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Chapter 22

Severus Snape glared at the back of Minerva McGonagall as they made their way to the Headmaster's office.

'Joy. Can't they give us a break just once? Like they can't deduct points from Malfoy junior by themselves. What did that little rodent do this time? '

The Slytherin suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. His dear colleague was acting like she was leading him for a hearing to the Wizengamot.

'Been there, done that.' He grinned evilly at the memory. It was good to be on the winning team in the end. The only people that managed to keep their cool and not look scared were Bones and Dumbledore. The rest of the Ministry's officials acted like first years during their first Potions lesson. 'Pathetic.'

Besides, he hadn't spied all these years for nothing. They gave him a full pardon for crimes that he had committed.

They finally reached their destination to the Headmaster's office.

The first thing he noticed after stepping in was the arrangement of seats or rather whom some occupants had chosen as their neighbors and looked like they had done it willingly. 'Interesting.'

"Lemon drop, Severus?"

"No. Thank you. I don't eat sweets before breakfast. So what is the matter?" After sitting down he looked at Pansy Parkinson that was sitting next to Longbottom. Then at Draco Malfoy who was sitting on the other side of the room from the other two. The boy's face flushed a little.

"Well, Severus, one of your students's started a fight."

"Really? Who won?" The Slytherin Head of House looked curious but not outraged. He decided that Minerva looked angry enough for both of them.

"Severus! This is so…"

"Neville, sir." Pansy Parkinson looked proud saying that and completely ignored the ranting witch.

"Thank you, Ms. Parkinson. Congratulations, Mr. Longbottom."

"Don't you even care what happened or are you too…?"

"Don't, Minerva." Severus hissed at his colleague shutting her up. "I am not blind, you know. If I am not mistaken Mr. Malfoy initiated a fight with Mr. Longbottom somewhere outside Hogwarts, Hogsmeade perhaps, if not, you, Minerva, would have dragged me here last night by the collar, oHOhhjj as Ms. Parkinson is here I dare to assume she was the reason for the fight." The crimson wave spreading on the girl's cheeks confirmed his assumption and he smirked. "As I was just told Draco got his ass kicked, and that cost Slytherin how many points?"

This time Minerva was glad to help. "Fifty."

Severus gritted his teeth. It was all well and fine with the fact that Malfoy got wiped but the points. "Fifty? From a single person? You must be kidding." It was a bit Hypocritical of him but he was the Head of Slytherin it was his job to make sure that Slytherin didn't lose points… too much. Minerva gave him an evil eye and he sighed. "Never mind, I guess you left for me to decide about the detentions."

"Yes, Severus. As you are his Head of House, we decided to leave it to you. Are you sure you don't want to have a lemon drop?"

"No, Albus." He glared at Draco before turning back to the Headmaster again. "I think two weeks of helping Hagrid in the Forbidden Forest will be enough punishment."

"What! Two weeks with that oaf! In the Forbidden Forest! Are you mad!"

"That will be an additional 20 points from Slytherin and I will let Lucius know about your little run in with Longbottom. Got anything else to say?" Silence, well almost, as he heard Parkinson snicker. "How exactly did you wind up with Longbottom, Ms. Parkinson?" 'That should shut her up.'

Instead, the Slytherin girl just smiled wickedly at her Head of House.

"Hermione…Oh… I mean Lady Snape was so nice as to ask Neville to accompany me to Hogsmeade as she didn't want me to walk alone. Wasn't that sweet of her?" 'Ok, I over did it a bit, but… who cares? The look on McGonagall's face was worth it. ' Pansy could have sworn that she saw the corners of Snape's mouth twitch.

"Yes, it was. As it is all settled. I think it is time for breakfast."

"One more thing, Severus. Your patrolling schedule."

"What about it? It is settled, isn't it?"

"There are still few adjustments to be made."

"Joy…"

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Hermione was slowly walking to her rooms. The dungeons seemed empty and quiet.

'I bet everyone is outside.' Usually Hermione would use such a time to do some reading in the library. She felt a bittersweet emotion wash over her and laughed to herself. 'Nostalgia shouldn't come until you're old and grey. Besides, it is not like I'm dead or unable to read. I am simply married and have a few other responsibilities. I will go to the library tomorrow after classes. I still have an hour until the meeting. I wonder… '

Hermione looked around in the passage trying to spot a painting. 'Here it is!'

"Hello." She smiled politely at the man. '100 Slytherin pureblood.'

"Ah… Mistress, how can I be of service to you?"

"What is your name, sir?"

