Chapter 9

Discovered Secrets

Snape and Ron had managed to keep their affair a secret from everyone. Hermione, however, was noticing the change in her friends behavior, his absence from dinner on occasion, as well as his late night returns to the Gryffindor tower. She began to worry that he was in some sort of trouble even though every time she asked him about he said he was fine. So, one night, she decided to borrow Harry's invisibility cloak and follow him.

It was a night in late winter and Ron had actually shown up to eat in the Great Hall. He took his seat next to Harry like always and quickly finished off the food in front of him while both Harry and Hermione gave him an odd look. "What?" He asked between bites.

"Ron, mate, you need to slow down. You're gonna choke to death or something" Harry said trying not to laugh. "Why you eating so fast, got somewhere to be?"

The other boy shot his head up and blushed slightly. "Not really, just need to get some homework done."

"Of course, homework." Hermione replied in a mocking tone.

Ron jumped up out of his seat and nearly ran out of the Great Hall. "See you guys later." He called back over his shoulder as the doors closed behind him.

Harry sat in silence for a moment before turning to Hermione. "It's Friday, isn't it?" The girl nodded. "Then why is Ron doing his homework tonight?" He added. That's when she frowned then grabbed the cloak next to her and took off after Ron.

The corridor was dark and empty as he made his way to the potion masters office. Ron pushed to door open a bit and peaked in to see Snape sitting at his desk reading over the papers his year had turned in earlier that day. He stepped in without making a sound, leaving the door open behind him. "I got top marks, right?" The Gryffindor said with a smile.

The older man nearly jumped out of his chair at the question. "Oh, it's you. Don't do that to me. I might have a heart attack if you're not careful. I'm not as young as I used to be." He stated as he rested his head in his hands and sighed.

The red head walked around behind his teacher and began to rub his shoulders. "Something wrong with my favorite teacher?" Ron whispered into the other ear as he massaged a bit harder.

"Mmmm." Was his only response as he tilted his head back and found the younger mans lips with his own. Eventually the kiss broke and Severus sighed contently. "I'm much better now."

Ron moved around in front of the man in the chair and climbed into his lap. He wiggled around for a bit to get himself comfortable then smiled. "So did I pass at least?"

"Barely." Severus replied as he wrapped his arms around the boy in his lap. "Though, I must admit, your grades have been improving since you actually started paying attention to your teacher." The older mans head shot up quickly and his eyes fell on the half open door. "Did you hear that?"

"Hmm, hear what?" The boy said half asleep on his potion masters lap.

"I'm serious. I heard someone." He placed a quick kiss on the others forehead. "You better get back to your room."

The Gryffindor reluctantly slid off the chair and headed towards the door. He stepped out into the hallway and took a deep breath. The corridor appeared to be empty until Ron ran into an invisible being. At first he thought it was his imagination playing with him. Then he realized there really was someone there. "Harry…?" He jumped to his feet and ran straight to the Gryffindor tower not wanting to face anyone right outside his lovers office.

Ron was sitting in the common room the next day reading some random magazine article about Quidditch relieved that Harry hadn't said anything to him yet. It was then that someone stepped in front of his chair and stopped, tapping their foot at him. It was Hermione, obviously. He lowered the magazine and slowly looked up at her. "Something bothering you, Hermione?"

"We need to talk, Ronald. Come on , let's go outside where no one will hear us." With that she turned on her heal and walked briskly out of the Gryffindor tower with Ron following behind her.

They stopped under a tree close to the lake where Hermione sat down keeping her eyes fixed on the Gryffindor boy. There was an obvious anger in her eyes that Ron truly wanted to avoid so he kept looking around. "Sit! You have some explaining to do."

With a sigh he dropped down on the grass next to her and buried his face in his hands. "What do you want me to explain?"

"What was that last night, Ronald? What were you doing in Snape's office at that time? Doing that? And don't try to tell me you weren't doing anything because I saw you. I stood right there and watched. " Her breathing was a bit heavier which indicated that she was quite upset with him.

"I…well ….we've kinda been together. Not like slept together, but, like…….dating…… kind of." Ron turned bright red with the finishing the statement, realizing how dumb he sounded.

"How long?" Hermione said, the anger seeming to intensify.

"Since the start of term I guess." He replied as he ran his shaking hand through his hair. "I ran into him this summer and we talked a bit and it just kind of happened." Ron finally loooked up and made eye contact withHermione, his eyes wide."Promise me you won't tell Harry, please."

She dropped her head and sighed. It wasn't like her to condemn people for their choice of partners and she wasn't going to start now. "I won't tell him, but you need to be more careful. If Malfoy found out it would be the end of you andProfessor Snapeboth." With that being said Ron simply smiled then jumped up and ran off towards the castle.