Eight days later
Ginny was searching through Hermione's closet and not finding a single suitable item. Ginny sighed and turned to her friend. "Why does your closet look like it belongs to my Aunt Muriel?! Even my mum's closet has more thrilling things to wear than this." Ginny stated, mildly exasperated. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Now really, that's an exaggeration! I have plenty of hot, fashionable things!" Hermione exclaimed in her defense. She reached in and pulled out a low cut dark green dress with a rather daring back, which was much more racy than the green flannel button up shirt she was wearing over a pair of black leggings. "Look at this! I just bought this for the upcoming Ministry fundraiser, the lady at the store assured me it was highly fashionable."
Ginny grinned at her. "Fine, I'll admit that is beautiful but it's not what you need for this concert. We need black and leather. Something a bit more...well honestly like your husband's wardrobe." Ginny stated, looking bemused. Hermione huffed and folded her arms across her chest. Then she realized that she definitely a selection of items that Ginny would probably find appropriate for the occasion. Hermione nervously rubbed her hands on her arms in thought.
"What sort of black or leather items?" Hermione asked, looking at Ginny with what she hoped was a normal expression.
"I looked it up online, how this bloke's concerts look. You want a black leather skirt, some tall black leather boots, and a sexy black top of some kind. Something that really showcases your ladies." Ginny said, wagging her eyebrows and holding her hands in front of her own chest. Hermione smirked, yes, she thought, I have a few options in that case, but how to get Ginny's opinion without giving too much of our secret sex life away? I certainly don't share everything with the girls… Then she had an idea.
"I have a couple of things that fit that description in a storage box down in the basement. I'll go get them, you can stay up here, I know the stairs are hard with your current state." Hermione said, already heading towards her bedroom door. Ginny's face lit up, as she followed Hermione out the door, waddling slightly in her orange floral maternity dress.
"Oh great! Can I use your computer to pull up some pictures for inspiration?" Ginny asked, walking down the hallway with her. Hermione let out a slight sigh of relief, for a second she thought her friend was going to insist on coming downstairs with her.
"Sure Gin, help yourself." Hermione said as she pushed open her office door and switched on the light. "I'll be right back."
Hermione walked down the stairs and flipped on the light. They had a fully finished basement, this first room held surplus supplies for Severus' apothecary. Hermione walked across the room half full of wooden crates contained potions ingredients and stopped at the door to the adjacent room. This room was their pet project when they bought the house. They had conducted extensive research on the Room of Requirement at Hogwarts and had managed to replicate some of its magic. She and her husband had supplied the room with various props, sex toys, and outfits which the room would then present upon reading their needs when they entered the room.
Hermione hoped her current needs for some specific wardrobe items would be read by the room. She grasped the door knob and opened the door. Hermione stepped inside and burst out laughing. The room had supplied her with all of the black and leather clothing items for her as well as a leather flogger and a large black paddle. She walked over and collected the items she felt were appropriate to be seen in public.
Hermione went back upstairs to a rather surprised Ginny, who could not believe Hermione had such clothing in her possession. Ginny lifted an eyebrow at her and jokingly said "What do you and Severus get up to in the basement?"
Hermione blushed slightly and lightly shoved Ginny's arm before saying "Those were leftover from the sexshop that was in the building Severus purchased to house his apothecary. I thought they might be fun for Halloween or something." She felt rather proud to have come up with a likely story so easily. Severus wouldn't have been fooled but Ginny bought it hook line and sinker. "Now come on, help me put something together. I still need to figure out what to tell Severus to wear."
Ginny smirked and said "I bet your husband would love for you to dress up with these things for Halloween or really any day of the week. I hope you actually get to the concert after dinner because when I'm done with you, he won't be able to keep his hands off of you."
Hermione nearly laughed out loud, her husband did love her in leather but it wouldn't be a new sight for him.
Severus sighed softly as he brewed in the laboratory beneath his apothecary. He was pretty sure he had successfully modified the ingredients such that his vibrating potion could now mimic pressure applied to it in addition to vibration. He stirred one final counterclockwise stroke and carefully removed the glass stirrer. After lowering the flames under the cauldron and setting na 30 minute timer with his wand, Severus settled himself on his stool for the 30 minute simmer. It needed to be removed precisely or it would lose potency.
