Chapter 22: Return
Hermione looked up when everyone started gasping and murmuring to themselves, thought the doors walked her husband, with a slight limp but it was him, he was alive and home. She stood and walked as if to a trance to stand in the main walkway between two tables, when she was in line with the doors between the two tables, she made a dead bolt for him and threw herself into his arms.
"Severus, Thank God." She gasped as she jumped into his arms wrapping her legs around his waist. "I didn't think you were going to come home, I was so scared."She began to cry.
"It's alright Hermione, I'm here, and I am ok." He soothed.
"Severus my boy you made it back."
"Headmaster," Severus greeted letting Hermione down gently to the floor, however, he kept an arm around her waist keeping her closely to his side as he shook Albus' hand and hugged Minerva.
"I am so glad that you are alright Severus, you almost gave me a heart attack," Minerva said.
"How tragic that would have been." Snape hadn't lost his sarcasm.
"Severus," Hermione exclaimed lightly slapping his stomach while Minerva slapped his arm, "She can still get you."
"I know," He smiled into her hair as he held her to him. The others came up to join them in greeting before returning to their meal. Severus joined them eating a large amount of food; this must have encouraged Hermione to eat more because she actually ate instead of nitpicking at her plate. When they were done everyone wished Severus a good day and went about their business to get ready for the students. Hermione led Severus and everyone to the Dungeons for him to inspect their work and to finish the brewing for the infirmary. That took an hour with all of their help and then they retired to the Headmasters quarters for the rest of the wait. They chatted about the upcoming year and Hermione's internship with Minerva.
"Severus, I hate to dampen the mood but I must ask you something." Rudolphus said.
"Yes?"
"What happened after you disappeared?"
"I ran across the children and I led them away told them to obliviate me and then knock me out in some way so that I could keep my cover with the Dark lord. I awoke inside a tent, I assume McNair's but I can't be sure. While I was there, the Dark Lord mentioned the final battle." This made everyone straighten up, "He didn't mention anything specific, just that it was going to happen before Potter graduates."
"That's a better time frame then we had though right?"
"Yes Hermione, a relative estimate is better than being left in the dark." Minerva said.
"I only wish there was more I could give you."
"No Severus, that will be plenty, I am sure that he will call upon you in due time." Severus nodded.
The others that were not teachers departed around three allowing the professors plenty of time to get together and finish the nit picks of their time line for the year before the students arrived. Hermione helped Severus finish finding all he needed and then helped Minerva make sure that the supplies for the first week were easily accessible. Soon it was an hour before the students were due for arrival and the castle seemed to be buzzing with nerves and excitement.
"I am truly dreading this year."
"Why Severus?"
"Because on top of the war, Neville is in my NEWT potions, and I was passed over again for DADA."
Hermione encircled her arms around his waist and pulled him to her, "I fear you are only looking at the bad and not even looking at the good."
"What good could come out of this year besides this war finally ending?"
Hermione knew that he meant well but just to be sarcastic with him, "Well if that is how you truly feel…" She turned in a huff and made for the door.
"Hermione," he said grabbing her wrist. "That's not what I meant."
"Really," she said keeping a straight face.
Severus smirked at her before pulling her into a passionate kiss, his arms circled his waist and hers rounded his neck holding on to each other as if the world would end if they broke apart, lips brushing against each other numerous times. They only broke apart because someone knocked on the door; Severus went to go get it and was greeted by their headmaster and his deputy.
"Severus I hate to disturb you but we have but fifteen minutes until the students are due."
"Unfortunately."
"And I need Hermione; she is after all my intern." Minerva smirked.
"Again, Unfortunately."
"Severus don't be such a downer." Hermione joked coming to the door as well.
"You will be a downer too one day," Severus smirked at his wife.
"I very much doubt that." Severus' smirk grew into a full smile which she happily returned.
"Shall we Madam Snape?"
"Indeed Professor Snape." Hermione giggled at her husband's question. He held out his arm which she took and they walked to the great hall together. Minerva and Hermione stopped at the doorway to wait for the first years while Severus and Albus went to the table, Before Severus got too far however he turned and kissed his wife lovingly on the lips.
"Who knows when I'll be able to kiss you tonight with a new batch of troublemakers."
"I am sure we will find time," She smiled as she leaned in to kiss him again, "I love you."
"And I you my love." And their lips met once again for a brief meeting before they went their spate ways.
As she and Minerva stood at the top of the stairs waiting for the first years, "You seem better Hermione."
