Disclaimer: I do not own anything, just the plot.

Ok before we start I want to thank all my dedicated readers, even though this wasn't the first story I put on here it was the first one I started writing so it means a lot that it is so popular so my thanks go out to

My brother – who checks all my stories before they go up

And my dedicated readers -

LadySnapey

Evangeline01

green-eyed-angel

hAzEl.EyEd.GiRl

severus-is-my-baby

Tormenta Cristal

And to anyone else who read this your all stars! Xxx

And now on with the story

A.N. as you've guessed by now italics means thought but I'm introducing something else, italics with speech marks means telepathy

The Four Ds

Discovered

Over the next couple of months Hermione went down to Severus' chambers several times. The two had quickly adjusted to the relationship, and Severus couldn't believe how quickly she had taken over his life. During the day he'd miss her terribly and come evening he'd sit in the arm chair in his sitting room waiting for the door to open. Almost every night she'd arrive at eight, unless he had a detention or she had a lot of homework, in which case they would call it off for the night.

It was the morning of their four month anniversary and Severus woke Hermione up with breakfast in bed. Once they had finished eating he kissed her and handed her a small box. Hermione took it with shaky hands. It couldn't be what she thought could it. He opened the box to reveal a gold ring with three diamonds.

'Hermione, I know that we have not been in a relationship long, and I know I used to make your life hell, but I also know that I have loved you for many years now and that if I do not spend the rest of my life with you, then life is not worth living at all. So will you please make me the happiest man on earth and do me the honour of becoming my wife?'

Hermione was speechless, she looked at the ring and then to his face and could only see love reflected in his eyes.

This is big. Am I ready for this? I love him with all my heart, I know that but does this mean I'm ready for marriage. I want to be with him I know I do. Yes I am ready for this, but not until I have finished school.

In the mean time Severus sat there with bated breath. He knew it was a big step and he didn't expect her to answer straight away but the silence was unnerving. Was she getting ready to turn him down? After all he had made six years of her life hell why should she want to marry him. He had been stupid to even think she would consider it.

He readied himself for the rejection which he was sure was about to come. But it didn't, instead she looked up at him and smiled, love clearly shining in her eyes. He released the breath he had been holding.

'So I guess we're thinking of us as long term then, Severus,' she said.

'Only if you want to Hermione,'

'If I accept you realise that it can not happen until after I have left school, and only once people know about us. I need to break it to Harry and Ron first; after all I don't like lying to them. And you need to tell Dumbledore and McGonagall.'

'Yes I know that, and it wouldn't happen until after you left school, I respect your wishes and only want to please you. Whatever conditions you have I will respect them. I will do anything for you my love. I love you.

'And I love you. In that case, yes, I accept. I would love to be your wife, nothing would make me happier.'

He slid the ring onto her finger and kissed her. She kissed him back and ran her tongue along his bottom lip; he opened his mouth allowing her entrance as he pulled her towards him. After a few minutes she pulled away.

'As much as I would love to stay here and do that all day, I have classes to go to and you have classes to teach.'

She walked into the sitting room and picked up her school bag, Severus following behind her.

'Did you have to remind me that I need to teach those brats today, I was in such a good mood.' Hermione laughed.

'Then I guess it won't help your mood if I inform you that your first class is the seventh year newt class, which includes your most troublesome students,'

'And which students would they be my dear?'

'Well, my love, Harry Potter the bane of your existence, and his boyfriend Ron Weasley.' She had found that if she joked about her friends it made things easier for him, as she knew he wasn't exactly fond of them, 'and of course, the ever annoying ferret boy, Draco Malfoy.'

'Ah yes, now I remember. Do you ruin my mood on purpose? Does it give you some sick pleasure to remind me that they are in my first class of the day?'

'I'm sorry Sev, are they really that bad?'

'Yes, they are. But you forgot to mention that even though the class is full of brats, the most beautiful woman I have ever seen also attends this class, so that makes up for it.'

