A/N: Thank you all so much for your continued reviews and your continued patience! I am working on an update to Bound to Him at the moment, but am hitting a bit of a creative block. Hopefully I'll overcome it soon.

Love you all!

Chapter 8: Coming to Terms

"Severus!" the head of Lucius Malfoy called out. "I hear congratulations are in order."

Snape tossed a glare toward the fireplace, but said nothing in return.

The head swiveled about curiously, taking inventory of the room from the limited vantage point he had. "And just where is your charming young bride?"

"Out," he grunted.

"So the honeymoon is over already. How sad," the blonde smirked. "Nevertheless, would the groom care to pop in for a toast to married life?"

The professor snorted in irritation and crossed his arms. "You know full well that I don't drink, Lucius."

"Then you can watch me drink." Even as a detached head floating in a fireplace, the aristocrat managed an annoyingly arrogant smile.

Snape sighed softly as he rose from his chair and crossed to the fireplace. Three seconds later, he spun into the familiar large room that served as the Master's study in the exceptionally prissy Malfoy Manor.

"I must admit that I was a bit put out at not warranting an invitation to your blessed nuptials, my old friend," Lucius grinned as he held up a folded copy of that morning's Prophet. "I hear it was the highlight of the season."

Severus rolled his eyes and sat in one of the leather wingbacks. "It was as pretentious an affair as you could imagine Dumbledore arranging. Perhaps not as pretentious, though, as one of your productions."

The blonde wizard snorted as he stepped over to the ornate cabinet that housed his supply of remarkable booze. "Oh, come now, Severus. My productions possess a tastefulness sorely lacking in the current Headmaster."

"I'm sure the man would have loved to have made use of your tasteful flock of pampered chickens."

Lucius's eyes lit up as he pulled out a pair of glass tumblers. "Narcissa is rather attached to the peacocks. Who am I to begrudge her happiness?"

Snape gave an exasperated sigh. "You do realize that they scream a certain message regarding your ego, do you not?"

"A small price to pay for the promise of frequently having more than just my ego stroked," he purred as he filled his glass. "Now, have you changed your mind regarding the brandy?"

"In twenty-six years, Lucius, have I ever accepted your offer of a drink?" the younger man asked in a bored tone.

The handsome wizard raised his eyebrow in response. "In twenty-six years, has there ever been an occasion more deserving of a drink than this?"

Severus gave a small snort and shook his head. "Your point is valid, but I will still respectfully decline."

"Suit yourself," his host smiled as he turned to face the room with his drink in hand. "Would you prefer a celebratory cigar instead?"

"You know I haven't smoked in more than a decade."

A look of mock horror crossed the blonde's face. "Dear gods, man, you've gotten old."

"I will forever be younger than you, however," his friend replied with a twitch of his lips.

"And yet, who would notice," Lucius smirked. "My dear Grandfather Selwyn lets loose more than you."

"Your grandfather is nearly a hundred and seventy-five," Snape sneered, picking at the edge of the armrest. "The only things he lets loose anymore are his bowels."

The older man let out a bark of laughter as he gracefully descended into his chair. "As disgustingly controlled as you are, you never fail to amuse me."

"Well, as long as you're entertained."

Malfoy lifted his glass to his lips. "Without you keeping it in check, Severus, where would my ego be?"

"My guess is at least half a flock more of useless, strutting birds and a contingent of minstrels to trumpet in your every entrance."

"Ah, but Narcissa's lovely cries at my entrances are worth several thousand trumpeting minstrels," he responded with a wicked glimmer in his eye.

Snape gave a half-hearted snort. "She's allowed you back into the bedchamber, has she?"

"It was a bit of a dry spell, wasn't it?" Lucius grimaced.

"That's putting it mildly, I think. I'm not certain that a decade can be considered a 'spell'."

The man shook his head. "It was merely most of a decade."

"And just how did you manage to crawl back into her good graces?" he asked with a raised brow.

Malfoy shrugged and took a small swallow of his brandy. "I have a bloody lawn full of glorified chickens, do I not? And certain other promises were made that I hope to make good on.

"But enough about the past. What about your stunning child bride?" he queried. "How was the much-celebrated wedding night?"