The man bowed. "Jirgan the Inventor, Milady."

"Well, Jirgan. Can you call for one of the portraits of the previous Headmasters or Headmistress to the painting in my husband's study? I need to ask something."

"Of course." And he disappeared.

……………………………………………………………….

The Gryffindor was looking around her husband's study. She was there only a few times. First when Severus shoved her around and the second for the talk with Ann. It was a rather grim place. It was Severus' so that was no surprise. 'It could really use some lighter colors.' But refrained herself from making any changes as it was not her working space, only his and he had the right to have what ever atmosphere he liked in there. 'Even if it reminds of me a tomb.'

Hermione stood straight and still for a second. 'To hell with it. He probably won't even notice.' She was about to say the spell and her wand was at the ready when she heard a polite cough from behind. 'Damn…'

She turned around slowly while praying silently that it wouldn't be her husband. It wasn't. 'Thank god.' The cough came from an old witch in the portrait.

Hermione cleared her throat and smiled at the portrait.

"Good day, Mrs…?"

"Slowlewalk, dear. And it is Ms. Slowlewalk." The witch looked really old, strict but pleasant. She Reminded her of Madam Pomfrey. Hermione always liked the school's mediwitch; she was sometimes called Mother Hen because she was very overprotective for the students.

"Well, it is nice to meet you Ms. Slowlewalk. How are you?"

The portrait chuckled at the girl.

"Very well, dear. Thank you for asking. How can I help you?"

Hermione smiled nervously at the witch. She wasn't quite sure how to ask what she wanted to know.

"You were Hogwart's Headmistress once. Am I right?"

"Yes, you are."

"I was wondering, can the current Headmaster feel a goblin's presence in the school?"

"I am afraid I don't quite understand the question, dear."

"Okay… I will have a goblin over for a meeting. Will the Headmaster know that he is here in my chambers?"

The old witch looked thoughtful for a minute.

"Hmm… While I was a Headmistress I did not have such ability, but I was not half as powerful as Albus. I don't even know… How about you wait a minute and I will go and ask the others. Ytan was Headmaster during the fights with goblins, he should know."

"I would be most grateful."

"It is my pleasure to help you, Mistress."

"Please, call me Hermione."

The portrait's smile got wider.

"Well then, call me Ipola, Hermione."

With those words the witch disappeared from the portrait leaving Hermione alone in her husband's study.

Before the Gryffindor could get any decorating ideas the witch was back.

"Just as I thought, dear. He can't sense a thing if it is not standing in front of him."

"Really? I always though that he knew everything that is happening in this school."

Ipola rolled her eyes and snorted in a very un-lady like fashion.

"As if. We report everything that is happening in this castle to him. That's why he always knows what is going on. The paintings hang almost everywhere and where there aren't any paintings; you can always see a ghost hanging around so to speak."

"Well, that figures. Thank you for your help, Ipola. By the way, have you seen Severus on your way here?"

"Your husband was still with the Headmaster when I left. I am afraid he will be there for a while. Something about night rounds. Is that all, dear?"

"Yes, Ipola."

"Then I will be off. Have a good day, Hermione."

"You too, Ipola."

'So the Headmaster is unable to sense goblins in the castle. Good. The last thing I need is a confrontation with the old goat.'

……………………………………………………………………………………….

"What? Once a week? Definitely NOT." Hermione's back hurt from sitting in a bad position. She had signed what looked like one million papers and she sure as Hell wasn't going to do the same every Sunday. She wasn't mad yet.

"But Mistress… "

"You were doing all just fine for the last thousand years and I believe that it will be fine if we meet once a month. It is not like I understand anything in all this." Hermione pointed to the piles of signed papers and documents. It was already past dinner and she wanted to eat. "Besides if I understood you right there is a strong spell put on the Bank so if you will deliberately try to cheat it will severely punish you."

"Yes, but you will have to visit it few times a month. Your presence will reinforce the magic shield that prevents burglars and thieves to get in."

Hermione nodded as her head throbbed from all the information and magic signings. She knew it was not healthy to use so much binding magic at once.

"Well is there anything else, Head Goblin?"

The goblin was collecting documents checking if all were signed. "At this moment this is all, I believe. I was thinking, how we will contact you if there will is an emergency? The Bank is not invincible as you well know, Mistress."

Hermione's mind drifted to her first year. There was no place that could be impossible to get in.

"Owl me, I guess. If I do not answer, send one of the curse breakers to my husband, he most likely will know where I am."

The Goblin looked satisfied with the answer.

