Chapter 21

Severus leaned on his elbow and watched the profile of his wife's face. Hermione's eyes were half closed and her breathing uneven. 'She's nervous. What if she changed her mind?' The thought of rejection wasn't a pleasant one as Severus had his hopes up. 'And what if she is willing?' He slowly brushed her hair from her neck exposing it to the cool night's air. She shivered.

Hermione swallowed nervously. She was exited and scared at the same time. She did enjoy their little snog in the bathroom and she did want him, but… She was needy but not ready. Severus gently kissed her neck and cheek. His hand caressing her hip.

Fright started to overcome the want and Hermione bit her lip. The awareness of what will happen if she won't say no. It made her want to run.

"No…"

Severus froze.

Hermione buried her face in the pillow. She wanted to cry but couldn't.

"Hermione… "

His breath tickled her ear.

"I'm sorry…"

"What's wrong?" Severus heart raced thinking that he did something to scare her. He gently pushed her onto her back and now was looking into her eyes.

"I just can't… "

The Slytherin's chest was heavy with insecurities.

"Do I repulse you?" his voice was emotionless.

"What? No!" her eyes went wide at such a suggestion. Her husband wasn't Mr. Handsome, but he wasn't repulsive, not to her at least.

"Than what is wrong? Everything was fine earlier." He looked determined to get to the bottom of it all.

"Because!" She didn't know what to say simply because she didn't know what she felt. "Severus… I understood that you are a man only more than two months ago. I didn't see you all summer. It's just… hell… I am scared… "

"I would never hurt you." He gently caressed her cheek with his thumb.

"It is not that." She was smiling sadly in the darkness. Their whispers echoing in the spacious chamber. Shadows seemed to dance around their bed. "It is not your fault. I am eighteen, Severus. I am barely coming to terms that we got married. I am getting used to you… your touch … and it does not repulse me. I just … need to get used to that. I can't do it after my first snog. I just can't…"

"You are a virgin?"

"Like it isn't obvious… " her voice was sarcastic.

"Good."

"I had a wonderful evening."

"So did I."

He leaned and kissed her slowly. She responded immediately by parting her lips for him.

He wrapped his hands around her and they just lay there not talking and not moving. Listening to the beating of their hearts.

Severus was looking into space. His mind was wondering. His wife was a virgin. Well he was expecting it, but hearing it was nice never the less. There was no need to pretend that he was not a bit disappointed about not getting any tonight, good thing that he relieved himself in the shower earlier.

He also admitted that he was a bit flattered that she did enjoy his touch. It was silly, but he couldn't help himself.

She was asking for time. He was going to give it to her

Hermione snuggled closer to him and closed her eyes. She really hoped that he understood her. She needed time. Not much, but more than a day or two.

His muscular body was warm and she sighed.

"Sweet dreams, Severus… "

"Sweet dreams, my wife."

She smiled into the darkness as sleep claimed her.

Severus Snape watched as his wife slept after he woke up in the morning. Her face pink and mouth a little agape.

It was time to get up as it was already half past nine.

He gently shook her shoulder.

"Time to get up…" but his wife just murmured something into the pillow and continued sleeping. "Hermione… you are late to Potions."

The girl practically jumped from the bed blinking wildly.

"I can't be late!" Than she spotted a grinning Slytherin on the other side of the bed and narrowed her eyes. "It is Sunday! Why you… "

He just chuckled.

Hermione grabbed one pillow from the bed and tossed it at him. Severus wasn't expecting it and got it full on the face.

"Score!" Her laughter died after she saw his face. It looked evil. Not waiting what he will do Hermione dashed to the bathroom with a yelp.

After shutting the door she could hear Severus voice outside.

"Where is your Gryffindor bravery?"

She rolled her eyes at his attempt to get her out.

"Temporary unavailable due to technical difficulties! Please try again later!"

"Aren't you Gryffindors people that act first think later?"

"Nice try! But right now I opt for 'run so you can live to fight another day'! What time is it anyway?"

"Almost ten. Shall we eat here or go to the Hall?"

Hermione thought for a minute while brushing her teeth.

"The Hall. I need to show that I am still alive after not showing up yesterday." She shrugged the top of Severus pajama and froze.

"Severus! I can't believe it! You gave me a hickey!"

There was no answer. 'Coward.'

On her neck just under her right ear was a reminder of their encounter yesterday. She groaned. Her collar wouldn't hide it. 'Damn him!'

She exited the steamy bathroom fully intending to give a piece of her mind to one Slytherin.

But the room was not surprisingly empty. Her dear husband didn't hang around to face her wrath. She smiled eventually.

'How very Slytherin of you, Severus.'

Today she was wearing a jumper, her favorite black one with the Hogwarts crest on the back and a pair of jeans. Her hair pulled in a pony tail.

She inspected her look in the mirror again and sighed. The high collar wasn't even close to covering the damn thing.

As Hermione expected, Severus was waiting for her in the sitting room. All dark and batty. Well he looked as he usual did minus the greasy hair. And a bit too full of himself for her taste.

'Geez, I wonder why?'

"Ready to go?"

She glared at him.

"How about some healing salve first?"

Hermione could have sworn that the corners of his mouth twitched and her eyes narrowed.

"I don't see any reason to use it."

"Severus…"

"Yes?"

The innocent look he was giving fooled no one. She took a deep breath.

"Don't play innocent with me, Severus Snape. It doesn't suit you."

The mask dropped and now he was smirking at her. Not the evil smirk but an annoying one.

"I don't see anything wrong with the way you look."

"Of course you don't. But the rest of the world will. I am already stared at enough."

At that the last words he frowned.

