*Chapter 3*: The Day After
Hermione woke in the morning and turned over to look at the underside of her canopy. She smelled food. Her stomach rumbled.
She pulled back the drapery of her bed and there was a breakfast service, complete with a rose lying on the napkin. Next to the rose was a pair of knitted socks with mismatched bells on.
"Shoo, Crookshanks," Hermione said, moving his nose away from her plate. She gave a small piece of fish to the cat. He purred as he licked it.
After she finished eating, Hermione rose and dressed. After she had clasped her cloak, she left her bedroom.
She was received by a broad view of her husband's arse. His voluminous outer-robes were draped over the back of the couch, and was on all fours looking under the coffee table.
She watched for a moment before she remembered herself.
"Do you need help?" she offered. He bumped his head on the bottom of the table and she started at the noise.
"I've lost my favorite pen," Snape grumbled, rubbing his head.
"Don't you use a quill?" asked Hermione.
"I break too many quills," Snape snapped, thrusting his hand under the sofa. "This is a glass pen. Black. Twisted end."
Crookshanks jumped on the sofa with something in his mouth.
"Oh," said Snape, surprised. He took a glass pen from Crookshanks.
Hermione snorted. "He took it. Can't resist anything in stick form. Trelawny's always going about him stealing her knitting needles."
"Don't play with my pen," Snape shook a finger at the cat in front of him. Crookshanks sniffed his finger and rubbed himself on it.
Hermione investigated her book bag, making sure she had enough quills of her own for the day. "Keep it secure from now on."
"Naughty kitty," Snape said, but continued scratching Crookshanks behind the ears. "The strangest thing occurred this morning…"
Hermione checked her wristwatch. Plenty of time to check in with Ron and Harry before classes.
"My breakfast was waiting near my bed," Snape said. "Whomever put it there also gave me footwear."
"Dobby." Hermione shook her head. "I'll talk to him."
"Call me Severus when we're not in class," Snape instructed, as if it pained him. "We may be partners for some time… Hermione."
"Well then," said Hermione cautiously. "Until then… Severus."
"Until then… Hermione."
0
"He didn't do a thing." Hermione said irritated as she approached Ron and Harry at the long Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. Ron let out a sigh of relief and she shot him a tired look. Harry grinned at her as they walked to Greenhouse Five for their class.
"It must be nice, having private quarters," Harry said, making every effort to see the light side of things.
"It's nice," admitted Hermione, rummaging through her case for her dragon hide gloves. "I suspect Dobby oversaw the preparations himself. Do you know Snape has the quarters Helga Hufflepuff built?"
Ron was interested. "She was keen on enchantments and charms."
Hermione nodded in agreement. She described her bedroom, complete with yawning cat.
"I wager that's not even a tenth of it, Hermione," said Ron excitedly. "I'd poke everything you could in there. You'll find loads of hidden stuff."
"I'll keep it in mind." Hermione grinned.
0
"I'm so sorry, Hermione." Lavender looked as if she would burst into tears at lunch.
"For what?" Hermione asked, alarmed.
"Having to…" Lavender shuddered, glancing at the teachers table. Snape frowned at the Gryffindor table. "You know."
"He isn't evil," answered Hermione. "Just… private. With few social skills."
Parvati shrugged. "My grandparents' marriage was set up. They learned to fancy each other."
"Really?" Lavender asked, her face dismayed. "I couldn't imagine."
"Enough to have seven kids," Parvati replied, reaching for a scone. "They're still married, but it was a good match, with a real matchmaker that had known them their whole lives. This is different. Very different. People have a right to be concerned, Hermione."
Hermione bit into her sandwich. She didn't want grandchildren with Severus. Or children. That would imply they would have to-
"I hope he didn't force himself on you," Lavender said abruptly.
"He was a perfect gentleman," answered Hermione hotly.
"Of course, he was," said Parvati, trying to diffuse the situation. "No one should assume anything less."
0
Severus Snape sat at the Head Table watching the Gryffindors eating their lunch. The 7th year girls seemed unusually animated. Hermione was dealing with the circumstance well, and it seemed as if Miss Patil was keeping things civilized.
Severus looked at his plate and pushed his food around. Once again, he was the object of scorn. The students believed he was a pervert and most of the faculty agreed.
"It will pass, Severus," remarked a voice near him. Severus looked up into the glittering eyes of Albus Dumbledore.
"I know," said Severus, taking a bite of his food.
"There's a Quidditch game this evening," Dumbledore smiled. "That will distract them."
Severus snorted. He doubted it.
0
"Madam Snape, would you wait after class?"
Neville cast an anxious glance over his shoulder as he left. The class emptied, and Hermione found herself alone with her husband.
"There's a Quidditch match tonight," Severus reminded her, grading scrolls spread all over his desk. "You may sit in the staff box."
"Pardon?" Hermione asked, surprised.
"Since Potter and Weasley will play, you might appreciate a more favorable view." He explained in a tone that implied he thought she were simple-minded. His black eyes drilled into her. "The faculty box has additional capacity for family. You're entitled to it."
"Of course," Hermione said hastily.
0
After that night's meal Hermione changed into warmer clothing and checked herself in her mirror. She wrapped her hair back behind her head and adjusted a crimson scarf over it. She snatched her warmest cloak and stepped into the sitting room to join her husband.
