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Chapter 27

"Ok then. Desperate times calls for desperate measures…"

Hermione looked around and finished her drink.

"Any suggestions, my dear witches?"

"Hex him?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at them.

"He also has a wand you know, and a duel with him is the last thing I want right now. Next?"

"You could try Veritaserum."

The Gryffindor didn't bother to answer that as Lavender volunteered for her.

"Abbott, we want her to stay alive after the confrontation you know."

Everyone fell silent for a minute thinking.

"Well you need to corner him where he can't back away."

"Or snake his way out."

"Or change the topic."

"Men tend to be more honest if you catch them with their pants down."

Silence.

"Talking from personal experience, Parkinson?"

"No, but I do listen when someone with it talks."

Hermione looked interested at the suggestion.

"So what are you saying, Pansy?"

"Corner him in a position where you would have an upper hand. When he changes or in bed. Wherever. I suggest getting his wand first, though. Better be safe than sorry."

It sounded like a plan.

"It might be just what I need."

"Are you sure?" Lavender looked a little worried. "Snape won't be happy."

"And he is now?"

"Be careful, he was a Death eater once. Good reflexes and bad temper. It is a deadly duo."

"It will probably shock you, but I am aware of this little detail."

Parvati yawned stretching like a cat.

"What time is it?"

"Almost one."

"Really? I must be going."

"What's up, Hermione? It is not like you have to be anywhere at this hour."

"As a matter of fact I have. My escort is waiting for me by the Grand Staircase."

"Unlucky you."

"I also must be going, a long way to the Slytherin dorms you know."

"Anyway. I will go first and you better wait a while. No need for Severus to see you. I have a feeling he won't be happy."

"Looking at you makes me feel really happy to not be married."

"I second that."

"Whatever. I am off. Goodnight, girls. Be careful while getting to your dorms."

………………………………………………………………………………………

Hermione slowly made her way to her destination. Most of the time she was walking straight.

'Thank goodness the paintings are asleep. I must be a sight now.' She giggled to herself after rounding another corner. Her steps echoed through the empty halls. The castle was asleep. The big enchanted windows were shoving the night sky full of stars. Everything was quiet.

The Gryffindor loved such time. The world seemed perfect covered in fog and twilight. All cats are black at night. No need to choose on whose side you are on. No need to smile at those you detest. No friends, no enemies just the endless night with its sleeping secrets.

Hermione could see the edge of the Forbidden Forrest. As strange as it seems the dark forest at night looked more alive than at day time. Go figure.

The witch shivered. It was getting cold in the castle as well as outside. The autumn was here.

She smiled slightly and was about to round another corner when she miscalculated the distance between her big toe and the iron armor's pedestal.

"Fucking …Hell…Mmmmm…" Hermione was jumping on one leg and holding the other one above the ground. She was jumping more for the effect rather than pain. "Thank Merlin I am drunk. This is going to hurt in the morning." She carefully stood up on the injured foot. There was only slight pain in it and it was bearable. She let go of the armor's hand that she was holding into for support. The armour shook a little.

"You better not be laughing…"

It was hard to tell as the iron man didn't have a face only a helmet. He straitened but his shoulders still shook a little.

Hermione growled while limping away.

"Stupid armour standing in other people's way…"

When she finally reached her destination she stopped limping. Hermione looked around and soon noticed a dark figure lurking on one of the platforms.

"And here is my dark king… " Her voice was soft whisper.

As if hearing her words the Slytherin turned his head to see her standing at the top of the magic stairs.

Their eyes met in the dim light of the torches and Hermione started slowly coming down. Even walking closer to the wizard Hermione felt as they were moving farther apart.

"Stop…"

It was a whisper, but as if on command the moving staircase stopped mid way and so all the other magic staircases.

'Well what do you know? They are obeying me. That's a first.'

She made to the last step never breaking eye contact with the waiting wizard. He narrowed his eyes at the display.

"Move…"

The stars continued their fly and connected with the platform with a low thud.

Unfortunately, the amount of alcohol she had consumed that evening made her a little unstable and the impact sent her flying forward until she connected with something solid warm and black. She glanced up and smiled sheepishly.

"Hi…"

Severus helped her stand up straight, but after the first step, she almost lost her balance again.

"You are drunk."

Hermione smiled at him again and nodded.

"Yup."

"Do you know how dangerous it is to wander these halls at this time of night and you are drunk to the top of it all?"

Hermione frowned as if thinking hard. The wine in her system was doing its job.

"I have a feeling that you are not very happy at the moment, Severus."

The Slytherin was so angry at that moment that he was incoherent.

After the tenth attempt, Hermione's common sense finally kicked in and she gulped. Maybe angering her husband when he was so moody all the time wasn't the best idea she had lately. Before the fuming Slytherin gave her the scolding that could be heard on the Astronomy Tower, Hermione made a face and in her smallest voice exclaimed.

"My toe hurts…"

The wizard blinked a couple of times obviously losing his train of thoughts. He opened and closed his mouth few times strongly resembling a fish thrown to the shore. Hermione held back a giggle.

'He looks so cute when he is puzzled like this.'

Finally Severus regained his voice.

"What?"

Hermione made a pained face again and even managed to sniff a little. She sank to the floor and took her shoe off showing him the swelling toe. There was even a little blood by the nail and looked worse than she had expected, but the hurting part she was overdoing for her injury to look more serous.

