Severus woke up on his back, his left arm shoved under his head and his right wrapped around the woman curled up on his chest.
My wife…Hermione Granger Snape…she even took my name…I wonder if that was a clause in the law…I'll have to ask Mr. Treed…
His inner monologue was interrupted by a sleepy "Severus?"
He answered her with a squeeze, not trusting his voice before coffee. As if reading his mind, Hermione raised her head up just a hair off his torso and called out.
"Monly? Breakfast, please?"
He was pleased to see she laid back down on him, her curls tickling his nose. They laid in silence for about ten minutes before a familiar pop came from the foot of the bed.
"Mistress, Master, Monly has coffee and new banana nut bread from Mistress' book of yummies."
"Book of Yummies?" asked Severus.
"She means my recipe book I brought back from America. They have some fascinating foods, especially in the area Michael lives in."
They sat up in bed, arranging themselves against the headboard, and continued conversing as Monly laid a tray on each of their laps.
"During the two winters I was there I became hooked on cheese grits."
"Grits? Yankee Wizards eat stone?"
"No, grits are a ground corn dish, best served with either pieces of bacon or heaping mounds of cheese, and both Wizards and Muggles enjoy them. There's also a delicious sauce called Hickory Smoke Barbeque that they serve on shredded pork or shredded chicken."
"Fascinating."
"Quidditch scores?" she asked, handing Severus a section of The Daily Prophet.
"Yes, thank you, must see how Puddlemere is doing."
"It must kill you that Harry is the seeker who continues to beat your favorite team."
"Daily, Hermione, daily. At least in this, I can be assured that Albus would have sided with me, rather than the Prat-who-Lived."
She picked up the front page of the newspaper, to read a fascinating article on the new regulations for importing an Asian version of gillyweed.
Would this be their future? Having lie-ins, eating breakfast in bed together, easily discussing the news of the day and lightly teasing him about how he was as hopeless as Ron?
Finishing her two slices of bread and coffee, she slid out of the bed and walked over to the wardrobe. It took Severus a second to register that she was looking to get dressed, and he hurriedly tried to move the tray and get up.
"I'll just go in the other room; I need to prepare for my appointment with Draco and Mr. Thippet."
"It's okay, stay and finish your breakfast…I need to take a bath anyway," she replied, gathering a clean set of robes in her arm and entering the bathroom.
Severus watched as the door closed behind her, listening as the water began running for her bath.
I wonder if she meant for the bathtubs to be that large? Big enough for both of us to sit in. I would be able to lean against the side…with her situated between my legs…her back firmly up against my chest…my hands around her waist…soaping her up…
Sighing, Severus made his way to his own bathroom, shucking his clothes and climbing into the coldest shower he could stand.
Hermione padded barefoot into the sitting room, sitting in her armchair so she could lace up her boots.
"That was quick," came Severus' voice from his bedroom door.
"I didn't have to wash my hair this morning," she replied, her head bent down so she missed the smile that flitted across his face.
"Did Minerva actually show you our suite of rooms?"
"No," she asked suspiciously, "why?"
"There's only one full bath, so we'll be sharing."
"Well, I usually bathe at night, and you usually shower in the morning, so we should be able to work out a schedule."
Or we could just share.
"What?" said Hermione, whipping her head up to stare at her husband.
Severus gave her a questioning glance, and she tilted her head to the side, assuming the she had just thought something herself.
"I am due at Malfoy Enterprises in ten minutes, and expect to stay through lunch. Shall I see you at tea?"
She leaned back in her chair and smiled, "Of course, I'm headed to the Burrow to meet Ron and Harry for a Weasley birthday. But I feel certain the talk will turn to Quidditch shortly after lunch, so I'll be back here working in the lab."
"Excellent, I will see you then," he passed by her chair to head to the main floo, pausing and dropping a light kiss on the top of her head, before swiftly exiting downstairs without another word.
An indulgent grin spread across her face, as she sat stunned staring at the now empty doorway.
Severus apparated into the main Wizarding entrance for Malfoy Enterprises, and stood still as a hovering bronze trapezoid scanned him for prohibited items.
