I am being generous today. Two new chapters up in one day. This one is edited. Hope you will like it.

Chapter 25

'I wonder does the Slytherin curriculum include brooding lessons?' Hermione glanced at the Head table. 'Severus must have taken an advanced course.'

If looks could kill, noisy students that day would have been dead. Ten times each. Mr. I-Love-to-Sulk-and-Brood was back in full force.

'When is he going to talk to me?' Well, to say that Severus wasn't talking to her would not be true. They were talking. Discussing such general topics as weather and food. Hermione sulked a little. He was avoiding any talk about what was wrong. She really had to admit that he was good at changing the topic of conversation.

"Mya, what is up with your Bat guard today?" Lavender whispered into her ear after looking at the Slytherin.

"Yeah, he looks even …." Parvati also joined the conversation.

"Meaner?"

"Is that possible?"

"Apparently so."

Hermione glared at her two friends.

"Lav, Parvati, can you stop talking about my husband for five minutes?"

"Is he still not talking?"

"It depends on how you look at it."

Parvati glanced at the Head table again and her eyes met with the Potion Master's. She turned away quickly and hissed.

"He is looking at us!"

Hermione looked up. Dark eyes met amber.

"That he is. I guess it is time to go."

"Do you have any plans? I was hoping that we could find a quiet corner and talk. Catch up on things."

Parvati was trying to look like a kicked puppy. That kind of expression was able to make people cry if she really tried. But Hermione was more of a cat person so she wasn't overly impressed. Plus after seeing Parvati practice this kind of expressions in front of an enchanted mirror Hermione knew what to expect.

"I would love to, Parvati. But our new Defense Professor gave me a detention. Remember?"

"Oh… that. Will you be ok?"

Hermione looked around and spotted Severus coming.

"I will be fine. Severus is walking me there."

"You can always say that you are sick."

"I am healthy like never before."

"Your husband is a Potion Master. He could give you something."

The brunette shook her head and rose from her seat.

"I want to get it over with. Besides I really want to know what he lost here in Hogwarts."

"Beside his conscience?"

Hermione smirked.

"You can't lose something you don't have."

At those words Severus walked up to her.

"Ready?"

"No. But let's go anyway."

Hermione bid farewell to her friends and under disapproving glances from the rest of the Gryffindor table, they left.

On their way to the classroom, the Gryffindor tried to weasel some information from him again, but as always failed. The Slytherin felt it coming a mile away and changed the topic before she could get to the questioning. 'Smooth. Really smooth. Must be the influence of the spy games he had to play.'

By the DADA classroom they ran into their favorite Professor. Malfoy gave them a snow white smile and greeted them like old friends. Hermione felt as Severus' fingers dug painfully into her arm. You could slice tension with a knife.

"Severus, Hermione. What a pleasant surprise." Lucius' voice was sweet as sugar. The girl almost gagged.

"I can assure you, Mr. Malfoy, the pleasure is all yours."

That surprisingly came from Hermione. Being polite to Lucius Malfoy wasn't on the top of her to do list. She pried Severus' hand from hers. That took some time.

"I am glad that you two dropped in."

"Sure you are, Lucius. That's why you gave her detention."

Severus didn't look happy. Big surprise there.

"Well, I must keep the order in my class, mustn't I?"

"You could have overlooked it. I didn't that enough times for your son."

That must have hit a nerve in Lucius.

"Two weeks with Hagrid in the Forbidden Forest is not very much of an overlook, is it?"

For the first time in her life, Hermione witnessed that the exchange of insults could be a form of art. She had to admit that Malfoy Sr.'s insults were much better, more delicate and to the point than Junior's. 'Must be the difference in experience.'

She also had to admit that her husband's arsenal was impressive, consisted of fine sarcasm, and twisted logic.

After a while Hermione started to get bored. She shifted from one foot to another. It was time for her to remind them that she was still there. A small detail that the wizards apparently forgot.

"Gentlemen, why don't we call it a tie? Your arsenals are both impressive but I really have no time or wish to witness any more word fighting of overgrown children."

The two Slytherins glared at her for the last comment.

Hermione sighed and tossed her hair over her shoulder.

"Severus, Mr. Malfoy, you can stop glaring at me any time you want. Preferably today."

Severus cleared his throat and addressed Lucius again.

