Chapter Fifty-Six: Snape, Snape, Severus Snape!
The changes to Severus' appearance take centre stage.
(i) The characters and world of Harry Potter are the property of J.K. Rowling. I make no money from this.
(ii) Thank you to all the readers who have stayed with me through the writing of this tale. Your patience has been truly amazing and your continuing reviews are so appreciated. I promise I will finish this story. It will not be abandoned.
So while I work on the next long chapter, here's a small filler from our favourite couple to keep you amused. More will be uploaded soon. Promise :)
Severus tried to lie down, but there was too much on his mind to allow him to rest. Grumpily giving up the prospect of sleep, he joined Hermione in their sitting-room. The Malfoys, Luna and Astoria had all retired, the girls to their respective dormitories so that even that font of possible rumour would be crushed.
"Couldn't sleep?" asked Hermione, who knew her husband's sleep patterns.
"No hope," responded Severus. "I still can't get over the change in my appearance." He sighed. "Much less forget the horror of watching you lie so pale and still." Severus' voice hitched at that thought, and Hermione left her chair to walk over to him and wrap her arms around him.
"But I'm safe. You, you and everyone who loves us, saved me."
"But I couldn't prevent harm from coming to you," Severus said in frustration.
"No one can prevent hurt from happening. But that's not the important thing. The important fact is that you, your soul, our bond protected me." Hermione tightened her hold on him. "Our soul-binding has become so much more than it was ever expected to be. I can feel you even more deeply inside of me now."
"As I can you," admitted Severus. "It is a comfort."
"Yes," said Hermione with a smile. "It is." She drew her love to the sofa and sat down, curling into him, when he joined her there. "Ginny and Tom did us a service."
Severus scowled at her. "Don't make light of it."
"I'm not." Hermione snuggled closer. "I'm just saying we keep winning over the Darkness."
Severus frowned. "That's one way of looking at it." He stretched his legs out and wrapped his arm around her. Hermione smiled at her ability to make him relax and laid her head against his shoulder. "I can't believe we avoided the whole mess being vomited all over the Daily Prophet."
Hermione nodded. "And when you go down for dinner tonight no-one is going to be talking about me and Ginny any more. You're going to be the main reason for everyone's eyes popping out of their heads."
"No teasing," admonished Severus. He still found it hard to accept his beloved's gentle humour at his expense.
"I'm not teasing. I'm being serious," Hermione said. "You really do look fantastic. I've known it since I fell for you, but now it is obvious for all to see. You've come into your Veela magnetism. It's not just your voice and your presence now, it is all of you."
"Oh joy!" grumbled Severus.
"We should use it," said his wife, knowing that that kind of strategic thinking would appeal to her dark lover. "Imagine winning an argument simply because your opponent can't get over how sexy you are?" She grinned. "The Prophet readers are never going to accept a word against someone who's true "inner light and beauty" have been revealed so obviously."
Severus smirked at the thought. "That's more Lucius' thing," he murmured.
Hermione kissed him on his jaw. "And now it will be yours, too." Her kisses slowly worked their way upwards. "What do I get if you win Witch Weekly's best smile award?"
Severus ignored her nonsense with the simple expediency of kissing Hermione quiet.
A/N: Love it or hate it, please let me know what you think.