Chapter 35
Severus was sitting on the sofa in the sitting room, before a wonderfully cheery fire reading one of the many books Hermione had on Physics. He was impressed with the muggles that were so scholarly and considered taking some of their practices and making them work for him in the magical world. He sipped his cup of tea and glanced over his shoulder to the bedroom door.
The last he saw of Hermione, she lay twisted beneath the blankets, in a deep slumber. He hated to wake her by tossing and turning, so he was awake with the sunrise. He had lay awake already for hours on end the past few days, watching her sleep. Her face was angelic, so peaceful. He marveled at how absurdly fortunate he was to have her in his life now. They had not spoken at great length about where this was all going. She didn't try and force him to officially commit to her. She accepted him and the situation as it was. If he had anything to say about it at all, he wasn't going anywhere.
So much had changed for the both of them the past few days. His bank account grew everyday. Already, his association with her had borne fruit and he was ecstatic about it. Hers was already a sizeable account and she had just added an enormous amount to her name. Bottom line, neither one had to worry about money ever again. Severus was free to walk from Hogwarts if he chose to. But he knew Minerva would call him on it to finish the year as he had committed to doing already. That was alright. He would finish the year and never look back. He had already decided that he would stay in Ireland as well, after he retired. The Ministry obviously wasn't run by morons and this is where she was.
Severus had come full circle in a very short time. He needed a challenge, and Hermione provided him with one. He needed money and she provided an opportunity for it. He needed someone who was his equal, and she was it. He needed a partner and she stood beside him. There was nothing in this world now Severus could ever desire that she hadn't already bestowed upon him. It almost made him laugh, thinking of how they were, not more than two weeks ago. How empty he now knew he was. How alone. The thought made him visibly shudder. He might tell Minerva too bad and not return to Hogwarts at all.
He heard her feet shuffling in the bedroom and his heart warmed. She had the eternally confusing ability to effect him like no spell or potion ever could. He turned his head slightly and saw her standing in the doorway, rubbing her eyes.
"You're up early." she said trying not to yawn. He reached his hand out to her and she reached back. Her warm hand fit completely in his. He wrapped his arm around her waist as she planted a chaste kiss on his head.
"Ahh…out of bed I see! Would you consider actually brushing that mass of curls before entertaining company? Or perhaps…the Professor prefers chaos?" Elmer laughed at his own joke. Severus and Hermione had quickly learned to ignore the talkative wall décor.
"Tea?" he asked. She nodded and he summoned a cup for her. He had taken to preparing their meals for them, since the absence of house elves. Hermione had insisted that they close the floo and restrict all elves to the lobby and nowhere beyond. They were more than capable in handling the business end for a few days. With Sylvester in charge, nothing would be left undone.
Hermione curled up on a chair and sipped a cup of tea. Severus' eyes traced her form and heated just thinking of her.
"Stop it. I'm still half asleep." she said. Severus chuckled to himself and patted himself on the back. He may be old, but he wasn't too old yet.
"What should we do today? Should we call off our confinement?" Severus asked her while turning the pages of a lovely illustration of the planets in orbit.
She shook her head. "No. Not yet. As soon as we do, it will be non stop for weeks. I'm not looking forward to it really. The owners will call meetings. They will want me to start heading the mass production lines and then…we have the press to think about."
"Press?"
"Yes. MagiCall's name is on the potion. They will show up here eventually. As soon as they decide to .0go public with it. You're safe, and I am too really. But it gets chaotic around here a first when we release a new invention. But this one…I can't imagine it getting anything but total chaos for awhile." she sipped her drink again. "But…it dies down eventually. The press will work hard to find out who the inventor is. MagiCall will not release the information. The contract of confidentiality is sighed magically. So…we have no problems except…what to do with our time?" she gave him a rather heated look as well and he snorted. Half asleep indeed.
Sylvester couldn't wait a minute longer.
A woman with a very loud voice had sent the Potions Master a Howler from Hogwarts. The red envelope hissed and steamed before Sylvester's eyes and he carried it to the fireplace and let it explode there.
As a matter of fact, this was the third Howler sent in the past day and a half. The other two were from random witches who screamed that Hermione was a traitor to Harry Potter and that the cursed Professor Snape belonged in Azkaban. Others sent weak curses by owl and others sent dead and decaying flowers as a wedding gift.
Sylvester was a nervous wreck. He had a message from Sean O'Flagen, from the Ministry of Magic in his hand requesting a meeting with both his mistress and the Potions Master. They intended to discuss security measures for the two. For the Ministry had received more than a bag full of death threats for the both of them and also for Ministry officials.