Severus winced and immediately thought of the long line of buttons. "Tedious."

The blonde coughed as he accidentally inhaled a sip of his drink. Wiping the tears out of his eyes, he managed a decent chuckle. "Is that anyway to speak of your wife, Severus? Surely she must be eager to learn from teacher."

The younger wizard fixed him with the darkest look in his repertoire.

"That dreadful?" Lucius snickered. He leaned forward to set his half-finished drink upon an end table. "My, my. It seems the remarkable Miss Granger does not excel in everything."

"If only she were still the remarkable Miss Granger," his guest grumbled.

Malfoy tilted his head in agreement. "Unfortunate though your current arrangement is, the Dark Lord is most appreciative of your sacrifice. As am I."

"What do you have to be appreciative of?" the Slytherin Head asked, quiet suspicion slipping into his voice.

The wealthy wizard sighed and elegantly crossed his leg over his knee. "Were your position within the Order to be compromised, the Dark Lord would be in need of a new spy. Where do you think he might have looked?"

A few seconds passed slowly before Snape shook his head. "Narcissa would never have allowed Draco into the Dark Lord's ranks."

"I doubt there would have been much of a choice," Lucius said soberly. His expression turned a shade darker as he reached for his glass again. "Especially not with that psychotic bitch trying to sink her claws into my son."

"Trouble with the in-laws, Lucius?"

The wizard glared at his friend. "I will forever be indebted to Bella for what she did to protect my wife when she was but a girl, but you know as well as I do that the woman is positively deranged."

Severus smirked and leaned back in his chair. "At least the Dark Lord does not wish to risk the fact that you are still in good standing with the Ministry and has declared that you do not have to house the lunatic."

"Not a day passes that I don't drink to that." He took a sip of his brandy and then nodded. "I am much relieved as well that you are not as the Prophet claims."

"What? Unequivocally besotted by my student?" Snape shuddered and folded his arms. "I'd rather take my chances with dear old Bellatrix."

"You're lying, old friend." Malfoy grinned and raised his tumbler. "How fortunate that you are such a terrible liar, however, or Draco would be short a godfather and I, a horrible drinking partner."

The dark-haired wizard hid his desire to laugh by glancing at the large, gilded clock above the mantle. He waited until the other man drained his glass of its contents and rose to refill it before speaking again. "I presume that I have you to thank for my continued employment."

"Mmm, I may have had some sway with the governors," Lucius nodded as he returned to his seat.

"Some sway?" Severus stared at him in disbelief. "You could hardly classify it an inquiry; they were so eager to send me on my merry way."

"Well, I did tell them to put forth an effort," the man shrugged. "It wouldn't be seemly to let you off with nary a question."

"Yes, well their laughable interrogation was hardly efforted - a fact that did not go unnoticed by my unfortunate bride."

"Rankled her cage a bit, did we?"

Snape grimaced. "I have never heard such screeching by a creature that wasn't currently in the throes of death."

"If I were you, I would have taken her over my knee," Lucius sneered. "Childish behavior deserves a child's punishment."

"And have her run off to Dumbledore with her tale of woe? I think not," the professor corrected. "The Dark Lord's command that she go unharmed was as much an order for me as it was for the rest of you."

"So it was," he acknowledged softly. "My apologies, Severus. I do not envy you, my friend."

The dark-haired wizard slowly raised his eyes to fix them upon his host's face. "Then perhaps you might consider relieving a bit of my burden?"

Lucius bore an uneasy expression as he swirled the contents of his glass. "And what, pray tell, would that require?"

"If you have as much sway with the governors as you lay claim to, then you are the one responsible for deciding the fate for the remainder of her education."

"The board is mine, yes," he responded slowly. "But what cause have I to allow her to return to the classroom?"

"Are we not the oldest of friends, Lucius?" Snape pandered with a smile. "Would you subject me to the torture of a hateful wife who has nothing to do all day but consider ways to spite me?"

"I would not choose that for you, no," Malfoy sighed after nearly a minute's consideration. "If only for you, I will suggest she be allowed to finish out the year without certification."

"With certification," Severus amended.

