AN: Okay, huge apologies, I'm having major computer issues at the moment (long story short, I've only got half a computer screen working due to a toddler related incident) and, without trying to sound like I'm making excuses, between job hunting, parenting and a to do list as long as a jumbo jet, writing time is seriously limited. As such finding it very hard to get this story posted... I will do my best to be a bit more regular in my updates, but I can't promise anything but this I WILL FINISH THIS STORY... thank you for your patience, and your reviews...
WARNING: this program contains scenes some viewers may find disturbing. Please respect the ratings system.
Disclaimer: it's only mine if you don't recognise it.
And now: enter the green eyed monster...
Chapter Thirteen
They floo'd straight into Minerva's office, after her insistence that she couldn't make Hermione make the long walk from the apparition point to the castle 'in her condition'. Almost as soon as they'd stepped out of the fireplace she was offering them tea and ginger newts, both of which Hermione accepted and Severus declined. Minerva set a cup of tea down in front of both of them anyway, a biscuit balanced on the saucer.
They spent almost an hour chatting about nothing of importance, or at least Hermione and Minerva did, Severus spent almost an hour sipping his tea and scowling at his biscuit. Finally, Minerva suggested that perhaps Hermione would like to accompany a house elf to select a room for them to stay in whilst she and Severus 'got down to some business'. Hermione agreed with a smile and left them to it when the Dobby arrived. Severus could hear Hermione chatting to the elf as they made their way down the stairs.
Minerva was watching him over the top of her square rimmed glasses when he lifted his head to look at her. "I see marriage is treating you both well." She commented.
Severus stiffened, as he always did when the older woman tried to talk with him about things he considered to be personal and therefore private. "Yes." He answered crisply, "Were you expecting otherwise?"
"Not at all, Severus, there's no need for you to take such a defensive tone. I was merely observing that you look somewhat more relaxed, and indeed a little happier than last time I saw you. I wonder perhaps, if now there might be a little more to this than just you doing the right thing, as it were?"
"I had enough with meddlesome old fools whilst I worked here, Minerva." Severus warned, but the headmistress just beamed as if that was exactly the answer she had been hoping for.
"speaking of working here, that's actually why I wanted you to come a week early, you see, I've unfortunately had to relinquish my current potions professor to a 6 month trek of the Himalaya's looking for rare herbs and other such ingredients, as well as the valuable knowledge of the indigenous peoples there abouts. You know how it is, all in the name of bettering himself."
"And you wondered if I's be his replacement, because I so enjoyed doing the job the first time round." He added for her.
"Oh, come, you can't say you didn't enjoy at least parts of it. Please, Severus, I'll give you a raise, and bigger rooms, a bigger lab, anything you want, I'll even convince the school governors to fund your research."
"You really must be desperate."
"You couldn't even begin to imagine." A familiar voice caused him to cringe as it came from one of the portraits he had been determinedly not looking at. "Going to the Himalaya's wasn't actually Richard's idea, was it Minerva?"
"Yes, it was his idea, though he perhaps wouldn't have had it if I hadn't got Pomona to tell him all about the interesting things she learnt while she was out there, and how helpful she thought it would be for him."
"I'm sorry, Minerva, I don't think there is a single thing you could offer me that would make me want to come back here to teach."
"What about Hermione? You know, she applied to become transfiguration mistress almost as soon as she'd got her NEWTs. Imagine, Severus, just for a moment, what it would be like, to live in this castle now. Imagine, a life in this castle, which I know you love really, with all the good bits of the past still here, like your lab, the library, the influencing young minds, all of that, but with the added extras that you'd have Hermione here, and your little one. Imagine your child growing up here, Severus, he or she would know the very best of everything, you'd have a steady income again, Hermione would be doing something more than quill pushing for the ministry."
Severus did imagine it, and a part of him, a small hopeful part, thought that it could be wonderful; it could be everything he had thought it would be when he had first thought about teaching so far back as his fifth year. But then the cynical part of his brain kicked in, all the memories that he'd held here. How could he walk these halls now? How could he teach the students knowing what had gone before? He shook his head. "I'm sorry, Minerva."
"Don't tell me definitely, please, just think about it, talk to Hermione about it. Tell me at the end of the week?"
He could concede to that. He would think it over for a week and then give her his final decision.