'Remind me to let lavender know you think so highly of her,' she laughed and kissed him on the cheek.

'Don't tease me young lady. Now I believe you have a class to get to.'

'Yes, Professor Snape.'

She walked up the corridor when Severus remembered something she said.

'Potter and Weasley are gay?'

She laughed.

'See you in class Sev'

Hermione tried her hardest to concentrate in potions but she found her mind wandering back to when she woke up. And she found her eyes wondering to her potions master arse. Her Potions Master. She liked how that sounded.

She snapped back to attention when she felt him looming over her. She looked up to him with a smile on her face, but it soon disappeared with the look he was giving her.

'Miss Granger is there any particular reason, that your potion is purple and not green?'

Not one that you'd want me to say in front of the class, Sev.

'No sir, I was distracted.'

'And what could have possibly distracted our resident know-it-all so much that she would mess up a potion as simple as this. Even Longbottom could brew it.'

'I'm sorry sir I was thinking about this morning,'

'And what could be so great that it is more important than your potion.' He said it with his usual sneer but she could see the smile in his eyes.

'I had a rather unexpected, but fantastic development with my relationship with my boyfriend.'

Severus noticed that both potter and Weasley gasped at this. It seems that his Hermione hadn't even told them she was seeing anyone. He chose this moment to show her what powers the ring she wore held.

'Hermione, I forgot to mention earlier your ring has certain powers. One of which allows us to communicate telepathically.'

'Oh, wow. Have you got a ring as well then?'

'Yes. But mine has a concealment charm on it. I didn't think you'd want to explain why we are wearing matching rings.'

'Ok, now is there a particular reason why you've activated this now. Only you'd better tell me quick people are starting to wonder why we are not talking.'

Severus looked around the room and it saw that they were indeed wondering why he had not said anything after her last remark. He hoped that he had at least kept the glare on his face while he had been talking to his fiancée.

'Really. Well as it is obviously much more important than the potion we are brewing why don't you share this news with the entire class.'

'You can't be serious Severus. Surely you don't mean me to tell them about us now.'

'Why not? I can't think of a better time. They need to know sometime and it seems to be a lesson for telling those two prats you call friends things they didn't know before. Forgot to mention that you were seeing someone did you?'

'They never asked where I disappeared to, to caught up with themselves I guess. What about the staff surely we should tell them first.'

'Actually after you left this morning I fire called Albus and told him. Incidentally he gives us his blessings and has informed the rest of the staff. All we need to do is break it to everyone else.'

'Alright then we'll tell them, but it's up to you to break it.'

'Well sir, I'm not really sure I want to share this with the class.'

'Why, is you boyfriend in here at the moment?'

He laughed inwardly at Potters attempts to work out who it could be.

Ah if only he knew. Well he will in a moment. I wonder if he'll faint. The Weasel probably will.

'No sir he isn't,' for a moment Snape wondered what she was doing, 'but my Fiancé is.'

Of course she. She was opening the way for him to tell them.

'Fiancé, and who would that be?'

'There's no need to tell you sir after all you already know. You have been covering up for US.'

Poster chose this moment to join the conversation.

'If Snape's been covering for you it has to be a Slytherin. Who is it Hermione? It must be someone bad if you didn't even tell us you had a boyfriend. It's not; it's not Malfoy is it?'

Hermione laughed, and then much to everyone's surprise so did Severus.

'No you stupid boy, Hermione wouldn't touch Malfoy if her life depended on it.'

'Then who?'

Gods this boy is slow!

'Me, you idiot.'

The room was filled with a stunned silence; which was eventually broken by Ron.

'No. Don't be stupid. I didn't think you were cape able of jokes Professor, but that was a good one. Come on Mione, who is it really.

'It is him Ron, I'm sorry guys I should have told you, but I didn't want you to hate me.'

'Mione how could you. He makes my life, our lives hell. How can you even bear to let him near you?'

'Harry drop it ok, it's her choice. She supported us when we told her about us, so we will do the same for her, and if you don't then you're not a good friend and I'm not sure I want to be with someone like that.'