Lucius took a pensive sip of his drink and then let out a measured breath. "Fine."

"And eligibility for her NEWTs."

"No." He cleared his throat and placed the glass tumbler on the table. "I draw the line at that. She will not sit her exams."

Snape narrowed his eyes and frowned. "The little swot has spent her entire academic career in anticipation of that week of absolute hell. Do you realize the headache I will suffer when she is denied that?"

"I am sorry, Severus, but I will make no further concessions for the girl." Lucius shook his head firmly. "As Draco's godfather, I am confident you will respect that decision."

The Potions Master raised one eyebrow in surprise. "What does Draco have to do with whether or not my snot-nosed bride spends all of her spare time out of my hair, studying?"

"I know you are not ignorant, Severus. Do not think that I am," Malfoy stated evenly. "Your darling wife has the highest marks in the whole bloody school. I would wager that they rival even yours."

Snape took in a slow breath. "Draco's marks are equally high."

"In your class, I am sure this is true. The rest of the professors, however, bend over backwards for her impure holiness."

"Perhaps prior to recent revelations," he admitted, "but surely not following –"

"I am not willing to take that chance," Lucius interrupted. "Besides, her classroom marks are of little importance to me. I will not, however, have my son being outdone on the NEWTs by a mud—Muggleborn witch!"

The younger wizard managed to ignore the near-slip and calmly met his friend's eyes. "When the Dark Lord succeeds, Draco will have more than earned his place in society. Granger's accreditations will be worthless. "

"And if he fails?" Malfoy questioned. "The Dark Lord has been bested by that Potter boy once already. Who is to say that dragonpox won't strike twice? My beloved father lived by that old witches' tale and look where he is now – dead at ninety-eight without even seeing his first great grandson."

Severus cleared his throat in mild surprise. "You do not have confidence in –"

"Do not twist my words," he warned. "And do not pretend that you do not have your own exit strategy. I am not fooled by your obedient act, my friend. In the event that the Dark Lord's bid for power once again goes awry, I do not doubt for one minute that you will play along as Dumbledore's faithful lapdog to procure your continued freedom."

The spy swallowed slowly, scrutinizing whether or not the pureblood posed an actual threat.

"You have the all-powerful Dumbledore to testify on your behalf," Lucius continued. "I currently have that idiot Fudge, but his reputation is on the decline since Potter's claims are no longer being discredited by the general population. That boy has repeatedly accused me publicly of being a Death Eater, and eventually they will take him at his word.

"I am not naïve in this, Severus. They will strip this family of its vaults and prestige, and I will likely face Azkaban. I will do what I can to negotiate for Draco and his mother, but his only prospects will be his NEWT scores and your word."

Snape blew out a long breath and wiped his face. "You've put a bit of thought into this."

"And from your lack of protest, I know that you have reached the same conclusion as I."

The dark-eyed man slowly nodded and glanced at the small fire burning in the grate. "Well, if the Dark Lord wanted blind loyalty, he chose the wrong House from which to recruit his followers."

Malfoy snorted softly and picked up his tumbler. "Imagine being compared to that pathetic rat of his."

Severus sneered at the image of Pettigrew snuffling at the Dark Lord's robes the way he used to do with James Potter. It was no coincidence that the man responsible for bringing Voldemort back to corporeal form was a Gryffindor. Any self-respecting Slytherin would have taken the out he was given and moved on with his life.

He also knew that Lucius's first and only true loyalty was to his family. There would be no convincing him of allowing Granger the chance to outshine his son. And frankly, if the roles had been reversed, Severus would have made the exact same call.

"For Draco, then, I will resign myself to the screeching," he sighed.

Lucius donned a small, honest smile and dipped his head in gratitude. "You will look after them should the need arise?"

Snape closed his eyes and nodded. "I will."

"And if there should be another child, you will assist Cissa with whatever she needs?"

The dark-haired wizard widened his eyes in surprise. "Is this what you meant by certain other promises?"

The aristocrat nodded. "She and I have always quarreled over the topic of more children, but with Draco out of the house most of the year, I've started to see things her way. She has a number of fertile years left; we might as well make use of them."