'Ok. What now?' Hermione sat on the cold floor and tried to look as pitiful as possible praying that it would take Severus off the rage train.

At first, the Slytherin said nothing. He carefully examined the injury.

"It doesn't appear to be broken."

"But it still hurts."

"How did it happen? Kicked a wall?"

Hermione pretended to sulk as his guess was too close to the truth, not that she was going to tell him that anyway.

"Actually an iron armour." She clasped a palm over her mouth and cursed. Her brains weren't catching up with her tongue on time this evening. The Slytherin snickered.

"Figures."

"I must say that it is not…Ouch! For Merlin's sake don't poke it!"

"Does it hurt when I do that?"

"NO! It just makes me think that you are trying to rip it of!" Hermione felt tears forming in the corners of her eyes. The toe was really hurting now. Severus examined the toe casting few diagnostic spells. She wiped the tears with her robe's sleeve.

"Well, you did break it after all. Had to be some good kick."

'Oh, I would like to kick you in one place…' Hermione glared at the wizard swatting his hand away and tried to put the shoe on after pulling on the sock.

"Fuck…"

"What's wrong?"

"I can't get the shoe on." Hermione was getting a little frustrated with the attempts to get the darn thing on.

"Well, what did you expect? You have a broken toe."

"Then how I am going to get to the dungeons? I can't hop on one leg all the way."

"Yes, that would be hard seeing as you have a problem walking on the both of them. How much have you drunk exactly?"

"Don't know, but my glass was full al the time. Besides you know how little I need to get drunk. It is not like I am doing it all the time." She tried stepping on the injured toe and moaned. Before she could repeat the action, Hermione was swept up bridal style.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like? I am taking you home."

"You don't have to."

"And you are going to sleep here, on the stairs?"

"Not funny…"

"You are right. It is not. You could get hurt more seriously. It is the last time you are going anywhere without my permission. Is that clear?"

"But…"

"Is that clear?"

Hermione could feel him getting angry again and she didn't like the icy tones in his voice as he hissed into her ear. She gulped.

"Yes, it's clear…"

'I start to wonder what I was doing when God was giving luck, probably standing in line for brains for the second time...' Hermione sighed closing her eyes and putting her head on Severus shoulder. The rhythmic beating of his heart was putting her to sleep. 'I will just rest my eyes…It will be the first time in a while when we will go to bed at the same time…' For a while Severus always got up first and went to bed when Hermione was already sleeping. It seemed silly to her, but no one asked her opinion in the matter.

Hermione felt as she was laid on the bed carefully. 'Are we already home?' She made herself crack one eye open. 'I must have fallen asleep…' The pillow was put under her head and Hermione snuggled into it.

"Hermione…?" Severus' voice was low as if he wasn't sure whether she was awake or not.

"Hmmm?"

"Does your toe still hurt?"

Hermione tried to rise from the pillow, but her muscles refused to move.

"A little… " She tried to move it and felt a dull ache.

"I will heal it, but first I need to put some salve on it…" Hermione was pretty sure that he was talking but all that reached her mind was blah blah blah. So she just nodded into the pillow and was out cold again.

Hermione felt as someone put something cool to her lips.

"Drink it…" Her foggy mind somehow recognized the voice and she drank what was given without thinking. It tasted like vanilla and strawberries.

"Thanks…"

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Hermione was warm, but something was missing. A body next to her. She turned and wrapped into the blanked tighter.

Something was still amiss.

'Since when do I sleep in my bra and panties? What's this? A night dress?' Her mind was sleepy when Hermione made herself to sit up. She examined her night wear. For starters it was too big to be hers and second it smelled like sandalwood and rain. 'Severus…' Slowly that night's events came back to her. Hermione looked at the empty place beside her and then at the clock. ' Five twenty? What is he doing up so early on Saturday?' She also noticed that she didn't feel drunk anymore and there weren't any symptoms of the hangover she was supposed to have. 'He must have given me a Sober-up potion'

Hermione spied a light coming from under the bathroom door and bit her lip. 'Drastic measures… well…there is no time like the present…'

She slowly swung her legs from the bed and stood up. Not too quickly I must add. Actually her movements got exponentially slower till she stopped in front of the door leading to the bathroom.

'Ok… It is now or never…'

She could hear the sound of the shower running.

'Never doesn't sound as bad once you think about it…'

Hermione took a deep breath, gathered what wits she had left and pointed her want at the door.

"Alohamora…"

She meant it to come out louder, but all that came out was a whisper. 'Must be the nerves…' The door opened soundlessly and Hermione crept inside closing it behind her.

The Gryffindor felt as her heart skipped a beat upon seeing Severus under the steaming shower. She had to admit that he looked good in all of his naked glory. 'I need to hang around Parvati less…I am tuning into a pervert.' Her eyes were fixed on his back and Hermione felt as her lips went dry and she licked them.

'I probably should say something…'

"……." She opened and closed her mouth couple of times.

'He could at least have closed the shower door.' Hermione made few steps forward and froze again looking as Severus washed his hair. Her courage was evaporating more and more by the second.

'I can't do this…' She was about to turn around and make the run for it when Severus turned the water of and turned around to step from the shower.

'Hell…'

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