-#X#-
Severus had thought abut it from every possible angle, he had argued with himself, he had researched in the library, he had made lists of pro's and con's, he had even spoken to a few select portraits. He still wasn't sure he should take up Minerva's offer. He still wasn't sure he could turn it down either. ON the walk out of her office, it had been a definite no, but as the week progressed all good points about the castle seemed to present themselves to him, as was doubtless Minerva's intention in asking that he not answer until the end of the week. He hadn't mentioned it to Hermione; he knew she would jump at the chance to come live here again, a blind man could have seen that from just the way she acted whilst here. He tried to convince himself that he hadn't told her because he didn't want her interfering with his decision making process, but a small traitorous whispered that maybe it was because he didn't want her to be disappointed if he couldn't bring himself to say yes.
There was so much history here. There were so many memories that haunted this castle better than the ghosts. He would have a lot of demons to face if they moved back. Severus sighed, raked his hand through his hair and wondered if Hermione was having fun shopping with Minerva. Then he wondered if Minerva had told Hermione about the job yet, because that would certainly complicate matters.
-#X#-
"What about this one? Do you think he'll like it?" Hermione bit her lip as she held up the dress, the long flowing lines of the silk and the peachy colour put her in mind of a desert. Minerva looked sceptical.
"Maybe it looks better on?" the older woman suggested, Hermione put it back on the rail. "you seem to be trying very hard to please him, Hermione, dear, I'm just a little concerned that you might wear yourself out in the effort.
"I'm just trying to prove that social occasions don't have to be... torturous." Hermione responded slowly.
"I fear you may be fighting a loosing battle there, Severus is not and never has been what one would term a social butterfly." Minerva dug through the rack and tossed the younger witch a pile of purple fabric, "try that one, it'll compliment your skin tones."
Hermione held it up, "I don't know, it's a little short."
Minerva rolled her eyes. "Hermione, when you are young enough to have shapely legs, and no horrid veins and wrinkles, you are supposed to show them off."
"I'd just feel more comfortable with something a bit longer."
"Compromise, then, this one is floor length with a slit." The bundle came sailing through the air; Hermione almost dropped the purple gown as she caught it. She didn't even have to hold it up to know that this was the one.
"Perfect."
-#X#-
The Yule Ball was getting nearer by the minute. Severus was sitting in a chair reading, every now and then checking his watch, glancing at the bathroom door, shaking his head and returning to his book. IT never failed to amaze him just how long women could take fiddling about with their hair. Obviously he wasn't concerned that they would be late for the ball, any time they were late was time he didn't have to spend making idle small talk and avoiding Minerva, he was, however, minorly concerned that Hermione had sealed herself into the bathroom some two and a half hours previously, and since that time he hadn't heard a single sound from beyond the door. It was a almost as if she had simply ceased to exist, though he privately thought that heavy silencing charms might be a more likely explanation. Why she felt the need to put up silencing charms in the first place was beyond even his reasoning.
Finally, at exactly the moment she had earlier dubbed 'the latest possible second we could leave and still be on time, just' the bathroom door clicked open. Severus, a sarcastic remark about her timing already on his tongue, looked up and the remark died unspoken. Hermione looked... there weren't actually words to describe how Hermione looked. IT was like the daydream moment from their wedding day all over again, and Severus had to question exactly what he had done in his life to get this lucky. She stood in the doorway, holding a small beaded bag, biting her lip and looking a little more than nervous. The corseted top of the dress, which was a pale gold colour (that Severus was certain he'd never liked until this moment), showed off her narrow waist and accentuated her breasts without it looking overly obvious, and the long skirt with and almost equally long slit up one side was perfect to showcase her slender legs and perfect ankles above ridiculously high heels.
"You look... lovely." Severus mentally punched himself, lovely...seriously? is that really the best you can come up with? At least it made her stop looking so nervous and flash him a huge smile.
For Hermione, the slightly stunned expression on Severus's face as his eyes raked from head to foot and then slowly back up again, spoke more volumes than the fact he actually complimented her appearance. She gently patted the back of her head, where her hair was carefully pinned up so that only a few small curls fell around her face and ears. "Shall we go then?" she asked, now starting to feel a little uncomfortable in the heat of Severus's stare.
-#X#-
They entered the Great Hall a short distance behind the last of the student couples, and Severus instantly located the darkest, least looked upon corner of the room and moved them both to it. "you really don't like this do you?" Hermione said, a slight laugh in her voice.
"If you wish to mingle, go ahead, I see the Potters and the Weasleys by the drinks table, I, however, have no desire to spend the evening discussing Quidditch."
"You know, you actually do have to say hello to them at some point, we are married, and they are my friends, and, therefore, by association, your friends." She pointed out calmly.
"If I agree to speak civilly with those two, do you agree that we can leave by midnight?"
Hermione actually laughed, "yes, Severus, we can leave before midnight, come on, I'm sure it can't be all that bad."