"I will provide for her if needed," the professor responded, leaning onto one of the armrests. "I do not, however, find it plausible that you would opt to bring a child into the world in such uncertain times without an ulterior motive."

"You, my friend, think entirely too much like a Slytherin."

"And you, my friend, behave entirely too much like a Slytherin."

Lucius snorted prior to wiping the smirk from his countenance. He waited a few seconds before responding. "They do not send expectant or nursing mothers to Azkaban."

"I see," Snape murmured.

His host held up a finger. "Not a word of it leaves this room."

"Of course."

The sound of a doorknob turning caused both men to look towards the door. A second later, Narcissa Malfoy poked her head into the room. "Lucius, are you – oh, hello Severus. I didn't know you were here."

"Narcissa," he replied with a respectful nod.

She glanced between the two men as she stepped fully across the threshold. "Well, doesn't it seem depressingly serious in here?"

Her husband forced a grin. "Just welcoming Severus to the wonders of matrimony, my dear."

The witch looked at him as though she knew better, but let a smirk grace her perfect face as she looked toward the visitor. "And what a happy occasion it must have been."

Snape snorted. "Happy would not begin to describe it."

"I recall on more than one occasion introducing you to witches that would make you a suitable wife," she chided, moving towards them. "You, however, would have nothing to do with them."

He rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Don't make that face at me, Severus Snape." She pointed her finger at him. "If you had just followed my instructions like a good little boy, you wouldn't be in this mess now."

"She does have a point," Lucius agreed as his wife perched gently on his knee.

"Knowing Dumbledore, he still would have found a way around that," Severus lamented. "I quite possibly would have been forced to entertain two demanding wives. I cannot fathom how much more horrid that would have been compared to that accursed ceremony yesterday."

"Knowing you, I'm sure you haven't read the Prophet's account of it," Narcissa laughed. She stole a sample of her husband's brandy before reaching for the newspaper.

"Utter rubbish, I'm sure."

"I rather enjoyed it." The dainty smirk returned as she unfolded the paper and began to read. "…as her groom whispered sweet tidings into her ear, the lovely young witch gazed up at him with the purest of adoration shining in her eyes…"

Disgust was the only expression adorning his face now.

"And what were these sweet tidings you bestowed upon her?" Lucius chuckled.

Severus shrugged. "I merely inquired as to where that horrible shrub of hair had vanished."

Narcissa snorted rather inelegantly as her husband laughed loudly. She quickly scanned the article for another gem. "…not a soul in attendance could deny the love surrounding the pair as the professor swept his radiant bride into his arms. Their eyes wandered not once from the other's tender gaze, and they recognized the existence of not another living being in their private paradise as he carried her towards the truest of matrimonial bliss…"

"Perhaps it would be best to end it there, my love," Malfoy interrupted, gesturing with his head towards their friend. "Before he implodes or expels his lunch onto our fine furniture."

She glanced up at the visibly suffering wizard and sighed. "Perhaps you're right. My dear Professor, are you staying to dine with us?"

Snape sighed in relief at not having to listen to any more of the insipid article, but paused in consideration. He had not informed Granger that he would be away from the castle for any stretch of time. They had agreed earlier not to attend any of the common meals while her student status was in question, but would she be concerned over dining alone in their empty quarters?

"Or is it your most desperate of desires to return to your private paradise to enjoy the truest of matrimonial bliss with your radiant bride?"

He scowled immediately and told himself that Minerva would be likely to feed the girl anyway.

Hermione sighed as soon as she spun into McGonagall's office.

"I was wondering how long you would last," Minerva muttered from behind her desk. "I was approximately five minutes away from coming to check on you myself."

"You were?"

"Mmm," the elder witch nodded. "Professor Dumbledore mentioned how your hearing went."

The girl scowled as she stepped over toward the desk. "Can we not talk about that?"

"Alright." McGonagall leaned back in her chair. "What brings you by, then?"

Hermione silently restored the dress she had shrunk previously and held it carefully in her arms. "I came to return this."

"Ah," the witch rose from her chair and took the garment from the girl. "I think it suited you quite well, don't you? I don't think I've ever seen Severus look so speechless before."

"Well he certainly wasn't speechless today," she mumbled grumpily.

