CHAPTER 4

HOME

Usually what Hermione hated about the Floo Network was the taste of powder that lasted a couple of minutes. But this time it was different. She could have given anything to floo again immediately, but damn the Ministry of Magic – Department of Floo Network had to implement the one hour gap for flooing. Apparently the traffic had increased after the war. Her luck from yesterday followed when she tried to apparate only to find the wards on. It was safe to say she was trapped here for one hour.

Pushing all thoughts aside, she decided to explore the place which was her 'home' according to the Floo Network. The hall way was well-lit but the house had an eerie silence to it. For all she knew, maybe she mispronounced 'home' as 'tomb'. This was turning into a more worse nightmare. All she wanted was to lie in her bed and cry herself to sleep.

There had to somebody in the house, "Hello! Anybody home?"

The minute she reached the house, she knew without doubt that this was her 'now' husband's house. She would have to face him tomorrow anyway when the certificates came, but the universe was adamant in robbing her off the one peaceful night she was hoping to have.

PRINCE MANOR

Why was there 20 rooms in the manor for a family as small as theirs? It was a known fact around the wizarding world that the Prince family only had one heir in the family line all the time. Even that tradition was going to end with him. Nearby he heard a lizard confirming what he thought. The muggles thought it was superstition but in the magic world lizard sounds were actual confirmation of future thoughts.

Nevertheless, he entered the last bed-room which was supposedly the master bed-room. What he couldn't understand applying logic in all ways was why on Merlin's world was there decorations with the Griffindor colours of red and gold along with the Slytherin colours of green and silver?

That was when he heard a faint whisper of "Hello! Anybody home?" from the hally way downstairs. He waited for a couple of minutes to process if what he heard was an imagination. Whoever it was made no attempt to call out again. Besides who could come there now? Curiousity overtook him and he decided to investigate. He descended the stairs. The sight that greeted his eyes was what he least expected.

There was a cuddle of wizard robes on his couch. Even in a mob of thousands of people he would have easily identified the owner of that brown curly bushy hair.

"Miss, Granger?" What was she doing here?

She stirred in her sleep, "…hm…?"

"Miss. Granger?" he called out a little louder this time.

She woke up with a start. The light blinded her but she managed to get up and sit on the couch. When her vision cleared, she regretted not being killed in the war.

"Professor Snape?" a little louder than a whisper.

"What are you doing here?"

She cleared her throat. Why was fate being so cruel? What was she going to say?

"You work for the Department of Law Enforcement, right?"

"Yes." Well, this was a good opening.

"Okay. Let's get down to business. Next time don't come here unannounced. I might not be here."

She had no idea where the conversation was going, but she decided to play along.

"Sorry, sir." Snape sat down on a chair opposite to her.

"Is this what they teach in the Ministry? To go and sleep at your client's place?"

"Sorry, sir. I…"

"I don't have time for your useless chatter. First of all, thanks to the Ministry for giving me my inheritance in spite of me not marrying before forty."

"The Ministry…" would never do that!

And that was conclusive evidence of the inevitable. The only reason she didn't fall down fainting was probably because she was sitting. Her eyes wide open in horror as she noticed the faint ring glow in her professor's hand.

"I know the Ministry requires me to sign a will. Is it ok if I draft my own will?"

"Yes sir. Until you do the same the old will will be applicable for the next heir." She resisted the urge to look down to her own finger.

"That will be all, Miss. Granger. You may go."

Hermione stood up but made no attempt to move.

"What is it?"

"The wards are on and the Floo Network gets activated only after an hour."

"Ah. Yes. Even I don't know the password for the wards. Don't you have a portkey?"

"No sir."

There was no hope and he was not going to spend an hour with the Insufferable-Know-It-All.

"If you wish you can sleep in one of the guest rooms."

"Thank you sir."

He walked her to a room.

"Help yourself out after one hour."

She entered the room closing the door behind her. She immediately looked at her hand finding what she looked for. The faint golden glow. It was still faint, that was good news.

PRINCE MANOR – LIBRARY

He yawned as he closed his book. It was just 9 and he felt sleepy already. Miss. Granger would have left by now. Maybe it was time to go back to Hogwards. But something made him go towards the guest room. He peeped in expecting to see an empty bed but she was still there sleeping like a log.

NOWHERE

The canopy of trees guarded them from direct sunlight. She walked as her hair fluttered in the air, her clothes clung to her body, arms tightly wrapped around her. It was beginning to get dark, the coming night teasing the sky into twilight. She didn't turn to look at the tall man beside her. Her focus was on her children who were way ahead of her. Her companion stopped walking freeing himself from her only to hug her from behind. His arms circling her waist. He buried his face in hair breathing her while his arms tightened around her. She relaxed against the broadness of his chest. She felt the breeze on her forehead as he caressed her cheek with his cheeks.

"…mione…" he whispered nibbling her earlobe.

"I love you," she whispered back.

PRINCE MANOR – GUEST ROOM

He couldn't bring himself to wake her up. She looked so peaceful. He kneeled down beside her. That one strand of hair on her forehead annoyed him for reasons he couldn't explain. He softly blew it away. It fluttered but didn't move.

"Hermione" he softly whispered surprising himself by calling her by her first name. He reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear with his left hand and almost froze to eternity when she whispered, "I love you."

(TO BE CONTINUED)