"How about a cup of tea while my wife serves the detention?"

'The fine art of diplomacy with the enemy.' It was still above her how they could get from insults to a polite conversation without a hitch. 'Must be the practice.'

"I would love to, but I must supervise the student. Don't worry my friend she will be back to you safe and sound."

"She better be…"

The Head of Slytherin didn't finish the thread of thought, but simply turned to Hermione and kissed her on the lips, and then with a turn of his black robes he was gone.

Lucius glared at his retreating back until he was out of sight.

"Well, now, Ms Granger…"

"Mrs. Snape."

"… why don't we go inside?"

Lucius ignored the correction and Hermione frowned silently following him into the class. The room looked bigger and darker than before. 'Must be the new Professor's influence.'

When they passed the teacher's desk, and he went to the door to his private study, Hermione stopped.

Not hearing the young woman's steps behind him, Lucius stopped and turned around.

"Ms Granger, are you coming?"

The Gryffindor looked at him with suspicion.

"No."

The Slytherin rolled his eyes.

"You are going to unpack my books and put them in order. Without magic of course. They are in my study. You will be unable to do it standing outside."

Hermione thought about it. Putting books in order. Ron said that he did it once for McGonagall so that wasn't an unusual punishment. She nodded.

"After you, Mr. Malfoy."

The wizard smirked.

"Being cautious, my dear?"

"Around you?" Hermione pulled an outraged expression. "…Always." She smirked motioning for him to walk.

Inside he only pointed to the books that were in few boxes and at the shelves where he wanted them. After that Lucius started grading students' papers behind his desk.

For the next few hours they didn't exchange a single word, but Hermione could feel him watching her. Not that she turned her back to him. She wasn't mad yet.

"Done." Finally Hermione was done putting the books away. There wasn't a single book on dark magic, few could have been called grey, but the rest were legal. She wiped some sweat from her forehead. She did the job in record time and was pleased with herself.

"Very well, Ms Granger."

"Why do you insist on calling me by my maiden name, Mr. Malfoy? I did get married you know."

Hermione came closer to the wizard and sat on one of the chairs in front of his desk.

Lucius put down the quill and looked at Hermione with his piercing grey eyes. The Gryffindor kept his gaze without blinking.

"I must say I was disappointed with your decision, Hermione. You are worth much, much more."

The Gryffindor cocked an eyebrow at that. 'Will wonders never cease? Lucius Malfoy just gave me a compliment.'

"That much, much more wouldn't happen to have a last name Malfoy, would he, Professor?"

"Well, definitely not Weasley. Although I was a little surprised that you didn't choose one of Arthur's spawns."

"Only a bit?"

"Yes. I don't see how a witch with common sense and in your case a brain would choose a Witless Weasley, but I guess a person can get used to anything. You did put up with one for six years."

"I see you don't approve of Severus almost as much as you wouldn't have approved of a Weasley. I wonder why you petitioned for me."

For a second Hermione thought that his eyes glinted with anger and something else another very strong emotion that she didn't catch. The blond wizard knew how to get his feeling under control really fast.

"Like I said, you are worth more, Hermione."

"Why are you here, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Why did you choose Severus?"

"Well, I couldn't have picked Percy, so Severus had to do."

"So you chose a Deatheater."

"You both were in the same club or am I mistaken?"

"I had been cleared of all charges. It was nothing, but a mistake."

"Yes, but it is a good thing that we know better, isn't it?"

Lucius smirked and watched closely as Hermione rose from her seat.

"I am sure Severus was glad of your decision."

"I haven't heard him complaining. If that is all, I will be going, sir."

"Yes, it is all, Ms Granger…"

"Mrs. Snape."

"… I will escort you, it is quit late."

"That will not be necessary, sir."

"I am sure Severus wouldn't like you walking dark hallways all alone."

"For some reason I have a feeling that Severus would be more displeased if I walked the halls alone with you, Mr. Malfoy."

"Nonsense."

"Yeah. Right. Goodnight. I will see myself out."

As soon as Hermione stepped outside the classroom and took a deep breath calming her nerves, she almost hit the ceiling jumping up as her husband appeared from the shadows.

"I take the detention went well."

"I would have preferred for it to have never taken place, but you can say it was alright. He didn't curse me or anything."

"Than I guess it is time to retire to our rooms."

"I guess…"

Review?