She took his hand to lead him over to where Harry, Ginny, Ron and Lavender now sat. She determinedly ignored the quiet groan from behind her as they sat down to hear Ron saying, "So obviously the Cannons will wipe the floor with them in the rematch."
After that, the evening went pretty much as expected, Lavender, Ginny and Hermione discussed pregnancy, babies, work, and a few other things, Ron and Harry discussed their work, Quidditch, football (which Harry had finally managed to get Ron to understand) and upcoming changes to Wizarding Law. Harry occasionally attempted to draw Severus into their conversation; Ron even tried to make a joke about their school days, but stopped when Hermione kicked him under the table.
It was almost 10pm when Severus decided enough was enough, excusing himself in the guise of going to get a fresh round of drinks, he pushed back his chair and made his way at a deliberately leisurely pace across the room.
-#X#-
Hermione, though she didn't miss a beat in her conversation, watched Severus head off across the room, her eyes tracking him until he vanished into the crowd. Half of her wanted to go check he was okay, but the more logical part spoke up to remind her that if anyone could take care of themselves it was Severus. She focused harder on what Ginny was saying.
A few moments later she caught a human shape sinking into Severus' chair out the corner of her eye. He was back. She turned to retrieve the glass of lemonade he had doubtlessly brought back with him (a prop that served two purposes – showing the world that he was capable of thinking about her needs, and providing the evidence to back up his excuse to leave the table). The problem was, there was no lemonade. There was no Severus. The human shape that had sunk into the chair belonged to possibly the last person she had expected. Cormac McLaggen gave her a toothy grin and pushed a glass or pumpkin juice towards her that smelt suspiciously of alcohol. "Nice to see you again, Granger."
Hermione opened her mouth to correct him, but he didn't give her the chance. "Thought I might catch you here, in fact, I've been hoping to run into you for a while. I was surprised you never went into teaching, you know, Merlin knows you've got the brains for it. One of the only reasons I agreed to coach the quidditch teams on my days off."
Hermione, forcing a polite smile, decided she'd probably get out of this quicker if she played along. "How generous of you, Cormac. I'm sure the," she racked her brain for the team he had signed with, remembering the article Ron had so disgustedly flung under her nose a few years back, "Wasps must be proud of your community spirit."
"The Wasps? Haven't you heard? I'm not with the Wasps anymore, no, they were a great group of people, but last season their game just started slipping, I mean, they even let the Chudley Cannons beat them," she sensed more than saw Ron's ears redden, " I mean, come on, that was just too humiliating. I'm with the Falcons now, you know, the Falmouth Falcons, much stronger team. They're really going places, and they offered me a substantial wage rise with it."
Hermione tried to look interested as she nodded and forced another smile onto her lips. "So anyway, how goes it with you?" once again she opened her mouth to reply only for him to steam roller her, "Tell you what, why don't we take a bit of a walk, you know, catch up in the fresh air." He glanced at Harry and Ron. So did she, trying to ask for help without actually doing anything. His hand was already at her elbow, guiding her up out of her seat, and, for someone who was meant to be smart, her brain went awfully blank as she tried to think of an excuse to stay. It wasn't that she had anything against Cormac, really, it was just that she'd rather not have to walk outside, and listen to him talking about, well, him. But it was too late now. Before she knew it they were outside, strolling at his pace through the grounds.
He was talking again, she caught the end of a question and this time didn't even bother to open her mouth. "... who did the ministry land you with? I had hoped you'd be on my list, after all, we did date while at School" Hermione struggled not to snort, dated? We had one date and I spent most of that hiding behind curtains and trying to avoid you! "Still, I suppose I didn't do too badly with Helen, she's alright. We have an agreement, anyway." She couldn't help but notice his hand had slipped from her elbow to her waist. She edged away a little, but he just moved closer. "That's a lovely dress by the way, makes your breasts look much bigger." She all but reeled that time, where the hell do you come from thinking that's an appropriate compliment? "You're smart; you probably have an arrangement with which ever dolt they burdened you with, eh Granger?" He winked at her.
This time she snapped, talking over him. "Severus and I have no need for any arrangement, thank you very much."
"Severus?" he said incredulously, "surely you can't mean..." he choked out, clearly trying not to laugh, "the old grease ball of the dungeons? Oh, poor you." he did laugh now, "what were they thinking, hooking up someone as lovely as you with a low life like that? Good job I'm here, then, really." He turned to her, she stepped back as he stepped closer.
"Actually," Hermione told him, now seething, "I think I'd rather like to go back inside now."
"But there's so much fun to be had out here." She didn't like the lilt his voice took then, she also didn't like the way he took another step forward, his fingers tightening on her waist a little. "come on, Granger, I can show you what it's like with a real man, give you something to think of when he's sliming his way over you." Hermione took another step back and this time came up against a wall.