"I am Severus is home and I can relax knowing that he will be there when I wake up each morning and he will be there to hold me every night when we go to bed, even if we have to deal with his 'dunderheads' all day." Minerva laughed at her comment.
"So true my dear." Minerva and Hermione's smiles were almost instantly replaced with stern looks when the doors opened to the new first years. As soon as they were around the steps she started, "Welcome to Hogwarts, I hope you all have a great first year, before you can join your classmates you must be sorted into your houses, there is Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Slytherine. Those houses are your family while you are here, you will earn and loose points together and you are to respect one another. Please wait here while I go see if they are ready for you, Madam Snape, please stay here."
"Of course Professor McGonagall." As she walked away the students started to mingle again with one another she heard numerous remarks:
'Oh she looks like someone I don't want to cross."
'I want to be in Ravenclaw."
'My sister says that Gryffindor is the house for me.'
'Who do you think will win the house cup this year?'
'The what?'
There were a few about herself and her husband as well:
"I wasn't aware that Professor Snape was Married."
"Who's that?"
"He is the dreaded Potions Professor, at least that's what Mara tells me."
"Do you think that she is like him?"
"Maybe."
She pretended not to hear the paniced whispers from the first years about her husband but inwardly smiled, it was going to be a good year. The conversations continued until Minerva returned, "They are ready." And with that she along with the first years followed Minerva into the Great Hall, soon she heard 'ooo's' and 'ah's' from the group following her. She looked at Minerva and smirked at the astonishments. They soon stood in front of the Headmaster, "Please stand here while Headmaster Dumbledore speaks to you."
The students did as instructed. "Thank you Professor McGonagall, Yes welcome, I hope you are all excited for a new year full of education." He went on to tell the general rules that Hermione had heard for the past six years, she looked at Harry Ron and Ginny sitting at Gryffindor table, they smiled and she nodded respectfully so that they knew that she saw them. She kept a strict face but decided that she wouldn't hurt anything by tuning him out. She came back however when Minerva cleared her throat, she grabbed the hat while Minerva held the list of names to be read.
"Now when I call your name, please come forward and Professor Snape will place the sorting hat on your head and you will know what house you belong to." Minerva ran off the names and the Sorting hat took its usual time finding where each student belonged. They finished what seemed like two hours later and she and Minerva joined the other Professors at the head table. When the noise died down, the headmaster pulled his usual tricks and made the food appear, Hermione was starving now that she noticed her stomach but she used her manners and filled her plate a little at a time.
"Hungry dear?"
"Starved."
"You haven't eaten much today I take it."
"No."
"Why?" He looked at her anticipating the response.
Hermione looked at her husband, while his usual stern face was in place, she could see that his eyes held concern, "I just had things on my mind."
"Care to elaborate."
"Later." and he dropped the subject, for now. They continued to mingle with the other teachers; Hermione became bold enough to look at her friends at the table.
"Do you miss them?"
Hermione was startled by his question, "A bit, I mean I miss the debates above all, and hitting Ron with Ginny's help because he is eating like he is dying." Hermione chuckled, and almost jumped at the feel of her husband's hand upon her leg.
"Madam Snape, I do believe that they won't disown you simply because you now carry the power to remove or add house points."
"Thank you." Is all she said before returning to her food. The feast ended and Hermione and Severus walked to their quarters in silence, they changed into their sleeping attire and entered bed.
After the lights were extinguished and a few moments of silence Severus spoke, "Hermione?"
"Hmm?"
"Why were you so hungry at Dinner tonight?"
"I just felt better and finally took note of my stomach growling."
"What do you mean?" Hermione was silent, "Hermione talk to me."
"I am fine Severus."
"Now, yes, but while I was gone?"
"Drop it." Her frustration was rising.
"No, I want you to talk to me Hermione." She was once again silent, he felt a warm tear hit his bare chest, in reaction, he pulled her closer to his person, "Love, talk to me." He felt her shudder under his arm.
"I was so scared." Almost a whisper that he almost didn't catch
"About what?"
"When Mother and Father returned without you and said that you were missing I panicked, I had already been worried enough and I felt like my heart was pulling out of my chest and I couldn't breathe when they told me the story. I was scared that you weren't going to come home to me." She shook with silent sobs as she snuggled closer to the body that belonged to the one that she loved.
Severus thought about what she had just said, "Hermione, listen to me," he paused to control himself, "I am here, and I am not going anywhere, ever." He found her lips in the dark and kissed her with every emotion that he was feeling toward her and she returned it. When they broke he said, "I love you."
"I love you too Severus." And they held each other as they slept.