I wonder if Hermione must endure this humiliation in order to see Lady Malfoy.
"Lady Snape floos in directly to Lady Malfoy's office," came a familiar voice from the doorway, answering his unspoken question. "Lord Malfoy has asked me to register your aura with the building floos also."
"Mr. Zabini," Severus said, looking up at his ex-student.
"Professor," replied the imposing black wizard.
"You may call me Severus, everyone else bloody well does."
"Once we are in the safety of Lord Malfoy's offices, the formality disappears," Blaise said, with a slight smirk. "Until then, Professor Snape, shall we?" He stepped back through the door and waited for Severus to follow him in.
The fifteen story building was impressive, futuristic glass and steel, with solid brushed aluminum walls. The offices were in a square, with an atrium in the center, so a wizard on the bottom level could see all the way to the small dome on the top. Two reception desks sat at ground level, one for the Wizarding world and the other for Muggles doing business. As they strode to one of the four glass elevators, Blaise began explaining the layout.
"The Malfoys found this muggle building, and decided to do a few minor renovations, instead of building a new headquarters from the ground up. Hence the elevators. The ground floor is reception, and we keep a few empty boardrooms for presentations to Muggle companies. Also, between Lady Malfoy and your wife, they insisted we lease a space to a company called Starbucks. Worked out well, in fact, we are in the process of opening up full Wizard versions in Hogsmeade and London. Huge draw with the young muggle-born Hogwarts crowd. The first through the tenth floors are research and production; we've spelled them to be much larger on the inside. The eleventh through thirteenth floor are marketing and executive offices. And the fourteenth floor," he paused as the elevator opened to another smaller reception area. "This floor holds Lord and Lady Malfoys offices, along with mine and Lady Malfoy's assistant, and our private receptionist."
"Good Morning, Mister Zabini, Lord Malfoy is waiting in his office, and the rest of your correspondence has been set on your desk," chirped a petite black-haired witch dressed in stylish olive robes, who was waving her wand over some sort of board with letters on it and staring at a screen, while directing floating manila folders into file cabinets with her other hand.
Severus leaned down at the board, and then sent Blaise a questioning look.
"Muggle computer, we are in the process of perfecting a shield bubble that will allow certain electronics to work within magical spaces. In fact, I believe Mr. Gates has an appointment with us next month to finalize our con– "
"SEVERUS!"
"Lord Malfoy," Severus nodded in his godson's direction.
"None of that, here, Severus," Draco crossed the tastefully decorated waiting area and perched himself atop the receptionist desk. "Sydney, darling, you look simply beautiful this morning, has my return owl from Mr. Brunson arrived yet?"
"It's Mr. Bronson, and stop flirting and remove yourself from her desk, before I tell your wife," came a cheeky answer from behind Severus. He turned around to see yet another of his former Slytherins.
"Miss Greengrass," he gave a slight bow of his head.
"Good morning, Professor, and it's Mrs. Zabini. I'm Ginny's assistant, which means-"
"Which means she keeps him out of trouble, or doesn't let me know when it occurs," said Ginny as she stepped through the private fireplace floo. "Is this a business or a coffee shop?"
The red-head gave a quick kiss to her husband, gave Blaise a familiar nod, and then stretched up on tiptoes to peck Severus' cheek, before continuing her tirade while walking towards what Severus assumed was her office door. "Sydney, please book a nice vacation for Dr. Jumelia in product testing, his wife caught me out shopping last week and was in a tizzy over him forgetting their 25th anniversary. Blaise, please make sure you get with Daphne today to sync our calendars, Mum is going to have a fit if either of us misses another Weasley birthday party. Daphne – "
A white cup with green writing was thrust into her hand by the amused assistant, who followed Ginny into her office, closing the door behind them.
"Ah, the dance of a thousand mornings begins again," sighed Draco. "Notify Blaise or myself immediately when that owl arrives, Sydney." He slid off her desk and led the other two men into his office.
"Mr. Thippet should be here shortly, would you care for a cup of tea?" Blaise asked, heading over to a small bar area.
Draco threw himself in the chair behind his desk and swung around to face Severus.
"Did she like the clock?"