Minerva sighed as she hung up the dress on the edge of her bookshelf. "I expect not, no. Would you like to talk about that instead?"

The girl shrugged as her mentor gestured to a seat. As she sat down, she leaned her head against the back of the chair and groaned. "He's completely unreasonable!"

"There are a number of us that tend to agree with that at times," the deputy headmistress smirked as she retook her own seat. "What has he done now, however?"

Hermione blew out a fast breath. "He wanted to set the ground rules for our living arrangement, which is fine, but they're all rules for me to follow."

"Did he say you could not contribute to the rule-setting process?"

"Well, no," she stammered. "But he practically threatened to give me a bed time!"

The elder witch frowned, raising an eyebrow. "Practically threatened, or actually threatened?"

The girl paused mid-thought and bit her lip. "I don't know. I guess I just assumed that he meant it."

"Never assume anything when you're dealing with Severus Snape," Minerva cautioned with a small smile. "He puts on a good show, but it is usually just a show."

She wrinkled her brow in confusion. "I'm not sure that I fully understand that, but I really don't think he was kidding about everything else. I'm not allowed to do anything without permission but sit in my room. I can't spend time with Harry or Ron unless I have a female escort. And I'm supposed to be in our quarters before curfew even."

"Well –"

"He told me that I can use his first name –"

"That's something –"

"—but only so I don't bollocks it up later by calling him Professor in public," she huffed.

"Oh, well –"

"And you should have heard what he said about my cat!" Hermione folded her arms crossly. "He's demanding that Crooks remain only in my bedroom and if Crooks so much as sheds, scratches, or shits near him – his words, not mine – he's kicking him out!"

Minerva snorted quietly and rubbed her temples until she was certain that the girl was finished. "While I agree that he could have handled things with more grace – and I agree that he's completely out of touch with the feline prerogative – I do think that you need to take a minute to calm down and look at this rationally."

"Rationally?" she frowned. "What do you mean 'look at this rationally'? This whole thing is irrational! I've married my professor; I'm probably getting expelled; and I'm going to have to give up my bloody cat! And on top of all that, I have to pretend that it doesn't matter to me because I'm head over heels in love with the arsehole! Where's the rational part, again?"

The elder witch stood in the middle of the tirade and walked over to the fireplace where she placed an order for tea. She then returned to her seat after the girl had finished and fixed her with a sympathetic eye. "Severus is…well, he isn't exactly a 'people person.'"

"An odd decision to go into teaching, then," Hermione muttered, glaring at the top of the desk.

"It should not surprise you, my dear, that teaching was not his first choice for employment," McGonagall sighed, tapping her fingertips on the edge of the desk. "It was a decision based purely out of necessity, I assure you.

"Returning to my original point, however," she cleared her throat as a tea service appeared on her desk with a small pop. "Severus is a highly logical person, much like yourself, but he has not had much experience in relating to other people. He generally does not do well in expressing himself in front of people he doesn't know he can trust."

Hermione's gaze snapped to the woman's face. "Why shouldn't he trust me? I'm in this mess just as much as he is. I didn't exactly arrange for this whole thing to happen."

A quirk of a smile appeared on the Scot's face as she poured two cups of steaming chamomile. "In the main, setting fire to someone does not lay the best foundation for a trusting relationship."

The brunette's eyes widened. "Honestly, does anyone not know it was me?"

"You are the brightest witch of the age," Minerva chided. "That particular incident would likely have been perpetrated by a member of one of two Houses, but seeing as your victim was the Head of one of them, it ruled out half of the suspect pool. You also made the mistake of choosing a time when the usual Gryffindor offenders were otherwise engaged or within my direct line of sight. It did not take a great leap of logic to determine the identity of the culprit."

"I only did it because I thought he was trying to hurt Harry!" she protested.

The deputy headmistress nodded, passing one of the teacups across the desk. "Which is why there is no mention of assaulting a professor anywhere in your academic report. Severus took your motive into consideration and opted not to press the issue."

"What?" Hermione's face twisted in disbelief. "He's known the entire time and hasn't said anything to me until now?"