He was pondering just what his wife had planned for their anniversary. Severus couldn't imagine anything he would want to see that required tickets purchased in advance. He wasn't terribly worried, Hermione knew him very well, better than he knew himself at times. He smirked as he remembered just how their relationship had begun…
July 5, 1998
Azkaban Prison
Severus was lying on his back, wearing his prison issue grey robes, staring up at the ceiling of his tiny, damp cell from the musty, threadbare excuse for a mattress they had so charitably provided. He had been placed there until the Wizengamot could get around to his trial. They were a bit preoccupied with dealing out justice to those the public and the government agreed were in the wrong. As usual, Severus had fallen in a grey area, many viewed his role a necessary evil and there lay the problem. The public and government seemed equal parts torn over which descriptor to focus in on for his fate, necessary to win or evil by mere association and inaction to Death Eater activities. He felt a bit indifferent about it, he was merely surprised to find himself alive when the smoke had cleared. Apparently, his precaution of taking a carefully crafted antivenin due to the potential of a bite from Nagini had paid off. Although he had nearly bled to death, if not for the quick thinking of Hermione Granger to douse him in dittany, he surely would have. He supposed that was who he had to thank for his current accommodations, which he would only admit to himself were certainly better than a coffin, if only marginally more comfortable.
Severus' internal reflections were broken by the sound of guards approaching his cell. He sat up quickly, stood, and walked to the bars to peer down the corridor. It wasn't lunch time nor was he due to receive any visitors. Perhaps he would get another shower? Weekly showers left his hair in an atrocious state and even he found it despairing to catch a glimpse of himself in the mirror these days. He had grown a rather full, untrimmed beard and his oily hair was hanging limply past his shoulders. Two guards stopped outside his cell.
"Step back and put your hands over your head." One of them stated gruffly. Severus willingly did so, he really needed to learn their names but they rotated so many that he never saw the same ones twice. They were undoubtedly former students of his but he made it a point to forget the students who didn't show much aptitude for his subject so that meant he remembered very few names over the course of his career.
The guards unlocked the cell, entered, and the second one pulled Severus' hands down and behind his back while the first guard watched. He pulled out a set of magical hand cuffs and tightly clamped them on his wrists, they served two purposes. The first was a purely physical restraint and the second was they prevented wandless magic. Once the cuffs were in place, they guided Severus down the hallway. They walked past the showers and any other room Severus had been taken to so far during his stay. They stopped outside of a door and the first guard turned to Severus.
"You will be respectful during this visit and you will not touch or attempt to touch any person in the room behind this door. Is that clear Snape?" Guard number one stated rather forcefully.
Severus nodded, now wondering who the hell was on the other side of that door. Who wanted to come gawk at the disgraced Ol' Snape? Minerva? He was drawing a blank on who else would make such a dreary trip to this miserable rock just to see him. The guards unlocked the door and walked him into an empty room that had a one-way window in it. In the middle of the floor was a worn, wooden table with a chair on either side of it. They magically removed the chain from his handcuffs, leaving the wrist portions on to continue preventing his use of magic. Severus sat in the chair nearest to his entrance. The guards stepped out and buzzer sounded in the room. The door on the other side of room opened and in stepped one of the last people he ever expected.
"Good afternoon, Professor Snape." Hermione Granger said warmly, as she crossed the room and sat across from him. She was wearing a simple set of blue dress robes, those given to students of Wizarding law. She nearly reached her hand out to shake his until she remembered the "no touching" rule.
"Good afternoon, Miss Granger. It might have escaped your notice but I am no longer a professor anywhere. Unless I started holding lectures for all of the rats that scamper about this place. I'm sure their minds would prove as fertile as many of your classmates, perhaps more than several. Longbottom and Potter come to mind." Severus stated, with a sneer. He folded his arms across his chest, as he looked at her closely. He didn't remember her looking quite so...mature? Yes, he definitely did not find her attractive, she looked mature.
"Fine, what shall I call you then? Mr. Grumpy Pants? Bat of the Dungeons? Sir Flaps-a-lot? Or Harry's favorite, Greasy GIt?" Hermione asked with a huff. She had known he would be sarcastic but she had forgotten how insulting he could be given she hadn't interacted with him in almost a year.
Severus smirked, internally, Sir Flaps-a-lot?! That was a new one, it sounded like something she had come up with herself. He brought a hand up to stroke his beard as he pierced her with his gaze. Why is she even here, surely she had better things to waste her time on than pestering me?!