"Quite. I believe she was a surprised as you were."
"Distribution says we already have over 25 clocks ordered, and we haven't even handed the product information to marketing. Ginny thinks it will become the wedding gift of the next century."
"Draco?"
The blonde cocked his head to the side and looked at Severus, "Yes?"
"Can you explain to me how an office full of pureblood wizards created a company that intertwines the Muggle and Wizarding world?"
"Money. There are billions more Muggles than Wizards in this world, and eradication wasn't working."
Severus allowed a small smirk at the dark joke.
"So, to make money, we had to figure out a way to cater to both. The number of muggle-born wizards and witches, and half-blood wizards and witches far outstrips the purebloods. Many of them want to retain a sense of belonging to their first world, and our business does that. We have even branched out into strictly muggle areas."
"Such as?"
"Foodstuffs mostly. Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans are currently being sold in muggle bookstores and other outlets around the world. As soon as we perfect Chocolate Frogs that don't hop, those will roll out into stores. On those two items alone, Ginny and I could retire."
"Fascinating." Severus said, in a bored voice, however his mind was racing with the change in Draco's worldview. Ginny's true love must have been potent to counteract years of Lucius intimidating and influencing the boy.
Could Hermione eventually change me?
"Mr. Thippet has arrived," sang Sydney's voice threw a small box on Draco's rather large desk.
Blaise went to the door and swung it open, allowing the tailor access.
"Ah, Lord Malfoy, my little blonde one, how are you?" asked the old wizard as he grasped Draco who had come from around the desk in both arms and kissed his cheeks.
"Just fine, Thip, and how is your granddaughter?" Draco answered, returning the embrace.
"She's doing lovely! Graduating from Beauxbatons next year, and then she'll begin an apprenticeship with me in the summer."
"Excellent, I can't wait to see her work. Thip," Draco said, turning to Severus who arose from his chair, "this is Lord Snape, the Professor I told you about who needed a whole new wardrobe."
Before Severus could correct him, Mr. Thippet clapped his hands in glee and began to work.
The next three hours were spent taking measurements, and trying to convince Severus that black was not the only color in the world. Draco was pleased when by the end, he had worn the older man down to five new sets of robes, four black and one deep green, along with new pairs of black trousers, and eight new shirts, four black, two white, a dark green, and a dark blue that matched Hermione's anniversary dress.
Draco, himself, had decided on a few new style shirts, while Blaise was taking his time debating between a cream set that went well with his dark skin and a deep maroon set that was of a richer fabric than he normally purchased.
"Get them both," said Draco airily, "Merlin knows Ginny and Daphne buy out when the Italian dressmaker comes, not to mention what they throw at Sydney. Hermione would be as bad if she had the chance," he added, seeing Severus' grimace.
Mr. Thippet smiled from ear to ear while a magical quill hovered beside him taking down each wizards order.
"One week, Lord Malfoy," the tailor said as he packed his things. "I will have yours and Master Zabini's attire flooed here, as usual. Lord Snape, you wish to have your robes delivered directly to Snape Manor? Good, good," he continued without waiting for an answer, "if I can be of any further assistance before the fall season, Lord Malfoy, please owl me."
"Thank you, Thip, give my love to your daughter and granddaughter." Draco patted the old man affectionately on the arm, before Blaise led him out.
"Ready for lunch?" Blaise asked from the open doorway.
As an answer, Draco lifted his wand and a small table to the side of the office was suddenly draped in a tablecloth and set with three place settings.
"Only two today, Draco, I'm going out with Daphne."
Draco waved his wand again to adjust the table, and waited for Severus to sit down. A small house elf – Knocy or Nomy, one of Lucius' old elves – appeared with two servings of Mongolian Beef with rice and chopsticks. A small pot of hot tea along with a carafe of plum wine topped off the meal.
"Hermione will be pleased with your choices."
"What makes you think I care about what she thinks?" Severus said, feeling rather out of control of the whole situation.
"It's written all over your face," Draco answered. "Don't get offended, you git, I just meant that the two of you are getting along right famously. You know, the land of the married is quite an enjoyable place. Besides all the great sex."
