CHAPTER 16
He knew he couldn't stay for dinner and that would just elevate the things. The students were going to be guessing things they shouldn't be.
What was he to do?
Why was life taking a toll on him?
He watched as the students retreated to the Hall, giggling at them.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, as he turned to go to his room, his robes ready to billow behind him.
He stopped short to look at his wife, who still had her hands on her lips trying to figure out if all this was a dream.
"Hermione?"
"Huh?" she asked, not looking at him, still dazed.
"Mione?" he waved his hand in front of her face to grab her attention.
"Severus…uhm…" her face was still red; she looked down, not knowing what to say.
He held out his hand, urging her to accept it.
Slowly and cautiously she took it, gulping down any fear she had.
They walked down the corridors towards the dungeon.
She wasn't sure if she was ready for any more progress in the relationship. But, she wasn't scared anymore.
In fact, the past few days had turned her life upside down and she had no idea where life was taking her.
It was not exactly as planned.
Maybe it was just better.
SNAPE QUARTERS
SITTING ROOM
The wood-fire was blazing in the fireplace. It sent its warmth and light far out into the room, crackling now and then.
Hermione sat in the couch, looking intently at her nails.
She had no guts to face him.
He brought two bottles of fire-whiskey and set them on the table, before joining her in the couch. He glanced at her before looking at his own nails intently.
Moments passed in complete silence.
After what seemed like an eternity, they spoke up and they decided on the same time.
"Her…"
"Sev…"
They stopped and started again.
"Sev…"
"Her…"
They stopped and a second later, they smiled at each other.
Hermione stopped short.
Snape was smiling.
Professor Snape was smiling.
Professor Severus Snape was actually smiling, with no hint of sarcasm.
He took her hands in his, surprising her more.
He gave it a little squeeze before letting go.
"I have something to tell you," he started slowly.
"Go on…"
And he updated about the werewolf whiskers.
"That's tomorrow?"
"Yes."
She knew what he was trying to imply.
"So that means…"
"We have to consider the solution."
She gulped down any anxiety she had and nodded, "I understand."
"I guess I will be gone…," he said, getting up.
"Wait. Where?"
"Knockturn Alley."
She frowned.
Why Knockturn Alley?
Then she realized. That was where the…Oh Merlin! Did that imply what she thought it did?
She caught his hand.
He turned to look at her.
He looked vulnerable and Severus Snape never looked vulnerable.
"What do you mean?"
"You will finely be free of me and my memories."
He gave a sad sarcastic smile.
"I guess you won't remember your snarky Potion Master anymore."
He felt it.
A sharp sting on his left cheek.
He brought his hands to his cheek, where she had slapped a second ago.
"Don't you dare…"
"Mione, you deserve better."
"Well, then maybe I should be the one sleeping with someone one and relieving you the memories of me," she shouted, tears threatening to form.
"You are just being a Griffindor, just go to the room and sleep, by morning you won't remember anything."
"Nor will you," she said, grabbing her robe tightly around her and apparating before he could stop her.
GRANGER'S RESIDENCE
She cried.
She didn't know why, but she cried.
Why was she crying over him?
It wasn't like she loved him or anything.
It was just one kiss, technically two and she wanted him?
It was ridiculous.
She knew she could go to Harry or Ginny; but she preferred the loneliness her house provided.
Her clothes were still in the Manor and she hadn't eaten all day.
That didn't matter at all.
She cried even harder, when the clock stuck 8 and there was no unfamiliar magic to whisk her away to him or whisk him to her.
It was over.
Her stupid mistake with the machine would be rectified.
She wouldn't remember him anymore.
It pained her.
It pained her beyond anything.
She curled up in her coach, trying not to think of her husband with another woman.
Knowing the pain would be gone in the morning, along with her memories, she cried herself to sleep.
NEXT DAY MORNING
SNAPE QUARTERS
BEDROOM
He hadn't slept one wink.
The kiss and the very beautiful face of his wife came in front of his eyes.
He should have known that he would never be able to sleep with anyone other than her.
He had stared at the spot she had apparated from for hours before drowning himself in whiskey and trying to sleep. His intention of sleeping with anyone else all forgotten. When he hadn't been whisked away at 8, he had known it was over.
Her mistake with the machine would be rectified.
He wouldn't remember her anymore.
It pained him.
It pained him beyond anything.
Who would she have slept with?
Not that he wanted to know.
He had lain on the bed staring at the wall and missing the warmth of her by his side.
He thought a part of him wanted to know the feeling of missing her memories.
When morning came and he still knew a "Hermione" as his wife, he couldn't help but wonder what was wrong?
Was this some kind of punishment for him?
Should he go look out for her?
Was she in trouble?
MINISTRY OF MAGIC
He had taken an off from work, knowing very well it would amount to gossips around the school, not that he cared. He walked to the reception asking for Hermione Granger.
The receptionist looked new.
"We don't have a Hermione Granger listed."
"Hermione Snape," he tried again.
"Yes, she is on leave today," she said checking some machine she had.
Most probably, Hermione's invention he thought.
Where was she?
And why was she still a Snape?
BURROW
His next destination was the Burrow.
"No, she isn't here. She didn't come here," was the only response he got from the Weasley clan.
GRANGER'S RESIDENCE
Granger's Residence was deserted. There was no sign of anyone living there for a while now, except the couch which looked slept on. Where was she?
Potter.
Maybe Godric Hollow?
But he had no intention to revisit the home of his long lost best friend and with that he returned to his dungeon, getting prepared for the night to come; not that that made him miss her any less.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT & WIZARDRY
SNAPE QUARTERS
SITTING ROOM
He looked at his watch. He still had 4 and half hours before he could go to the Forbidden Forest. Maybe he could go to the hall for some dinner after half an hour. Maybe this was the first time he was going to face the school after yesterday's incident and Snape dreaded it already.
He grabbed a book from his collection and settled down in his couch.
He didn't know half an hour was up until he felt a jolt on the couch and his book fell to the ground with his hand being pulled by a force to be bound with…his wife?
"Hermione?"
"Severus?"
What the hell did it mean?
Peculiar, isn't it?
(TO BE CONTINUED)