence."
"You actually remember that?"
"Yes, and I've been curious to know what your train of thought was." Severus spun her out and then pulled her back in.
"Well I was going to say that I didn't really care what people thought of me, just-" she paused.
"Yes?" Severus prompted.
"Just, I didn't want people to look down upon you," Hermione bowed her head, but Severus could still see the blush that covered her cheeks. "For marrying me and all."
"Hermione, I-" Severus was at a loss for words yet again. "Thank you."
Now he felt guilty. Once again she was worried about him and his character. He just couldn't believe that she he had cared about other's opinions of him.
"You're welcome," she said quietly, and they finished out the dance in silence.
"Excuse me Professor, Mrs. Snape, may I cut in?" Blaise Zambini was standing there.
"Go ahead, since I plan on stealing Severus for a dance," Narcissa Malfoy said as she came up behind Blaise and grabbed Severus by the hand and began dancing with him, leaving Hermione to dance with Blaise.
"Let me apologise for Draco and Pansy and their behaviour earlier," Blaise took one of her hands in his and placed the other on her waist as they began to waltz.
"Oh," Hermione was taken aback first by his dance invitation, and secondly by his sincerity. "Thank you, but you really don't have to."
"I should have said something in your defence though. They can be pretty harsh at times."
"Yeah, but they had a point," Hermione replied. "I'm not a part of high society, or at least I wasn't."
"Congratulations," Blaise said. "On your marriage to Professor Snape, I mean. He's a good guy, once you get past the sarcasm."
"Thanks," Hermione said, and she actually meant it. She looked around the room, her eyes finally landing on Narcissa and Severus who were dancing on the other side of the room from them. "You're right, he is a good guy."
Hermione finished dancing with Blaise and was soon grabbed up by Mrs. Longbottom once more who led her over to the buffet table to get some food, and then to one of the little tables.
"You can come keep an old lady company," Elaine Longbottom instructed as she sat down. "Don't worry about your husband, Narcissa won't hurt him."
"Oh, I wasn't worried, I was just wondering where he was," Hermione said as she also sat down.
"Of course you weren't, that's why you were looking for him as you sat down." Elaine smiled knowingly as Hermione blushed. "It's okay to admit it, he is your husband after all."
"Okay, maybe I was looking for him." Hermione admitted.
"I thought so. Don't worry about it dear, he's just as smitten with you," Elaine commented and Hermione looked at her curiously. "Every few minutes his eyes search for you. You two make a very good match I'd say, appearance-wise at least. And from what I know about both of you, you have a true 'marriage of the minds.' Oh look, there're the Patil's, you can walk with me over to say hello."
Mrs. Longbottom led her over to converse with the Patil's, and soon Hermione forgot about Severus who was still with Narcissa. Severus however, had not forgotten about Hermione in the slightest since he had begun dancing with Narcissa, as the conversation was about her.
"So nice to see you Severus, I'd have thought you would have stayed home like always?" Narcissa purred at him, her words sickeningly sweet.
"Yes well, I have my reasons," Severus replied.
"Oh yes, Draco told me that you married a little mudblood Gryffindor."
"Narcissa…" Severus said warningly.
"Sorry Severus, I know you don't like that word," Narcissa said, not really sorry at all.
"She is an intelligent young woman, with a mind that could rival some of the greatest of our time. Muggle parents and all, she is doing much better than your son in school when it comes to grades."
"Yes, well some things are more important than good grades," Narcissa smirked.
"Since I know you want me to, I'll humour you and ask; what?"
"Good morals for one," Narcissa's smirk turned into a glare. "Have you even thought about what you've done?"
"Who are you to talk of good morals Narcissa?"
"We are not talking about me here, we're talking about you," She waved off the question. "You have gone and married a child, Severus. Not only the fact that she is just barely legal, she is also a muggle born. If I had known you were so desperate for a good fuck, I could've easily set you up with someone." Narcissa pulled him off the dance floor. They were standing in front of a set of open doors that led to an outside balcony and garden; however no one was out there as the night had turned chilly, even with it being summer.
"You know very well that's not true," he tensed up at her bluntness as she grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. "I don't have to defend myself, or my choices to you."
"And yet you are anyways, aren't you? But as I was saying, you have gone and married a child, stolen her innocence I'm sure, since you had to finalise the marriage. And what of her reputation? People will wonder if she has been sleeping with you, her professor, to get good grades. And I bet you probably haven't even told her about the fact that wizards, especially the old families, don't believe in divorce, have you?" Narcissa took his silence as a confirmation. "And now she will be stuck with you for the rest of her life when she could have married someone who would've been her own age."
"You act as if I'm responsible for all of this. Yes my father sent an application in my name to a match-making agency, and yes I needed to get married to avoid dying, but she could have easily refused if she had so chosen," Severus was angry now. "What would you have had me do?"
"Once again, I know several women who would've married you, no questions asked. And they're all women of reputable age, family, and class."
"I know those women of which you speak; they're nothing but gold-digging whores." Severus scowled. "And why do you even care Narcissa?
