CHAPTER SIX

Hermione finished unpacking her things, her stomach and heart feeling hollow. She practically felt numb as she went to the sitting room, forcing herself to face him.

"I'm unpacked," she mumbled.

"Good," he said, not looking up from the book he was now reading.

Anger flared inside her. "You don't get to go back and forth from shouting at me and ordering me around to ignoring me."

"Amazingly enough, I can," Snape said smoothly, turning the page.

"You're such a loathsome snake!" she snapped. "I'd happily spend my life in Azkaban if it meant I didn't have to marry you!"

Snape stood swiftly, dropping the book onto his table with a loud thud as he approached rapidly. "Listen to me, you little wretch. Your cheek stops now. I am still your professor, and you will treat me with the respect that entails!"

"That would imply that I had some respect for you to begin with," Hermione said sweetly.

"You WILL treat me respectfully, Miss Granger," Snape snarled.

"Or what?" she challenged.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Or I can see to it that you spend your every free moment in detention."

"You can't put me in detention for voicing my opinion to you in private. I'm your fiancée," she reminded him.

"Believe me, Miss Granger, I am well aware." The disdain in his voice was practically tangible.

"What? I'm not good enough for you?" she asked snarkily. "You're too good to marry a Mudblood?"

Snape visibly flinched at the sound of the word, and he turned away.

"Please, Miss Granger… Do not ever say that word in front of me."

Hermione's brow furrowed in confusion. "Why not?"

Snape's shoulders stiffened. "Because that word cost me something very dear to me, a long time ago."

Hermione fell silent. "Sorry," she mumbled. "I'm…erm…I'm going to go up to dinner." She realized how hungry she'd grown, and that she had skipped lunch.

"No need," Snape said. He waved his wand and two covered plates appeared atop his desk.

"How…food can't be conjured," Hermione said.

"I'm aware of that," Snape said dryly. "However, it can be transported from the kitchens, and that's what I did."

"Oh," Hermione said.

Snape flicked his wand once more, and another chair appeared in front of the desk.

"Um…thank you," Hermione mumbled hesitantly, sitting down.

"You're welcome," Snape said stiffly.

Hermione pulled a plate closer. There was beef stew and bread. She stuck her fork into a carrot and put it into her mouth, chewing slowly.

Five minutes ago, she'd been starving, but now that she was stuck down here with him instead of going to eat with Ginny or Luna, she was the opposite.

"Why aren't you eating?" Snape asked as she picked at her food.

"Not very hungry." Hermione wouldn't look at him.

"You need to eat, Miss Granger."

"I just said I'm not hungry!" she snapped. "I think I'm going to go to bed."

Severus decided not to push the matter. "Very well."

"Where am I going to sleep?" Hermione asked.

Severus fought not to roll his eyes. "Where is the bed, Miss Granger?"

"What?" she cried, horrified. "I have to share a bed with you?!"

Severus smirked. "Perhaps you're afraid I'm going to…bewitch your mind? Ensnare your senses?"

Hermione paled and began backing away from him. "Stay away from me!"

This time Severus did roll his eyes. "Perhaps you're not observing this, but I have no interest in you that way. I am offering you half of the bed to sleep in. Your alternative is to sleep in the bathtub. Your choice."

Hermione glared at him before stomping into the bedroom and snatching her pajamas and toiletries from the shelf of the wardrobe. She slammed the bathroom door shut and set about getting ready for bed.

This was horrifying. Why on earth did the Ministry think that they had to get married? This was going to be horrible.

Hermione exited the bathroom in her pajamas and neatly folded her uniform, setting it on the floor of the wardrobe where the house elves would collect it that night for laundry.

She looked at the bed, trying to decide which side looked more frequently slept in, so as not to sleep in his space. She unwillingly decided that she would sleep by the wall, since his bed was pushed up against it, since it looked to be the least used spot on the bed.

She lay down and put her head on the pillow, her back to the door, waiting for sleep to overtake her.

Severus entered after nearly an hour, glancing at the bed. Her petite form was resting underneath the duvet, facing the door, and her breathing was slow and even. He went to the bathroom and slipped into his black flannel pajamas before biting the bullet and going to the bed.

He climbed into bed beside her, slowly so as not to wake her. He watched her face for a few minutes.

Severus was taken aback. He'd never realized before how beautiful she was. Perhaps it was the fact that she'd always been just a student to him. But now that she was going to be his wife…he noticed.

Severus shook his head, putting such thoughts from his mind. No. Never would he allow himself to care about her. And with that, he put out the lamps with a wave of his wand, closing his eyes and waiting for sleep.