"Unfortunately, you aren't the only student to have ever set him on fire," McGonagall said quietly. "One generally finds it easier to shrug off after repeated occurrences."

The young witch narrowed her brow and set down her tea. "But what does this have to do with his stupid rules?"

"You are as stubborn as he is," the tartan-wrapped woman shook her head and leaned back in her chair. "The public is meant to believe that the two of you share a bond greater than blood. How do you think it would look if you choose to spend your free time apart?"

The girl winced and stared at the wall before finally letting out a defeated breath. "It would seem off."

"And if you were seen in the company of other men?"

Hermione frowned and crossed her arms. "Harry and Ron are my best friends. It's not like I'm romantically involved with either of them."

"The truth matters naught in the court of public opinion, however," Minerva argued. "Thanks to that…vexing woman, you've already been intimately linked to Mr. Potter, and the entire school sees how Mr. Weasley follows you about."

"Not you, too," she whined. "Ron isn't in love with me!"

"The evidence would point to the contrary. Mr. Weasley spent the weekend quarreling with students, defending your honor, and after this morning's paper came out, he has yet to say a word to anyone."

The bushy-haired girl grimaced and covered her face with her hands. "But he and I are just friends! We're not…he's not…he can't…it can't be…oh bugger. He is, isn't he?"

McGonagall's lips twitched into a smile that she hid behind her teacup as she watched her favorite student struggling to accept the revelation. After a few minutes the girl dropped her hands into her lap and met her gaze with teary-eyes.

"And he read it in the paper this morning?"

"My dear, they all read it in the paper this morning. I seriously doubt there's a witch or wizard left in Britain who doesn't know you're the new Mrs. Severus Snape."

"But, I mean… is that how he found out?"

The deputy headmistress quirked an eyebrow. "I'm not sure I follow."

"I thought someone would tell Harry and Ron before…well, before they read it in the bloody Prophet." She sighed loudly as her shoulders slumped. "They're my best friends. Did no one tell them while I was away?"

The elder witch shook her head sadly. "I am sorry, Hermione. I should not have let the Headmaster overlook your friendship."

Hermione closed her eyes and hung her head. "Can I even tell Harry and Ron the truth, though? Or do I have to let them think the same as everyone else?"

Minerva let out a long breath and placed her tea upon the desk. "I can't imagine it would hurt anything for them to know the real story. If you would like, I can gather them from supper so you may speak with them in private."

"Erm," she chewed on her lip and wrapped her arms around her waist. "Can I wait?"

"Wait?"

"Until after my hearing's concluded," she clarified. "I'd like to find out if I'm expelled or not before I talk to them. It probably doesn't matter, but I think I'd like to worry about one horrible meeting at a time."

McGonagall nodded in understanding. "The Board of Governors are re-convening tomorrow morning? I will inform Potter and Weasley that they are to accompany me to my office immediately following Transfiguration. Since I will be present, Severus cannot raise a fuss about you being unescorted."

The girl grimaced slightly and rubbed her face. "On that note, could you have Ginny there as well?"

"I suppose it wouldn't be fair for the rest of her family to know and leave her in the dark," the woman agreed. "I will speak with Professor Flitwick and make sure he sends her up following class."

"Thank you," Hermione sighed. "And I'm really sorry about yelling earlier."

The Gryffindor Head snorted softly. "Nonsense. Severus has the uncanny ability of pulling even the most well-mannered of us witches into shouting matches. You have yet to learn how to handle him."

"And how is that?" the girl questioned quietly.

Minerva pursed her lips and glanced up at the clock. "Is he expecting you back for supper?"

"He never said as much."

"Then you will dine here," she stated matter-of-factly. "There is simply not enough time left before curfew to explain the enigma that is Severus Snape."

A few hours later, Hermione yawned and rested her head on the back of McGonagall's sofa. She let her eyes drift to where the lace-covered dress hung on the bookshelf. She gave a small smirk as she remembered the button conversation from the night before. She sighed softly and then glanced at her Head of House.

"Can I ask you something?"

Minerva amusedly raised her eyebrows. "You've been asking questions all night."

"I know," she blushed, tucking her feet beneath her. "But this isn't about Prof—erm, Severus. I was wondering if you would tell me about the man who went with that dress."