"Speaking of which, never insult my wife again."
"Don't worry, Ginny made her opinions quite apparent."
"Let me make mine clear also. She's no longer just one of your school chums, she is my wife, and an offense to her is an offense to me."
"Noted, Severus," Draco answered his tone growing cold. "It would also serve you to remember that I am no longer your student, nor is my wife, and we deserve the same respect."
Ah, so the little Slytherin did grow a backbone…I wonder if this is what Lucius would have been like if he had been a Gryffindor.
Severus allowed himself an unguarded chuckle.
"Severus?" questioned Draco, raising an eyebrow as the tension in the room disappated.
"I was just thinking that my relationship with you and your wife will be vastly different than the one I had with the prior Lord and Lady Malfoy."
"And?"
"I can't say I'm not pleased by the change," he said, the many unspoken assurances of friendship lightening the mood. "Now, tell me more about these box seats you have for the Quidditch World Cup in August."
"Well, Potter will most likely be the British National Team Seeker…"
The conversation drifted, reminding Severus of the blessed days between Voldemort's first and second rise, when every once in a while he could have dinner with Minerva, Albus, Hooch and the rest of the staff and just enjoy life for the moment.
Severus cracked open his fortune cookie that had been set beside his plate and scowled.
"It's only a piece of paper, Severus, written by a minimum-wage wizard in another country. Why in Merlin's name are you grimacing like that?"
In response the older wizard tossed the slip of writing onto the table towards the younger one, who picked it up carefully to read it.
"Someone is hiding a secret from you," Draco said aloud, "You are not seriously going to let a fortune cookie ruin your mood. You, who have no patience for Divination!"
A thought occurred to Severus, and Draco could almost see the wheels turning in his mind.
"I want to see my bonding," he finally said, eyes narrowing across the table at Draco.
"I don't have a pensive," Draco neatly sidestepped.
"I don't need one."
"Severus, I think you should see it from Hermione."
"I think you should look me in the eyes."
"Are you sure this is the best idea? Don't you want to ask Hermione these questions?" Draco attempted, rather blatantly to avoid what was obviously an uncomfortable situation, which only made Severus more suspicious.
"Now, Malfoy."
"You always were one to frustrate the living hell out of everyone around you," Draco answered with malice, turning his face defiantly towards Severus.
All he got for his trouble was the rapid invasion of his mind. Draco pushed the memory to the forefront, part of him hoping Severus would regret his persistence, the other part scared to death Hermione was going kill him when she found out.
Unlike viewing a memory through a pensive, which allowed for seeing without emotions, Severus found himself thrust into his bonding and feeling the sensations of his godson.
The bonding party was surrounded by floor to ceiling windows, a forest of evergreens encroaching upon the tiny glass chapel. The floor was slate, and he could see other four participants in the ceremony in the center. Draco's hands were holding Hermione's, Minerva stood clasping their forearms, whilst Ginny and Remus stood a step back. He could see in the background the other guests.
Hermione was in a long black set of dress robes, stylish even if they weren't normal bonding wear, her bare feet peeking out the bottom, and he could feel Draco's amusement at the ten tiny glitter-black nails that adorned her feet. Ginny's influence, he somehow knew.
"Hermione, how do you come?" Minerva asked.
"I come willingly and with joy to bond myself to Severus Snape. I take him as my equal and my partner in all things. I offer him redemption in the eyes of the Creator and in the eyes of the law. I speak freely."
"Severus, how do you come?" She repeated to Draco.
"I, Draco Malfoy, come as Severus Snape's godson and heir to the House of Snape willingly and as proxy. I take Hermione as my equal and my partner in all things. I accept her offer of redemption. I speak freely."
The two witnesses each held up a ring, and presented it to Minerva. The Headmistress held the rings in the palm of her left hand and then covered them with her right before speaking.
"Symmetry and balance are the keys to a successful marriage. I present the rings you have chosen to symbolize your equal sharing of all responsibilities and rewards in this life. May you gain strength and comfort from each other."
She pressed her hands together and a bright light shone out, the rings glowing when she exposed them to the waiting couple.