"Maybe so, but at least they wouldn't mind being with a man who has no capacity to love. You don't know how to love Severus. Even when we were children, you were always the one who never showed a modicum of affection, even around your parents. Draco even tells me that he loves me, and Lucius shows that he cares for me. I guess the reason I care is because you are going to rob her of something that I'm sure she has received all her life, what with her Gryffindor friends that Draco is always telling me about."
"And what's that?"
"Love, Severus. All girls, whether they will admit it or not, need it, want it, and crave it." Narcissa was getting very passionate in her speaking. "Did you take a really good look at her tonight Severus? She looks like a little puppy, desperate for her master's approval. I bet you didn't compliment her in the slightest, did you?"
"I told her she looked fine," Severus muttered.
"And I bet she looked upset, or nervous, or uneasy when you did." Narcissa looked exasperated.
'She's right,' Severus thought back to earlier that evening. 'I've been so preoccupied with keeping my feelings hidden that I didn't even realise how much I was bothering Hermione. Even if ours is just a marriage of convenience, I should make an effort to open up and trust her. She's been opening up to me, trying to be a friend, and I've kept the walls there for the most part.'
"The one thing that she will need from you above all else, love, is the one thing you don't know how to give." Narcissa turned and walked away to join her husband, leaving a visibly upset and angry Severus behind.
'I am ruining her life,' Severus thought as he left the room.
Hermione excused herself from where she had been standing with the Patil's and Mrs. Longbottom. She had seen what appeared to be a very heated exchange between Severus and Mrs. Malfoy, and a moment after Mrs. Malfoy left him, he stalked out of the room into the garden. Concerned, she made her way around the room and out the door into the garden to find him.
"Severus?" She called out as she stepped outside into the chilly night air. "Are you out here?"
"Go back inside," his voice came from somewhere ahead of her.
"What happened with Mrs. Malfoy?" she walked in the direction that his voice had come from and came across him sitting on a stone bench.
"Nothing that concerns you," his voice was so pained, it made Hermione sad to hear it.
"You're my husband, of course it concerns me," she sat down next to him, shivering slightly in the cold air. Severus pulled off his coat and placed it around her shoulders. "Thank you."
"I have ruined your life, haven't I?" He asked suddenly.
"Of course not, why do you ask? Was it something Mrs. Malfoy said?"
"You could have married someone so much better than me. I'm sixteen years older than you, and I'm your professor!" Severus had stood up and was pacing in front of her. "Your reputation is going to be ruined, your classmates might ostracize you, and people will wonder if you've been screwing me to get better grades. And something else I don't know if you know is that in the wizarding world, divorce is unheard of."
"I didn't know until I read that in one of the books in your library." Hermione also stood up.
"You are stuck with me till I die. Maybe I should save you the horrors of life with me and Avada Kedavra myself." He sat down hard on the bench with his head in his hands.
"Stop!" Hermione stepped in front of him. "Don't ever say that again."
"Why?" Severus looked torn up. Hermione thought he wasn't telling her the whole truth, but she wasn't going to push him.
"Because I chose to be stuck with you," Hermione replied. "I could've refused to pick you Severus. Like I told my parents, you're knowledgeable, mature, you don't care about my muggle heritage, you won't hinder my education, you won't exploit me, and you won't hurt me. Well at least not intentionally, and look how the past few weeks have gone. I think we've come a ways in our relationship from where it was, and I think we'll be okay Severus. Just don't let anything that wretched woman said get to you."
"You are being so understanding, and I've been horrible to you. I wasn't even honest when you asked what I thought of your appearance. You look radiant, and I should have told you that." Severus looked up at her. "I don't deserve your kindness, but thank you."
"You're welcome." Hermione smiled shyly at him. "Um, Severus?"
"Yes?"
"May I give you a hug?" Hermione blushed a little.
Severus was shocked. He had not been hugged by anyone since he was a little boy, and now this incredible woman in front of him wanted to give him one. He nodded by way of answering her, and she stepped closer and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, her head resting against his chest. He awkwardly brought his arms around her waist gently, almost as if he was afraid she would break. They stood there for a few moments until Hermione drew back.
"We should get back to the party," she said looking up at him as she handed him his jacket back.
"Yes, I suppose we should," he agreed, and holding out his arm, they walked back inside to enjoy the rest of the ball in each other's company, both feeling much happier.
A/N: Okay, that was really tough for me to write, just because I'm worried about keeping Severus in character. Like I said last chapter, I don't think it's possible to keep Severus perfectly in character in a love story. However, I do think that he does have a sensitive side. However, it's hard to keep writing him as a big, bad, potions professor, and I can totally see him being distressed about himself and his marriage to Hermione after the conversation he had with Narcissa (she was fun to write). He's suddenly realising a lot of things in a new way that he hadn't considered. And the hug at the end; oh that was so much fun! I can just picture in my mind Hermione being all shy about wanting to comfort him and give him a hug, so she asks him! Once again, as always, review if you like, but its okay if you don't!