'Fine, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.'

Severus had to end it to the Weasley boy, he expected him to be angry and for Potter to be ok about it. He also had to give him credit for the use of emotional blackmail. Very Slytherin of him.

'Thank you Ron, and Harry please try to understand, and if you can't then please don't interfere, because I wont end it just to suit you.'

'But you're engaged to him Hermione, Why, I just don't get it.'

'Harry Shut Up!'

'Thank you Mr Weasley, your support is appreciated, and Mr Potter I think that…'

'Wait a moment, am I hearing this right?' Severus was wondering when Draco would give his input.

'Well am I? Did I or did I not just hear that you have been screwing and are now engaged to a mudblood. Are you Mad? Have you no self respect? You are a pureblood Slytherin and she is a filthy little mudblood from Gryffindor. Why lower your self to that. What's wrong with you? Has she got you under some spell?'

'No Malfoy she does not, and I have not lowered myself. She is more than you'll ever be and more talented than any pureblood. Also it might interest you to know that I am not a pureblood, I am a halfblood. Now get out all of you Class dismissed!'

Everyone rushed to gather there things and to leave.

'Not you two. Potter and Weasley will remain.'

Hermione couldn't help but feel sorry for her best friends. Ron would be ok but Harry hadn't helped himself.

'Look guys I'm really sorry I hid this from you.'

'How long?' Shit Harry really wasn't going to make this easy for her.

'Four Months.'

'And the engagement?'

'Severus asked me this morning.'

'Does Dumbledore know?'

'Yes Severus told him and the staff this morning before class.'

'And he's ok with it?'

Hermione looked towards Severus waiting for him to answer this one.

'Sev, darling could you tell him what Dumbledore said this morning. I need to know anyway so we might as well tell them at the same time.'

'Ok.'

'Dumbledore said that, he didn't mind at all that we were together, as long as neither of us was forced into a relationship and that it isn't against the school rules as long as the student is over the consenting age. As we meet both of the requirements he gave us his blessings and wished us luck.'

'He also said that he hopes he has retired before we have children as he doesn't fancy teaching a kid with your intellect and my cunning. He said that together the kid could to turn out to be a genius troublemaker. Especially if you introduce it to the Weasley twins.'

'Good idea that. But we'll discuss that another time lets deal with these two first.'

'Well if Dumbledore has no problem with it then I have no problem.'

'Thanks Harry, it means so much to be that you approve.'

'Yes well, I can't say much about your taste though.'

'Oh I don't know mate, he's not that bad for an old guy. But I do have a thing for dark hair though.

'Potter, five points from Gryffindor for suggesting that Hermione has bad taste. And Weasley, five points to Gryffindor for saying she does,' the trio gasped at the first points Snape had ever given their house, 'however five points from Gryffindor for saying I'm old. Also don't think that you can be so informal with me, I am still your Professor.'

'Severus at least make an effort, for me.'

'On the other hand we need to make an effort for Hermione's sake, so in private you may call me Severus and we can make an attempt and being civil to each other. For her sake only though, understood?'

'Perfectly.' They answered together.

'Good now get out.'

'Now that didn't go to badly did it.' He puller her into his arms and kissed the top of her head.

'No it didn't, and thank you for finding and easier way for us to come out. It was quite funny to see the look on their faces.'

'And Malfoy's, I don't think he expected the Head of Slytherin to be a halfblood.'

He lent in to kiss her but was interrupted by a small cough from the door. They turned to see the headmaster stood there with a twinkle in his eyes.

'I thought it would be best that I inform you that your newt class has spread the gossip and by lunch everyone will know.'

'Good that saves us of doing the trouble of that performance again, it was quite draining.'

Hermione hit him playfully on the shoulder and he pretended it hurt.

'You loved it really.'

'Yes I did, it really was a fantastic way for them to find out.'

'Now come on you two, don't leave an old man in the dark,' as if he's ever in the dark about anything, 'how were you discovered?'

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