"Oh," the elder witch stammered in surprise before looking back at the gown. She was quiet for a few moments before a sad smile appeared on her face. "Someday, perhaps. It's late now, though, and I'm certain your husband will be growing impatient soon."

"I thought he was born impatient," Hermione mumbled as she rose from the couch.

"As odd as it sounds, Severus is likely the most patient man I've ever known."

"You must be tired," the girl smirked. "Or have I married the wrong Severus Snape?"

McGonagall smiled and shook her head. "Give it time. He might surprise you."

The two witches exchanged good-byes and Hermione stepped back through the Floo into her new shared quarters. Her husband looked up from his book as she entered and he raised an eyebrow as he looked up at the clock.

"It's before curfew," she stated defensively, glancing at his book in mild confusion. He had not made it much farther than he had been when she left four hours earlier.

"It is," he agreed. "Did you and Minerva have a pleasant chat?"

She nodded hesitantly before continuing onto her bedroom. As she pushed open her door, she froze suddenly and briefly wondered if she had gone to the wrong room. After double-checking that the trunk at the foot of the bed was hers, she scrutinized the bed in surprise. When she had left before, it had been covered with the bedspread her grandmother had quilted for her when she was a little girl. In its place now was a silky-looking emerald green coverlet.

"What is that?"

Severus stood from his chair and walked towards her. When he reached the doorway, he peered in at the bed and cleared his throat. "That is the hideous thing you call a cat."

Hermione glanced momentarily at the feline who was stretched to his full length as he slept upside down with his rumpled fur sticking out in all directions. She then shot a glare at the man standing behind her. "I didn't mean Crookshanks. I meant the bedcovers."

He smirked as he leaned against the door jamb. "Since you can't manage to keep yourself warm at night without causing the house-elves to double up on their laundering duties...these have a permanent warming charm stitched into them."

"Oh," she mumbled, realizing it would explain why Crooks looked absolutely dead to the world. She sheepishly met the wizard's eyes. "Thank you."

Snape gave a short dip of his head and pushed away from the door. "You may change the color if you like. I did not know what you would prefer. I had not noticed that you were particularly fond of maroon."

His wife smiled shyly and shook her head. "I actually prefer green. I was rather disappointed to read that Slytherin laid claim to my favorite color."

He grunted and glanced at her in uncertainty. When an awkward silence descended upon the room, he dropped his gaze to the floor and turned back to his chair.

Hermione bit her lip and looked to the wall. She sighed softly and was about to disappear into her room when she heard him clear his throat.

"I like blue."

"Oh?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder. "I would have assumed black."

When he gave her an irritated look, she grinned and shrugged her shoulders. "Blue's nice."

Severus rolled his eyes, reaching for his book again. He paused when she made an unintelligible sound and glanced up at her expectantly. "Yes?"

"I just wanted to…" she shifted her weight and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "…to apologize for shouting at you earlier today."

"It's fine," he muttered, flipping open to the right page when she vanished into her room. He sighed lightly a minute later when she reappeared in the doorway.

"And I'm sorry that you had to marry me."

He flicked his eyes to meet hers and then nodded.

Hermione nodded in return and made to leave again before another thought popped into her head. "And I'm sorry that I set you on fire first year."

Severus groaned and threw the book onto the couch. He settled his hands in his lap and fixed her with a pointed stare. "Anything else you feel you need to get off your chest?"

She rocked on her heels and slipped one arm across her waist. "Erm…I'm sorry for stealing from your storeroom second year. And for rendering you unconscious third year."

"If you're planning on apologizing for every transgression you've ever made in your academic career, Granger, I would advise you to save your energy. Your apologies are neither wanted nor needed."

She let out a long breath and rubbed her neck. "Alright, I'm finished. Good night."

"Good night," he mumbled with a shake of his head. When she again reappeared in the sitting room, he scowled and folded his arms across his chest. "Go to bed, Granger."

"I just have to pee," she explained gesturing to the bathroom door. "Or must I ask your permission before doing that, too?"

"Now who's being completely ridiculous?" Severus sputtered beneath his breath as the door snapped shut behind her.