Chapter 18: First Day Together

Hermione awoke to a cold breeze on her bare back, she rolled over expecting to see her husband, and he wasn't there. She frowned as she looked around the room and didn't see him anywhere. She moved to sit up and gasped in pain, she let it subside before she moved again to try and sit up. It eventually did and she moved herself to the sitting position, once again she let the pain die before she went to move again. After the painful sit up, she grabbed her robe in her vanity just in the other side of night stand; she tightened it around her slender waist and went to the bathroom where she brushed her teeth and her amazingly straight hair. After that she slowly and painfully made her way to the sitting room. She was a tad bit surprised at the position that she found her husband, he as sitting on the couch with his feet propped up on the other seats reading the Daily Prophet drinking a cup of steaming tea. Hermione attempted leaned against the doorframe to watch him but as soon as her weight shifted, she gasped out in pain once again. Severus turned toward the sound and noticed his wife had finally awoken.

"Good Morning," Severus stated, "Are you ok?" Hermione nodded biting her lip. "Hermione, you are not alright."

"I am fine, just a bit sore that's all." Severus stood immediately and went over to her. She looked at him as he scooped her up bridal style and walked her to the couch where he gently laid her down. After she got comfortable he ran to the bathroom where he pulled out a pain relief potion. He went back to her kneeling in front of her after handing it to her and he watched her take it and for the first, she noticed that he was worried. "Severus, I am fine really."

"I don't believe you but when the potion kicks in we will see," He went to get up when Hermione put a hand on his cheek, he paused before allowing himself to kneel once again in front of her.

"Severus, look at me, I am fine, when I am in real pain that is life or death, then you can worry, really I am fine," Hermione looked deep into his eyes before she leaned forward to kiss him. They kissed and as time went on, it got more heated. Severus maneuvered himself to sit next to her and he pulled her to him wrapping his arm around her waist. She in turn wrapped one arm around his neck and let one hand rest on his chest. She opened her mouth allowing him entrance and she moaned as his other hand came and tangled itself in her hair. A pop alerted them that they were no longer alone.

"Oh Lucy is so sorry sir and madam, Lucy was ordered to bring breakfast to Mr. and Mrs. Snape."

Hermione, sighed, "That's alright Lucy."

"Speak for yourself," Severus Muttered receiving a slap on his chest.

"What do you have for us?"

"Lucy has brought everything that was ordered Miss."

"Severus what did you order?"

"I didn't order anything, I was waiting for you."

"Then who… never mind, I think I have an idea. Thank you Lucy," Hermione said. And with that Lucy was gone.

"Who would send us breakfast Hermione, we are not supposed to be bothered."

"Severus think, who told us that we would not be bothered."

"Albus."

"Exactly," she looked at the tray, "and look, there is a note." She grabbed it and started to read. "Dear Severus and Hermione, I hope your first morning together found you both well, take this as a gift from me and Minerva, eat up so that you two don't get hungry. Albus."

"Meddling old coot."

"Well no need to let it go to waste," Hermione grabbed a plate and sat back down.

"I suppose that you are right," Severus followed suit and they ate their 'gift.' "So what are your plans today my dear?"

"I have my NEWTs at the end of the week so I figured I would study. How about you Dear Husband?"

"Well if you are going to study, I suppose I will read and start revising my lesson plans."

"Severus, can't you leave your students alone for a day?"

"I could but what else am I supposed to do while you study?"

Hermione thought about this for a moment and said, "Ok fine, but you only get to grade as long as I am studying, when I am done, so are you."

"Wow, did I make the mistake of marrying a cheeky girl?"

"Yes." He leaned over and kissed her again but this time he only met her lips once so that their food didn't end up on the floor.

After they were done eating, Hermione got dressed and grabbed her books and sprawled out on the floor in front of the fireplace and Severus got out his dreaded grading quill and the room fell silent as the two got into their work, the only sound heard was the sound of quills marking the papers. Severus looked at her after two hours of work and he saw that she looked relaxed, unlike most of his students, she was happy to be doing school work. He couldn't help but stare at her, she was beautiful, even after her shower after breakfast she was still stunning. Her hair started to curl again and he thought she looked like a goddess. He let his eyes wander over her body while she worked, taking in all of her curves and every move she made. His eyes settled on the back of her neck where he noticed a scar that was at the base of her neck, he made a mental note to ask her later and he himself turned back to his work. Another two hours passed and the duo had decided that they had reached a good place to stop.

"Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"Would you like to go for a walk around the lake?"

"Sure, I'll just grab my coat." After five minutes, the two were ready to go, Severus, to no one's surprise was in a black jacket and black pants, and Hermione on the other hand was in a red jacket with a set of white gloves and a white scarf to match.