"Severus?" Minerva asked.
"I, Draco Malfoy, willingly as proxy, give you this ring as my partner, my equal, my wife." He lifted the smaller ring out of Minerva's palm and carefully slid it onto Hermione's finger.
"Hermione?"
"I, Hermione Jane Granger, willingly give you this ring as my partner, my equal, my husband." She removed the larger ring out of her mentor's palm and slid it onto Draco's right hand, instead of his left, holding it there for a moment before removing it and stringing it on a platinum chain Remus was holding. The party stood still as Remus carefully linked the chain around Draco's neck and cast a disillusionment charm. It shimmered and disappeared from sight.
"May the Creator strengthen you through each others weaknesses. May He multiply that which you have to build a new family. May you live long and healthy lives, together and with respect. May you lean on each other as equals, holding up the banner of the Snapes," she looked around the group before finishing. "Dikos Mou Esos."
"Dikos Mou Esos," repeated Hermione and Draco.
"Dikos Mou Esos," echoed everyone else.
The strong feeling of pride that Draco had for Hermione overwhelmed Severus and he withdrew quickly from the memory to face a new reality.
"How DARE you keep that from me!" seethed Severus his hands tightly squeezing the arms of his dining chair, although at that moment he dearly wished to have them wrapped around the throat of a certain blond prat.
"It wasn't my place to tell, and I cannot believe you would stoop to the level of stupidity to be angry about this," Draco spat.
"How many other Deatheaters had a Dikos Mou Esos binding, Malfoy?" Severus asked, his anger seriously affecting his ability to reason.
"Three others had a bonding of equals; Ginny and I, Ron and Pansy, and Blaise and Daphne. Everyone else who was bonded under the law had a Dikos Mou Archontas binding."
"And everyone has conveniently forgotten to share this vital piece of information with me why?"
"Is that what you wanted?" Draco replied, his voice rising to a controlled shout, "A Dikos Mou Archontas binding, where she was your master? Where you were under her thumb and in her power for the remainder of your life?"
"Give me the ring. I'm going to see Treed," he held out his hand. "She will be Miss Granger again before dinner tonight."
"You are being wholly unreasonable! You should be thrilled about this!"
"I have had all charges dropped under the law, and refuse to be bound to anyone, especially her."
"SHE WANTS YOU JUST LIKE YOU WANT HER!" Draco exploded, rising from his seat and slamming both fists down on the table. "WHY can't you understand that, you dozy codger!"
"Give me the ring now, boy, before I take it," he hissed, his eyes growing cold.
"Talk to her, Severus, please," Draco tried another tactic, "let her explain."
Severus stood and reached for Draco's neck, and it was only with supreme willpower that Draco kept from flinching as Severus' fingers felt for the invisible chain. Grasping it with his hand, he roughly yanked, ripping it from Draco's neck.
"DAMN IT!" Draco swore, rubbing his collar. "What the hell is your real problem? Go home, tell her you're upset, and work through it. Don't throw this away, Severus."
"I am speaking to Mr. Treed within the hour, and will then be at the Manor. I forbid you to send her word."
"You're going to let her walk into this conversation, unaware?" The blonde wizard sank back into his chair.
"Turnabout," Severus answered with a sneer as he stormed out of the room, "is fair-play, even for a Gryffindor."
"And you are an idiot and a fool, Godfather," Draco said softly, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"He forbade you, not me," came Blaise's voice from the back doorway that led directly to his private office.
"How much did you hear?" Draco asked, a glimmer of hope springing forth.
"Enough to warn her."
"You have to find her and tell her to protect him from her."
"Don't you mean protect her from him?"
"No," replied the tired looking aristocrat, "she's going to kill him when she finds out what he's done. And if I'm lucky, the Gryffindor lioness won't come for me next."
A/N: I know this was an evil place to end, but TRUST ME, you want the next two sections together - so you'll see Severus preparing to confront Hermione and THE confrontation in Chapter 15. Thanks to Silverbutterfly and Droxy for the rec on WIKTT, ya'll have no idea how cool that was!
And, of course, military tanks to my beta, Drakien...21/2months to Vegas, baby!