Snape was sitting on his couch marking scrolls with observations in red ink. He appeared to make a lot of them, but to Hermione's amazement, he didn't seem happy about it. He glanced up as she walked into the room before scowling down at the scrolls again. "How cold so you think it will be?"
"Better safe than sorry," admitted Hermione.
"Yes," he sighed as he placed his pen down. He looked exhausted.
"What year?" Hermione asked, picking up a scroll.
"Sixth." Severus rubbed his eyes. "Properties of cardiospermum."
"Well, this one is terrible," said Hermione wrinkling her nose as if the composition had insulted her.
"They should do it again, but twice as long," Severus said irritated as he got up to grab his cloak.
Hermione shook her head. "Give them a project so they can see the reaction themselves."
"Those are valuable components," Severus pointed out, reaching for a black knitted hat.
"Have the best pair work on it and the rest of the class discuss and take notes."
He appeared to consider.
0
"Where's Hermione?" Lavender asked as she looked through the stands with a set of Muggle binoculars.
"With her husband." Parvati rolled her eyes.
"She is!" Lavender squealed a scandalized confirmation as she spotted Hermione in the staff box. "I don't know how she can stand it!"
"It could have been a lot worse," said Parvati. She nodded toward the Slytherin stands where Goyle was glaring at the couple. "I doubt he would be as civil."
Hermione watched as Ravenclaw and Gryffindor took the field. The wind had picked up and she and Severus were the only ones, aside from Dumbledore, that weren't shivering.
They drew their cloaks around themselves. He reached under his cloak for a packet of crisps. He opened it and offered some to Hermione who took a few.
Severus looked up as the whistle sounded. Ravenclaw scored almost at once.
"Damn!" Hermione and Severus barked out in harmony. They looked at each other.
"I have a galleon on this game," he confessed.
"You bet on Gryffindor?" Hermione asked incredulously. She saw McGonagall smirk.
"Professor Sprout insisted Ravenclaw would sweep the game," grumbled Severus.
"So, you bet her a galleon Gryffindor would win?" Hermione asked as Ravenclaw scored again. She winced.
"Yes," said Severus, irritated. "It appears she will get that galleon."
0
"Wow, Harry…" Hermione trailed off.
"Where did they find her?" Ron asked blankly.
"She's a second year," replied Dean Thomas knowingly. "She wouldn't even have even been there if Owens hadn't gotten hurt in the last game. She's too young, but they made an exception."
"She'll be a permanent team member next year," said Seamus bleakly. "The end of an era."
"At least we won't be here to see it," said Dean mournfully.
He was tearing apart a paper napkin and letting the pieces float to the floor. They were sitting among the food that had been stolen for the victory celebration. No one was eating.
"Are you OK, Hermione?" asked Neville under his breath as the other boys discussed how they could destroy Ravenclaw in the last match of the season. "I mean, about more than the game."
"I'm fine," answered Hermione giving him a small smile. "He's very respectful."
"That's good," nodded Neville, but he didn't look like he believed it. "You can petition for a dissolution after six months. If you haven't conceived, I mean."
"Then I'm open for bids again," replied Hermione with a frustrated sigh.
"True," admitted Neville. "But most of us will be over age. At least a few are bound to get through."
"Thank you, Neville," Hermione said honestly. "I'll keep it in mind."
0
"How was the pity party?" Severus smirked.
"Standard." Hermione hung her cloak on a hook. "There was food and mourning, and then the team worked over new theories that won't work."
Severus rolled up the last scroll on the table and stuck it in the bag he packed for his classes.
Crookshanks jumped on the sofa and butted Severus with his head.
"Is he usually this demanding?" Severus asked as he rubbed the cat behind his ears.
"He normally has a common room full of people to pet him." Hermione shrugged.
"You've become spoiled," Severus informed Crookshanks, who only purred louder and walked all over his lap, covering his black clothing in orange fur.
Well, at least they'd keep each other occupied.
"Summer is starting soon. Do you plan on setting up an internship right away?" Severus asked.
"I wanted to take the summer off," Hermione admitted. "It's silly, but I thought travel would be good for me for a few months... come up with a career plan..." She turned red as if the thought embarrassed her. "Now all that sounds so… undecided."
"Good," Severus said, still stroking Crookshanks, who was settled in a large orange puddle on his lap. "No plans or contracts to break. Are you entering the Order?"
"Of course," Hermione said sitting up straighter. Severus gave her a dry look she ignored.
"Will you be prepared to support missions when you are sworn in?" Severus asked her, looking up from Crookshanks. His eyes probed her.
"Where are we going?" she asked pointedly.
"Russia, for starters," said Severus. "I have family there and it will serve as excellent cover. No one would suspect anything out of the ordinary."
Hermione nodded. He was speaking to her as if she were already sworn in and it made her proud.
Wait… his family?
"I—I will do my absolute best," she replied, struggling not to appear as off-balanced as she felt.
"My family is not in the Order. They know nothing other than I got married." Severus was impressed had not shied away from him at their marriage ceremony, or in their household. She was an excellent performer and would make an outstanding spy. She had enough practice sneaking around with Potter.
She might even get through all this alive if she stopped throwing herself into the thick of things.