"I think Mr. Snape is sufficient, seeing as I have not been properly knighted in Flappingham. So, what has brought you on this visit? I assume it isn't a social call. I would offer you tea and biscuits but it is my shopping day." He replied, sarcastically. He watched her closely, trying to discern just what she wanted with him.
Hermione smirked, had all of his biting comments really been his way of expressing humor? She reached into her bag and pulled out a notebook. She flipped it open and looked up at him. Hermione had come prepared in case she panicked and forgot what she wanted to say, it was all outlined on the page in front of her. Hermione hoped she wouldn't need it as she began to speak all in a rush.
"Well, I don't know if you realize this, but I am the reason you survived the Battle at Hogwarts and I have felt terribly guilty about the fact that I saved you only for you to sit in prison. I tried to reason with the Wizengamot on your behalf but they wouldn't listen to an unqualified witch so I had to sit my N.E.W.T.s in order to be taken seriously. But they still wouldn't listen after I passed those with flying colors, they said I didn't understand the intricacies of magical law. So I started my education as a lawyer in the Ministry's own program, I had wanted to pursue a career in law anyway. I have been searching high and low in my free time since I started the program two weeks ago and I think I have found a way to get you out of here but you may not like it."
At this point, Hermione took a deep breath, she had been talking incredibly fast. She had been concerned he would stop her before she could say her piece. She exhaled and looked at him. Severus merely continued to stare at her with his dark eyes full of thought.
So I am her newest project? Feels sorry for poor little Severus, does she? He cleared his throat and opened his mouth to berate her but she started talking again, clearly intent on having him hear her out.
"Before you say what is probably a scathing insult about me as a person, please hear what your options are. Option one, you await your trial and I help you put materials together in your defense to sway the Wizengamot in your favor. Option two, we petition for the Wizengamot to make a decision without a trial. That is a real gamble, from what I can gather they are rather split on what to do with you. This would definitely end any anxiety you have about waiting for an answer, although it may mean a life sentence. Now.." She began but was interrupted by Severus.
"I'm thinking option three, you bugger off! I have no desire to be your little project, I didn't ask for any help from you or anyone else! I don't need your pity!" Severus snapped, careful not to lean any closer or look remotely like he might touch her. He had no desire to find out what happened when an inmate violated that rule.
Hermione sneered at him and crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, good because I don't pity you! I merely thought it was a crime to lock up the brilliant mind behind our otherwise impossible victory. You are still young by wizarding standards and still have plenty to contribute to society if the intelligent man who taught me is still under that oily mop of hair." Hermione snapped right back. "Now if you are quite done having your little fit, I will outline option three."
Severus was speechless, he had not anticipated her response, he merely gave her a curt nod. Hermione smirked and continued.
"Now, as I was saying, option three, there is a legal precedence for wartime spies, specifically double agents, to be released under legal supervision. You would still stand a trial but you would not have to wait during the interim here."
Severus was puzzled, "What do you mean 'legal supervision?'" he asked, but he feared he already knew the answer.
Hermione shifted in her seat and looked away from his penetrating black eyes. "You would need someone to vouch for you. It would mean living with someone trusted in the legal system and they would be held responsible if you break the law again or leave the country before your trial." Hermione grumbled, looking at a point beyond his head. Severus scoffed.
"Well, if that's all! I'm sure there is a line of people stretched the length of Diagon Alley waiting to vouch for the behavior of a former Death Eater. By all means, send them in so I can choose a suitable one from the line-up. Maybe I will get lucky and it will be an attractive woman who finds greasy, skinny old gits who flap about irresistible." Severus replied sarcastically. Really this was a waste of his time...actually it wasn't, what the hell else was he doing?! Oddly enough, Miss Granger blushed slightly (now that's interesting, he thought) before replying.
"I already looked into it and it seems there is only one person eligible to vouch for you and willing to do so." She stated, still avoiding eye contact with him.
Severus brought a hand up to cover his eyes, he had a feeling he knew who had volunteered for what surely sounded like a nightmare for any of his former students. He sighed as he removed his hand from his face, he would have her say it, even if he had no plans of actually taking her up on this ridiculous plan.
"Oh really, Miss Granger? And what dim-witted, dunderheaded, delirious dolt volunteered for this fool's errand?" Her snarky, former professor asked, rather enjoying this rare opportunity to practice his alliterative insults, although he was a bit rusty. Hermione sighed, she really had set herself up for this.
"Me." She said, knowing he had already figured out that bit on his own. Severus smirked at her, she scowled at him.