The two left their chambers and headed out to the black lake. There weren't any students to worry about yet since school didn't start until next week so they were open to show affection. They walked around the lake where they found a dry spot of grass under the shade of a tree. Hermione sat between Severus' legs with her head against his chest while Severus had his arms around her waist leaning against the trunk. The two sat there hypnotized by the waves of the water caused by the squid swimming about. Hermione's hands were absent mindedly drawing circles on Severus hands as they rested on her stomach.

"Hermione?" Severus asked bringing her out of her mind.

"Yes?"

"Where did you get that scar?"

"Which one?"

"The one at the base of your hairline on the back of your neck."

"oh that, I got that when we went to the department of mysteries in fifth year, let's just say that Dolov did more then use his wand on me. As he held my hair, he held a knife to the back of my neck to keep me from fighting his grip." At this, Severus went stiff and Hermione felt it. "But its ok, it wasn't all that bad, if I had resisted, it would have been a lot worse." Hermione felt him relax but his grip was still possessive and protective.

"What about the others?"

"What?"

"The other scars, you said you had others."

"Oh, those are just from my childhood mishaps, I am sure you don't want to hear about those."

"We have time my dear."

Hermione sighed, "Ok I have two on my left inner leg from a hot glue gun, it had dripped while I was working on a craft for my mom for her birthday." She didn't even notice her hands going to the scars that she knew were there, "I also have scars on my shins and feet from playing at the park, simple mishaps is all."

"What did your mother say about the glue gun?"

"You should use it at the table because it leaks. I instead used it in front of the hearth and I didn't even notice until it became a second degree burn, when Mom went to go remove it, it pulled off my skin, leaving a scar."

"Hm so even as a child you were awfully thick headed." For the second time that day, Hermione swatted him on the chest, they laughed and they eventually fell silent again simply enjoying each other's company.

"I love that," Hermione said closing her eyes.

"You love what Hermione?"

"Your laugh, I love it."

"Well that isn't something I have heard before."

"Hmm well I hope to hear it more often." They fell silent again. "Severus, I miss them."

"Who?"

"My parents, don't get me wrong, Bella and Rudolphus are great, I love them but,"

"They aren't them?"

"Yeah."

"I know how you feel." He looked at her and sighed, he had just unintentially opened a door with a lot of skeletons behind it. "My parents, well I should say my mother, was very loving and when my father wasn't home, she and I would have a night to ourselves where we read, practiced spell, played board and card games, and I even recall roasting marshmallows in our fireplace." Severus smiled at the memory. "Anyway, my father was abusive and one day he came home and was angry for something I am sure he assumed and wasn't true. He hit my mother numerous times in my life and that particular day he beat her to death. For some reason, still unclear to me, he grabbed his medication and overdosed that same night. Leaving me an orphan, I owled Albus as soon as I could and he and Minerva came and got me from the police station the next morning." Hermione had laid her head upon his shoulder at the beginning of the story and at this she looked up at him, "Yes Hermione, Albus and Minerva became my 'parents,' Minerva was very loving and made sure I was happy but she wasn't my mother." He looked at her and noticed the tears in her eyes, "Hermione, its ok."

"No it's not, My parents are gone because of me, I don't want to sound rude but yours was out of your control, I could have protected them, I was of age."Hermione dropped her head and let the tears fall.

"Hermione," He grabbed her face in his hands, "Your parents loved you, and Bella and Rudolphus do too, you just have to learn to accept the things that you cannot change, it will be hard but I am right here beside you to hold you when you need me." Hermione smiled slightly as he gently whipped away her tears and kissed her.

She settled herself in his lap and fell asleep to the sound of his heartbeat. Severus leaned back and relaxed as he held his wife in his arms. He allowed his eyes to close and relax in the shade. About an hour later he opened his eyes and noticed that he was alone, Hermione wasn't in his arms anymore, He looked around and noticed that she was on the shore staring out at the lake, the afternoon sun was gleaming off of her hair and the slight breeze blowing her curls. He smiled and watched her relax and allow herself to be free for a change. He stood and walked behind her, when he reached her he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her head.

"Are you ok?"

"You know, I feel better. We have only been married for a day and already, so much has been brought to the table."

"Yes well I hadn't planned on telling you something like that so soon... you know; let it come out on like our third anniversary or something." Severus looked at her and smirked.

"Severus, that's not funny," she stated turning around in his arms, She rested her head on his chest. She breathed in his scent and relaxed even more. "I feel happy Severus, I am happy with you."

"I love you Hermione," He whispered he didn't mean for it to slip out but it did, and he didn't know if Hermione heard or not but he got his answer when her breath caught, He looked down at her and noticed her looking at him. He leaned down and caught her lips with his; they deepened the kiss before they broke apart and went back to their rooms. They sat on their couch with a cup of tea and read for the rest of the day. It was a perfect first day even if it didn't go as planned.