"Oh I noticed."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Hermione, they are staring at you not because you are my wife but because you are a beautiful woman."

"And the hickey will help me with that how exactly?" He smirked at her again she caught on immediately. "I thought that the ring I am wearing is enough to show that I am taken."

"Few more signs won't hurt."

"No salve?"

"No."

"Great."

"Can we go now?"

Hermione would have left her hair loose to cover it up, but after an unfortunate accident involving honey and jelly Hermione strongly decided that wearing your hair loose during breakfast by the Gryffindor table was a bad idea.

She glared at him one more time for good measure and exited their chambers.

And guess who the first person they ran into was?

If you guessed Minerva Bloody McGonagall you were absolutely right!

Hermione couldn't believe it. They saw her before going to bed and now she was the first person they saw in the morning. 'Is she sleeping outside our quarters now?' The gods had a very sick sense of humor. She heard Severus growl besides her.

"Minerva, what brings you to the dungeons this fine morning? Isn't there anyone else you could pester?"

The Transfiguration Professor pretended not to hear the last remark.

"Severus, Mrs. Snape. As you couldn't speak with me yesterday I came to fetch you today. There had been an incident in Hogsmeade involving students from our houses."

"Is anybody hurt?"

"Mr. Malfoy was sporting a broken nose but Poppy was able to heal him."

Her husband muttered something that sounded suspiciously like 'it won't be the only thing broken when I'm done with him.'

"Hermione, I must attend a tea party with the Headmaster. Will you be ok?"

"Will you be back by twelve?" Hermione was a bit nervous about the meeting with the Head Goblin.

"I will try." He brought her closer and kissed her gently on the lips.

When he was about to turn to leave, McGonagall was already few steps ahead like a harpy leading her prey to its death. Hermione rolled her eyes. 'Won't they ever learn?'

"Oh, and Severus, do play nice."

Her response was only an evil chuckle that echoed in the gloomy dungeons.

Hermione made her way to the Great Hall meeting only a few people on the way.

The Hall was half deserted, only a few dozen students that got up late like her. The staff table also was deserted save two professors.

She sat at the end of the Gryffindor table and started filling her plate. From her short list of friends there was only Padma Patil whom excused herself from the Ravenclaw table and came to sit with Hermione.

"Mya, where were you yesterday?"

"I am still alive no worries. We went to Diagon Alley yesterday. Didn't your sister tell you that?"

"Well she did, but it sounded an awfully lot like a date, so I did not believe her."

Hermione swallowed her food carefully examining her friend.

"It was a date."

"No, I am serious. What were you doing?"

"We visited Gringotts and than we had dinner, like a date."

Padma gaped at her.

"Why is that so hard to believe?"

"Come on. That man…"

"That's my husband so watch what you are saying."

Padma snickered under her breath.

"Standing up for the honor of your spouse?"

Hermione stuck her tongue at her.

Suddenly Padma's eyes wend wide as dinner plates.

"Padma? Are you ok?" Hermione was worried that Padma chocked on her food or something like that.

"Oh God… Oh God… I don't believe it…. " The Ravenclaw went slightly green and pointed her finger at Hermione's neck making the Gryffindor blush scarlet.

"Oh, That."

"What do you mean oh that? It is a hickey." She hissed at Hermione.

"I know that it is a hickey, Padma."

"But what if Snape sees it?"

Hermione frowned at her friend.

"He already saw it this morning and refused to give me some salve to heal it, little bugger…"

Padma was ready to faint.

"And he didn't say anything?"

"Besides that he wants every male on this planet know that I am taken? Then nothing. I am just glad that he gave me only one hickey."

"Ohhhh… So it is from him?"

"From whom else it could be from, Padma? There isn't a man brave and stupid enough to give Severus Snape's wife a hickey. There are less painful ways to die."

"Sorry I just still have a problem imagining … you know… For six long years, we were sure that he was a bat with no interest in the female species. It is still a bit of a shock."

"I can assure you that there are no wings under those robes and he has no fangs and he is very definitely a male with interest in females."

"Thanks for the mental." Padma shuddered.

Hermione laughed softly.

"Always welcome."

"Not that I want to know but…did you two … you know?"

"That is confidential information."

"Oh please." Then Padma noticed as Hermione winked at the students that were listening to them with their mouths open. "Later?"

"Sure. But most likely tomorrow. I need to read some papers."

"Going to dine with your Bat Charming?"

"Jealous?"

"Not in this lifetime."

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Padma kept her company back to the dungeons when they heard a pair of fifth year Ravenclaws talking. As if on cue both girls froze.

"Did you hear?"

"What?"

"About what happened in Hogsmeade yesterday?"

"You mean the fight?"

"Yes! Neville Longbottom from Gryffindor broke Malfoy's nose! Because of a girl!"

"No way!"

"Melinda from Hufflepuff saw what happened!"

"Really?"

Than they started to discuss other rumors in the school and the girl continued their way to the dungeons snickering.

It was a common known fact that Ravenclaws were not only smart but also the biggest gossipers in the school.

"Neville is my hero." Padma couldn't stop giggling.

"I wonder what ferret boy did to get to him."

"Who cares? Malfoy got it, which is all that matters. Or do you know something that I don't?"

"Well, I asked him to escort Pansy to Hogsmeade."

"Parkinson? Didn't she dump Blondie not so long ago? You think they got in a fight for Pansy?"

"Yup, and that is what McGonagall wanted to talk to Severus about."

"Severus?" Padma cocked a brow at Hermione.

"We are married if you forgot."

"Well here we are. The domain of your lovely husband. The dungeons."

"Very funny. See you tomorrow, Padma."

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