"Absolutely not, I would rather stay here for eternity in this limbo than live with you, which sounds like a personal hell." Severus said, still smirking, it wasn't everyday he got to tell people exactly what he thought of them, at least not any more.
Hermione grimaced and said "Just think about it, I will visit again to discuss your options." She stood to leave... Severus was abruptly pulled from his reflections to the present day where his timer was going off.
He swifty shut off the flames and used his wand to magically move the cauldron to an adjacent counter. Severus chuckled to himself, he had really been a bastard on that first visit. Hermione had returned twice a week over four weeks before he finally caved and agreed to be released in her custody. He smiled softly to himself, she really was quite persistent. He started decanting the potion into small, compact jars. Severus grinned wickedly to himself, perhaps he would field test this modification later this evening. He still had to ensure it was safe on his skin and performed properly, which he would do after it had cooled sufficiently. If his test went well, his wife was in for an interesting night.
Hermione opened the oven, a wave of flavorful steam puffed out in her face as she leaned in to pull out a beef roast. She tried to make sure to cook something filling for both of them on Sunday nights to make up for their poor eating habits during the week. Anakin was peering into the oven, sniffing as fast as his little nose could go. With the roast cooling on the stove top, Hermione turned to the breadbox and pulled out a package of rolls. She pulled out several and put them on a cookie sheet. It was far easier to warm up store bought rolls than it was to bake them from scratch. As she was reaching for the knob to adjust the oven's temperature, a pair of arms wrapped around her.
"AHHHHH! Severus! Would you please stop startling me in the kitchen! One or both of us could get hurt." She exclaimed, her protests weakening as he kissed his way from her partially exposed shoulder up to behind her ear.
He chuckled and rumbled directly in her ear "Nonsense, I was watching you from the doorway until you were done handling the roast. Which smells delicious by the way, not nearly as good as you smell though."
Hermione smirked and turned her head towards him. He immediately went in for a kiss, which Hermione returned.
"How was your day?" She asked as she turned and reached to actually adjust the knob to the oven. Severus reached a hand out, placed it on top of hers, and switched the oven off. He pulled her hand off the knob and ran his own hands from her thighs and up her body to the hemline of her shirt.
"Not bad, very productive. I was hoping to...verify just how successful my productivity was today." He said before he began kissing her neck again, this time from her ear down. His hands began traveling up her abdomen beneath her shirt to her breasts, which to his delight he found were not encased in a bra. He immediately set about pinching her nipples to hardened points. Hermione inhaled sharply and moaned softly, rather enjoying her husband's attentions.
"Oh really? What exactly will I be the guinea pig for this time? Some variation of the potion from last time, I hope. That one was a much better time than your warming lubricant. That one felt like my entire lower half had been set aflame." She said, while tilting her head to the side to give him better access. Severus bit her neck lightly then ran his tongue back up her neck to her ear. He removed one hand from her chest and brought it down smack her firmly on the ass, eliciting a surprised moan.
"That wasn't my fault, witch! My assistant neglected to test it on mucosal tissue. It was perfectly fine on regular skin." He growled in her ear. "Although, I have been working on improving that one, but I don't want to discuss that right now."
He pulled his hands from under her shirt and spun her around. She hopped up on the counter and pulled him closer. Hermione grinned at him as she pressed her forehead to his.
"What did you want to talk about? I was under the impression you didn't want to talk." She said kissing the tip of his nose. Severus grinned wickedly at her, then replied, "You know me so well."
Hermione ran her hands up his arms and into his hair before pulling him into a kiss. Severus turned his head and deepened the kiss, tangling his tongue with hers. Hermione wrapped her legs around him and pulled him closer as he began unbuttoning her shirt. She pulled her hands from his hair so he could slide the shirt off.
Severus broke the kiss slightly breathless, he looked Hermione in the eyes and said, "I have a proposition for you, let's take my new potion to the basement. It's been a while since we played down there and I think this will greatly enhance the experience, for both of us."
Hermione huffed out a laugh and cocked an eyebrow before saying, "When you put it like that, how can a girl possibly refuse?"
Severus grinned at her before lifting her off the counter by her bum and began walking towards their basement. Hermione gave a surprised yelp and latched on to him even tighter. "Those were my thoughts as well." He said, as he started down the stairs. Severus walked over to the door to their personal room of requirement and opened it.
A/N I know its terrible to end it here! However, I want to do the next bit justice so it will be in the next chapter.