After he left, Hermione let out a moan and got up from her chair. 'No wonder Severus is so angry during lessons, these chairs are torture devices! Speaking of my husband. Where the heck is he?' Hermione was hungry, tired and her Slytherin side was nowhere to be seen. 'He should have helped me! Half of Hogwarts for a good massage.' She tried to knead her shoulders. 'A hot bath will do me good.'

The Gryffindor after almost falling asleep in the tub decided to only get a quick snack and go straight to bed.

She snuggled into her pillow with a happy sigh. And tried to fall asleep without much success. She was worried.

'I can't believe I am actually missing his presence... Where could he be?'

Suddenly she felt as something cold touched her shoulder. Hermione had a reaction like all hot-blooded Gryffindors. She jumped from the bed screaming bloody murder but promptly shut up and settled in glaring daggers at the intruder that merely chuckled.

"Alfred, what in the name of Godric are you doing here?"

The Slytherin ghost smirked at the calming woman.

"Professor Snape asked me to tell you that he will be doing rounds until late tonight."

Hermione got under the covers again.

"Thank you, Alfred. But scare me like that again and I will personally exorcise your arse from Hogwarts."

The smirk on the Bloody Baron's face didn't falter. They both knew it was an empty thread meant only to make her feel better.

"Your husband is not too happy tonight."

"What else is new?"

"I haven't seen him in this kind of mood for quite a while."

Hermione yawned from the bed.

"I will ask him what is up. Tomorrow. Good night, Alfred."

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Hermione felt as somebody was shaking her shoulder. She muttered something rude and tried to swat the hand away. She wanted to sleep. But the person persisted. Hermione cracked one eye open to see a black blur looming over her.

"Severus?" Why was he waking her up at this unholy hour of seven… thirty!

Before the Slytherin could say anything she shot out of the bed and ran to the bathroom Accioing her clothes on the way. Ten minutes later she was out all dressed and flushed from being in a hurry.

"Why didn't you wake me up earlier!" Hermione glared over her shoulder while putting notes and homework into the bag.

"I tried. You told me to fuck myself."

Hermione didn't turn around as she felt her cheeks heated up.

"It seems that you are a bit of a hand full when you need to be woken up from a deep sleep."

"Sorry. But you are not one to talk you know." The Gryffindor said in a teasing voice. She still had time to make it to the lesson.

"Pardon? I am a very light sleeper if you want to know." His voice sounded irritated and Hermione finally turned fully at him to have a better look. Something was not right. She could feel it.

"What's wrong, Severus? I said I am sorry if I offended you. I had a really long day yesterday, you know. I didn't mean anything I might have said."

"And you think that I was having fun, don't you?" He was clearly angry at something. Hermione was taken a back by his harsh tone. She blinked at him surprised.

"I said no such thing. What…"

"I have no time for this. Shouldn't you be on your way to class?"

With those words he turned around and left leaving Hermione with her mouth hanging open and eyes wide.

"What crawled up his arse and died? Shit… I need to move if I want to make it before the bell rings…"

………………………………………………………………………………………….

On her way to the DADA classroom, she couldn't get Severus' behavior out of her head. She felt hurt at his words.

'I didn't do anything! Why is he taking his anger out on me!' She bit her lip rushing to the class.

The majority of the students were already there. Pansy waved at her to get her attention and motioned to the free seat beside her.

"Morning, Hermione. Why the long face?"

Hermione flopped into the offered seat. They sat nearest to the exit and farthest from the teacher but today the Gryffindor was in the mood to sit in front. She smiled at Pansy breathlessly.

"Hi, Pansy. I slept in and had to run to make it. The dungeons are way too far from here."

"Why didn't Professor Snape wake you up?"

"Good question. I wish I knew. But you had better tell me about your trip to Hogsmeade. How was it?" Hermione smoothly changed the topic and watched as Pansy's face went a little pink and she smiled.

"You won't believe it. It was the mos…."

The Slytherin girl's eyes went wide as she looked at someone that just came in. She didn't look all too happy but rather shocked. Hermione frowned. The entire class went still and she noted that Ferret Boy looked extremely smug today. There were a few sharp intakes of breath from the Gryffindors and Hermione frowned even more fighting the desire to turn around. It had to be a person that many if not all knew. She felt dread creeping up her spine as the new Professor walked in front of them. There were a few curses from her housemates and all was silent again.

'No no no no no…… '

"Good day, class. I am your new Defense against the Dark Arts Professor. " He smirked. "Professor Malfoy."

Hermione voiced the opinion in one word that echoed through the deathly silent room.

"Fuck…"

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