He decided that it was not prudent to apparate directly into her private rooms. He went to the sitting room door and knocked.
Hermione was watching Severus eat his toast. His lips kept her mesmerized. They were full and very soft. The bottom lip was slightly thicker than the top and she watched as he devoured his bread.
"If you insist on looking at me while I eat, I will go elsewhere." he said without looking up. Hermione blushed, but smiled.
"You wouldn't, and you know it. You like it that I think you're enticing," she smirked at him as he continued to eat, pretending to ignore her, while his cheeks flushed slightly.
There was a knock at the door.
The lovers looked at other in confusion and then both sets of eyes turned toward the door. Almost as if they expected something to follow the knock. Hermione's face wrinkled in worry. She had carefully instructed Sylvester to not disturb them unless it was extremely important. The room was silent.
"Someone seems to be at the door. That's what that means." Elmer said in a bored voice. Severus' face had darkened. He was angry due to the interruption and Elmer. Severus stood first and Hermione followed him. Severus reached the door first and opened it quickly.
The elf stood in the doorway. Hermione felt a chill creep down her back. Sylvester looked horrible, like he hadn't slept in days. Which was the truth. His eyes were puffy and they were rimmed in red. His ears drooped and he stood with his shoulders slumped forward in defeat.
"Were you, or were you not, instructed to stay clear of this area unless expressed by your mistress?" Severus asked darkly. Hermione scowled at him and ushered Sylvester in the room.
"I told him to if it was an emergency, Severus. What happened, Sylvester?" the elf looked from his mistress to the Potions Master and quaked. Both of them stood imperiously above him and waited for a answer. How was he to say what needed to be said? He was more than a little fearful of the Potions Master already. That wizard was good…but bad too.
"Misses…it's urgent business. The most urgent of business ever miss. Sylvester knows he shouldn't be here. Knows the misses and the Master told him so. Sylvester will punish himself harshly for this. But the misses hads to know!" Tears welled up in his enormous eyes as Elmer's voice filled the room.
"I would never have interrupted you. What's more…I couldn't interrupt you if I were in the lobby…" Sylvester growled at the mirror. But Elmer growled right back.
"Are you due for a Rabies shot little rat? No-" Sylvester looked over his mistresses shoulder and saw the Potions Master with his wand out and pointed at Elmer. He had frozen the mirror again.
"My dear," came Sevrus' voice silkily. "my patience wears thin with that thing. It may be time he is moved…permanently. Now, what is this urgent business?" he directed his question to Sylvester and Sylvester shook with fear and dread. Sylvester produced a huge stack of opened letters, the remains of Howlers and newspapers, all tied with a black ribbon.
"What are these Syl?" Hermione asked. Severus extended his hand and Sylvester placed the bundle in his hands. As Severus opened them, Sylvester spoke.
"The misses and the Potions Master need to be coming out now. It all started two days ago. The newspapers from London are saying the nastiest things about my smart misses. They say worse things about the Master. They say…they say my misses is a bad witch and the Master is…is a bad wizard. The say you two are to be married. Letters coming in all day and all night. Sylvester don't sleep. Witches and Wizards from all over believe what the read. Terrible things they say. They say my misses is a…harlot for not being with that Mr. Harry Potter. They sent curses they did! I stay away and tries to take care of my misses…" huge tears fell from Sylvester's eyes. "but Sylvester don't know what to do anymore! The Master has a nasty letter from the school in England. The Ministry in Belfast wants to talk to both my Misses and the Master! My poor Misses!" Hermione stood still, as if hit by a freezing charm. Severus sat and sorted the letters and newspapers. His expression was black as he looked up and his eyes fixed on Hermione. He saw her crumbling before him and he stood and gathered her in his arms. He set her on the sofa and kissed her head. She reached for the letters and Severus read the Newspaper Headlines.
IRISH MINISRY OFFERS ASYLUM TO FORMER DEATH EATERS!
DEATH EATERS RALLY IN IRISH MINISTRY
THE SNAPE - POTTER CONNECTION
POTIONS PROFESSOR COURTS STUDENT
DEATH EATER AND HARRY POTTER'S BEST FRIEND ENGAGED!
As Severus and Hermione read what had happened around them the past two days, Sylvester hung his head. Hermione covered her mouth with her hand and fought back tears. Severus read silently, without expression.
A/N: No...they are not really getting married. Tabloid rumor. How did it start? You will find out. How long is this story? Erm...not that much more to go my friends...thanks for the reviews.