"Cormac, I'm going back inside. Now." She told him firmly, she went right, his hand landed on the wall in front of her blocking her path. She went left only to find his other arm.
"alright, you've put up your token fight, like a good little law abiding ministry employee. I know you want it too, Granger, I can see it in you." He pressed forward, effectively pinning her against the wall. One hand left the wall to sneak into the slit of her skirt, fingers brushing up her thigh as he bent his head towards her neck. Hermione pushed at his chest with her hands, it had no effect. She tried hard not to panic, and gave him one final shove. To her surprise he moved, rapidly. In fact, Cormac McLaggen all but flew through the air in a semicircle, his back smashing into the wall a few feet from her side, a glowering black shape holding an arm across his throat.
"OhThankGodSeverus." The words just rushed out of her as she sank down the wall in sheer relief.
"Just for future reference, you detestable little vermin, when a lady says no, she means no and that means you stop." Her husband growled at the younger man. Cormac didn't move, she wondered if he was in shock. "Now, let me make something else clear. If you ever so much of think about laying a finger on my wife for the rest of your life, I will personally hunt you down and make you wish I had killed you tonight. Got it?" Cormac gave a squeak like a mouse, which Severus clearly took for assent, because he released the arm that had been lodged beneath Cormac's chin. The younger man, suddenly not seeming so big and self assured lurched away from the wall. Hermione barely saw Severus's fist as it came back towards Cormac's face, breaking his nose with a loud crunch. The quidditch player staggered a little way to the side before he started running. Severus called after him in a voice of deadly calm. "Remember Cormac, I don't need magic to fulfil my promises."
He waited until McLaggen was out of sight before he turned to Hermione, who had pulled herself back to standing. She could feel the weight of his eyes on her, the heat radiating off him. "Did he hurt you?" He asked, she shook her head, stepped forward away from the wall. He closed the space, kissing her lips gently. She deepened it, pulling him close, as it trying to use him to blanket herself from the memory of the other body pressed against hers. His arms encircled her waist, one moving up a little to her shoulder blades. She drew him forwards; she moved them, without breaking the kiss until she was once again sandwiched with the wall. She didn't feel scared this time, she felt... safe, warm, and a prickling buzzing somewhere in the region of her stomach. When his hand moved back round to the side of her waist, she moved it to her thigh, feeling the heat of his fingers burning away the remembered touch. His lips moved away from hers, trailing a path of fir across her jaw and down to her collar bone. His hand slipped higher, fiddling with the laced edge of her underwear. She heard herself moan, half realising that anyone could see them; anyone could walk into this not so secluded spot. It made her feel naughty; it made her feel a little hotter. His tongue traced over the top of her breast as her finger nails raked over his scalp, "Hermione," he breathed against her skin, "this isn't exactly a private spot, perhaps we should-"
She shushed him buy raising his head and kissing him again. When she was done she answered with her lips still against his, "I don't want to go, Severus. I want you." There wasn't much argument after that. Everything seemed to blur in the heat that arched like lightening between their bodies. It wasn't long before Hermione had her legs wrapped around his waist, underwear shoved in his coat pocket. "oh, gods," she could feel the tingling in her stomach spreading, tightening, as if preparing for an implosion, "yes, oh, Severus" she heard the words like they came from somewhere else, she could hear him too, a low rumbling growl that sent fresh waves of heat through her core. The pace was picking up now, she knew it was nearly over they were nearing the moment of shimmering bliss, "Oh Gods, I love y-" she caught herself just before what she sensed would be a fatal error, her eyes snapping open, "this," she finished in what she hoped was enough to cover her slip, it didn't ruin the building moment, she felt her worries, even her thoughts receding again. It built back up to fever pitch quickly, and it was only when it was over, and they both knelt on the ground, wrapped in each others arms and Severus' cloak, that he gave any indication that he had heard her.
"You know," he said slowly, in a quiet almost nervous voice, "it occurs to me that I am perhaps no longer completely indifferent to you, as well." He wouldn't look at her face, instead addressing her knees, but it still made Hermione grin from ear to ear.
AN: the image I based Hermione's dress on, for anyone who's interested, is here: http:/ www. simplydresses. com /shop /viewitem-PD588157 (obviously without the spaces). I was going to go for the red version (also shown there) but I thought that might be a little too much Gryffindor for poor Severus. Once again, I apologise for my complete lack of updates over the last however long, I will try not to leave it so long next time... I think I jinxed it by saying I'd be able to update regularly for sure... Hugs and Cookies, ForeverPandora.